Rutin and Quercetin Decrease Cholesterol in HepG2 Cells but Not Plasma Cholesterol in Hamsters by Oral Administration

Rutin (R) and quercetin (Q) are two widespread dietary flavonoids. Previous studies regarding the plasma cholesterol-lowering activity of R and Q generated inconsistent results. The present study was therefore carried out to investigate the effects of R and Q on cholesterol metabolism in both HepG2 cells and hypercholesterolemia hamsters. Results from HepG2 cell experiments demonstrate that both R and Q decreased cholesterol at doses of 5 and 10 µM. R and Q up-regulated both the mRNA and protein expression of sterol regulatory element binding protein 2 (SREBP2), low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), and liver X receptor alpha (LXRα). The immunofluorescence study revealed that R and Q increased the LDLR expression, while only Q improved LDL-C uptake in HepG2 cells. Results from hypercholesterolemia hamsters fed diets containing R (5.5 g/kg diet) and Q (2.5 g/kg diet) for 8 weeks demonstrate that both R and Q had no effect on plasma total cholesterol. In the liver, only Q reduced cholesterol significantly. The discrepancy between the in vitro and in vivo studies was probably due to a poor bioavailability of flavonoids in the intestine. It was therefore concluded that R and Q were effective in reducing cholesterol in HepG2 cells in vitro, whereas in vivo, the oral administration of the two flavonoids had little effect on plasma cholesterol in hamsters.     

Computational Screening of 3 d Transition Metal Atoms Anchored on Defective Graphene for Efficient Electrocatalytic N2 Fixation

The synthesis of ammonia (NH₃) through the electrochemical reduction of molecular nitrogen (N₂) is a promising strategy for significantly reducing energy consumption compared to traditional industrial processes. Herein, we report the design of a series of monovacancy and divacancy defective graphenes decorated with single 3d transition metal atoms (TM@MVG and TM@DVG; TM=Sc−Zn) as electrocatalysts for the nitrogen-reduction reaction (NRR) aided by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. By comparing energies for N₂ adsorption as well as the free energies associated with *N₂ activation and *N₂H formation, we successfully identified V@MVG, with the lowest potential of −0.63 V, to be an effective catalytic substrate for the NRR in an enzymatic mechanism. Electronic properties, including Bader charges, charge density differences, partial densities of states, and crystal orbital Hamilton populations, are further analyzed in detail. We believe that these results help to explain recent observations in this field and provide guidance for the exploration of efficient electrocatalysts for the NRR.     

A Label-Free Fluorometric Glutathione Assay Based on a Conformational Switch of G-quadruplex

In this paper, a label-free fluorescent method for glutathione (GSH) detection based on a thioflavin T/G-quadruplex conformational switch is developed. The sensing assay is fabricated depending on the virtue of mercury ions to form a thymine–thymine mismatch, which collapses the distance between two ssDNA and directs the guanine-rich part to form an intra-strand asymmetric split G-quadruplex. The newly formed G-quadruplex efficiently reacts with thioflavin T and enhances the fluorescent intensity. In the presence of GSH, Hg²⁺ is absorbed, destroying the G-quadruplex formation with a significant decrease in fluorescence emission. The proposed fluorescent assay exhibits a linear range between 0.03–5 μM of GSH with a detection limit of 9.8 nM. Furthermore, the efficacy of this method is examined using human serum samples to detect GSH. Besides GSH, other amino acids are also investigated in standard samples, which display satisfactory sensitivity and selectivity. Above all, we develop a method with features including potentiality, facility, sensitivity, and selectivity for analyzing GSH for clinical diagnostics.     

Fabrication and characteristics of self‐aggregation nanoparticles used for conformance control treatment

In order to alleviate the contradiction between injectability of the profile control agent and its profile control performance, a novel core‐shell heterogeneous structure colloidal particles (CSA) were synthesized, and the mechanism of self‐aggregation plugging was proposed. Cross‐linking inside the nanoparticles and chain‐growth polymerization via capturing acrylamide in the aqueous phase result in the formation of core‐shell heterogeneous structures as proved by TEM observation and XPS analysis. Moreover, CSA nanoparticles exhibit good hydrophilic properties, outstanding thermal stability and limited expansion capacity. Effects of different metal cations and surface group on the self‐aggregation time of CSA nanoparticles were systematically studied. Results showed that divalent cations contributed to more significant aggregation of CSA nanoparticles in comparison to monovalent cations. The increasing cations concentration and valency decreased the thickness of electric double layer, which lead to a decrease in the zeta potential. Core flooding test shows that the injection of nanoparticles which diameter is much smaller that of pore‐throats into the target reservoir can not only successfully enter the depth of porous media, but also effectively block the high permeability areas by the formation of self‐aggregation particle clusters. This study provides a new method for the equilibrium between nanoparticles injectivity and in‐depth profile control of nanoparticles.     

Synthesis and characterization of folic acid‐modified carboxymethyl chitosan‐ursolic acid targeted nano‐drug carrier for the delivery of ursolic acid and 10‐hydroxycamptothecin

Carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS), as a water‐soluble, biocompatible, and biodegradable polymer, is an excellent carrier for a sustained drug delivery system. In this study, a amphiphilic carboxymethyl chitosan‐ursolic acid nano‐drug carrier modified by folic acid (FPCU) were prepared, and then the nano‐drug carrier wrapped another anticancer drug 10‐hydroxycamptothecin were self‐assembled into nanoparticles (FPCU/HCPT NPs). The FPCU/HCPT NPs had a suitable size, high drug loading efficiency of ursolic acid (6.4%) and 10‐hydroxycamptothecin (14.1%). The drug release study in vitro indicated that the nanoparticles have obviously sustained effect and pH sensitive behaviors, the drug release amount was higher at pH 5.5 than at pH 7.4. in vitro and in vivo study showed that the nanoparticles displayed a high antitumor efficiency to tumor cells compared with free drug. The nano delivery system as a carrier for ursolic acid (UA) and 10‐hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) has good application prospects in cancer treatment.     

Effect of Freeze-Thaw Cycles on the Oxidation of Protein and Fat and Its Relationship with the Formation of Heterocyclic Aromatic Amines and Advanced Glycation End Products in Raw Meat

The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of the number of freeze–thaw cycles (0, 1, 3, 5, and 7) on porcine longissimus protein and lipid oxidation, as well as changes in heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and their precursors. We analyzed the relationship among HAAs, AGEs, oxidation, and precursors and found the following results after seven freeze–thaw cycles. The HAAs, Norharman and Harman, were 20.33% and 16.67% higher, respectively. The AGEs, Nε-carboxyethyllysine (CEL) and Nε-carboxymethyllysine (CML), were 11.81% and 14.02% higher, respectively. Glucose, creatine, and creatinine were reduced by 33.92%, 5.93%, and 1.12%, respectively after seven freeze–thaw cycles. Norharman was significantly correlated with thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS; r² = 0.910) and glucose (r² = −0.914). Harman was significantly correlated to TBARS (r² = 0.951), carbonyl (r² = 0.990), and glucose (r² = −0.920). CEL was correlated to TBARS (r² = 0.992) and carbonyl (r² = 0.933). These changes suggest that oxidation and the Maillard reaction during freeze–thaw cycles promote HAA and AGE production in raw pork.     

A Cyanine-based Liposomal Nanophotosensitizer for Enhanced Cancer Chemo-Photodynamic Therapy

Currently, chemotherapy is one of the most important treatment modalities for malignant tumors in the clinic, however, it exhibits some shortcomings, such as poor selectivity, limited efficacy and serious adverse effects. Therefore, synergistic therapy and accurate drug delivery at tumor sites become a promising strategy for achieving tumor eradication. Herein, a smart NIR fluorescence imaging-guided nanoliposome was fabricated by encapsulating a chemotherapeutic drug(doxorubicin, DOX), liposomes(L) and a near-infrared(NIR) photosensitizer(CY) to form L@CY@DOX, which could realize enhanced therapeutic efficacy of chemo-PDT in cancer therapy(PDT=photodynamic therapy). L@CY@DOX can induce mitochondrial apoptosis and produce severe toxicity at the cellular level, and L@CY@DOX can enrich in the tumor site, which significantly induces tumor death. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that L@CY@DOX exhibited great antitumor efficacy compared with each one of these monotherapies, indicating that the combination of chemotherapy and PDT possessed potential development prospects and is anticipated in clinical application.     

MOFs/水凝胶复合材料的制备及其应用研究

金属有机框架(MOFs)具有大量的孔隙结构和活性位点,在气体吸附、催化、医疗等领域均发挥了巨大的作用。MOFs是晶体粉末,具有脆性较大、在水中易分解和不易回收等缺点,从而限制了其应用。通过MOFs与柔性高分子的复合,特别是与水凝胶的复合,极大地改善了复合材料的柔顺性、可回收和可加工性等特性,进一步拓宽了MOFs的应用领域。本文详细阐述了基于水凝胶MOFs原位生成法、MOFs /水凝胶同时生成法和水凝胶包裹MOFs法等三种不同方法制备MOFs/水凝胶复合材料的研究进展,并对上述三种制备方法的特点及其产物特征进行了总结,进一步归纳了复合材料在生物医药、催化、废水处理和气体吸附等领域的应用。最后,对MOFs/水凝胶复合材料制备方法的改进和复合材料应用前景进行了深入讨论和展望。     

Enantioselective Diels–Alder reactions with left-handed G-quadruplex DNA-based catalysts

Since the discovery of left-handed G-quadruplex (L-G4) structure formed by natural DNA, there has been a growing interest in its potential functions. This study utilised it to catalyse enantioselective Diels-Alder reactions, considering its different optical rotation compared to an ordinary G4. It was determined that when L-G4 was used with a combination of copper(II) ions, there was a good enantioselectivity (?52% ee) without further addition of ligands. When further consideration was given by adding G4 ligands, G4 was further stabilised, even obtaining a better enantioselectivity (up to ?80% ee). Moreover, when using ligands that have regulatory effects on G4, the ee value can be adjusted. In this work, a minimal left-handed G4 was reported. A follow-up study was also conducted, which recovers that the minimal left-handed G4 remains its catalytic effect and enantioselectivity, but is not so effective as the former case. This indicates that a complete G4 structure is relatively conducive to chiral catalysis.     

Cationic Nonporous Macrocyclic Organic Compounds for Multimedia Iodine Capture

Over the past two decades, progress in chemistry has generated various types of porous materials for removing iodine (¹²⁹I or ¹³¹I) that can be formed during nuclear energy generation or nuclear waste storage. However, most studies for iodine capture are based on the weak host-guest interactions of the porous materials. Here, we present two cationic nonporous macrocyclic organic compounds, namely, MOC-1 and MOC-2 , in which 6I^- and 8I⁻ were as counter anions, for highly efficient iodine capture. MOC-1 and MOC-2 were formed by reacting 1,1′-diamino-4,4′-bipyridylium di-iodide with 1,2-diformylbenzene or 1,3-diformylbenzene, respectively. The presence of a large number of I⁻ anions results in high I₂ affinity with uptake capacities up to 2.15 g ⋅ g⁻¹ for MOC-1 and 2.25 g ⋅ g⁻¹ for MOC-2 .