In Vivo Detection of Hydrogen Sulfide in Brain and Cell

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), is proposed as a cytoprotectant and gasotransmitter, involving in many physiological processes and regulating of some diseases. In addition, H₂S is a small molecular with a minimum of steric hindrance compared with other reactive sulfur species. In physiological atmosphere, H₂S is mainly existent in HS⁻, which has a strong nucleophilicity and reducing potency. It also can precipitate with some metal ions forming metallic sulfides with high precipitation coefficient. In recent years, the researchers have a desire to develop methods to achieve real-time detection of H₂S in vivo, further understanding the physiology and pathology of H₂S. In this minireview, we summarize recent progress for detecting of H₂S in brain or cell and briefly expound the principle of methods with the comparison of the different methods between performance and temporal resolution.     

Solid-phase extraction techniques based on nanomaterials for mycotoxin analysis: An overview for food and agricultural products

Mycotoxin contamination is a globally concerned problem for food and agricultural products since it may directly or indirectly induce severe threats to human health. Sensitive and selective screening is an efficient strategy to prevent or reduce human and animal exposure to mycotoxins. However, enormous challenges exist in the determination of mycotoxins, arising from complex sample matrices, trace-level analytes, and the co-occurrence of diverse mycotoxins. Appropriate sample preparation is essential to isolate, purify, and enrich mycotoxins from complicated matrices, thus decreasing sample matrix effects and lowering detection limits. With the cross-disciplinary development, new solid-phase extraction strategies have been exploited and integrated with nanotechnology to meet the challenges of mycotoxin analysis. This review summarizes the advance and progress of solid-phase extraction techniques as the methodological solutions for mycotoxin analysis. Emphases are paid on nanomaterials fabricated as trapping media of solid-phase extraction techniques, including carbonaceous nanoparticles, metal/metal oxide-based nanoparticles, and nanoporous materials. Advantages and limitations are discussed, along with the potential prospects.     

Vacuum Ultraviolet Free-Electron Laser Photoionization Mass Spectrometry of Alpha-pinene Ozonolysis

\begin{document}$\alpha$\end{document}-pinene is the most abundant monoterpene that represents an important family of volatile organic compounds. Molecular identification of key transient compounds during the \begin{document}$\alpha$\end{document}-pinene ozonolysis has been proven to be a challenging experimental target because of a large number of intermediates and products involved. Here we exploit the recently developed hybrid instruments that integrate aerosol mass spectrometry with a vacuum ultraviolet free-electron laser to study the \begin{document}$\alpha$\end{document}-pinene ozonolysis. The experiments of \begin{document}$\alpha$\end{document}-pinene ozonolysis are performed in an indoor smog chamber, with reactor having a volume of 2 m\begin{document}$^3$\end{document} which is made of fluorinated ethylene propylene film. Distinct mass spectral peaks provide direct experimental signatures of previously unseen compounds produced from the reaction of \begin{document}$\alpha$\end{document}-pinene with O\begin{document}$_3$\end{document}. With the aid of quantum chemical calculations, plausible mechanisms for the formation of these new compounds are proposed. These findings provide crucial information on fundamental understanding of the initial steps of \begin{document}$\alpha$\end{document}-pinene oxidation and the subsequent processes of new particle formation.     

Convergent architecting of multifunction-in-one hydrogels as wound dressings for surgical anti-infections

Surgical procedures are susceptible to the cause of infections, which could induce delayed wound healing, oxidative stress and tissue ischemia. Multifunctional wound dressings (e.g., hydrogels) without the induction of antibiotics is promising for the elimination of surgical site infections and the associated complications. Herein, we report a reductionism approach for the fabrication of bioactive hydrogels to recapitulate antibacterial functions as well as antioxidant, pro-angiogenic and hemostatic properties in surgical infection treatments. The hydrogels composed of naturally derived Cirsium setosum extracts (CE, a traditional medicinal herb) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CS) show their capacity for surgical anti-infections on three different models (i.e., infectious random skin flap model, infectious skin defect model and infectious femur fracture model). Due to the innate bioactivities of CE and CS, CECS hydrogels can also reduce the bleeding loss (85% reduction) on a hemorrhaging liver model and improve the vascularization for skin flap regeneration. Overall, bioactive CECS hydrogels integrated with the ease and scalability of assembly process and biological activities without the addition of antibiotics is promising to act as multifunctional wound dressings for surgical anti-infections.     

Recent Progress in High-Performance Lithium Sulfur Batteries: The Emerging Strategies for Advanced Separators/Electrolytes Based on Nanomaterials and Corresponding Interfaces

Lithium-sulfur (Li−S) batteries, possessing excellent theoretical capacities, low cost and nontoxicity, are one of the most promising energy storage battery systems. However, poor conductivity of elemental S and the “shuttle effect” of lithium polysulfides hinder the commercialization of Li−S batteries. These problems are closely related to the interface problems between the cathodes, separators/electrolytes and anodes. The review focuses on interface issues for advanced separators/electrolytes based on nanomaterials in Li−S batteries. In the liquid electrolyte systems, electrolytes/separators and electrodes system can be decorated by nano materials coating for separators and electrospinning nanofiber separators. And, interface of anodes and electrolytes/separators can be modified by nano surface coating, nano composite metal lithium and lithium nano alloy, while the interface between cathodes and electrolytes/separators is designed by nano metal sulfide, nanocarbon-based and other nano materials. In all solid-state electrolyte systems, the focus is to increase the ionic conductivity of the solid electrolytes and reduce the resistance in the cathode/polymer electrolyte and Li/electrolyte interfaces through using nanomaterials. The basic mechanism of these interface problems and the corresponding electrochemical performance are discussed. Based on the most critical factors of the interfaces, we provide some insights on nanomaterials in high-performance liquid or state Li−S batteries in the future.     

Cu Doping-Induced Transformation from [Ag62S12(SBut)32]2+ to [Ag62−xCuxS12(SBut)32]4+ Nanocluster

The change in the valence state of nanocluster can induce remarkable changes in the properties and structure. However, achieving the valence state changes in nanoclusters is still a challenge. In this work, we use Cu²⁺ as dopant to “oxidize” [Ag₆₂S₁₂(SBu^t)₃₂]²⁺ (4 free electrons) to obtain the new nanocluster: [Ag_62−xCu_xS₁₂(SBu^t)₃₂]⁴⁺ with 2 free electrons. As revealed by its structure, the [Ag_62−xCu_xS₁₂(SBu^t)₃₂]⁴⁺ (x=10∼21) has a similar structure to that of [Ag₆₂S₁₂(SBu^t)₃₂]²⁺ precursor and all the Cu atoms occupy the surface site of nanocluster. It′s worth noting that with the Cu atoms doping, the [Ag_62−xCu_xS₁₂(SBu^t)₃₂]⁴⁺ nanocluster is more stable than [Ag₆₂S₁₂(SBu^t)₃₂]²⁺ at higher temperature and in electrochemical cycle. This result has laid a foundation for the subsequent application and exploration. Overall, this work reveals crystals structure of a new Ag−Cu nanocluster and offers a new insight into the electron reduction/oxidation of nanocluster.     

MIL-101(Cr) Microporous Nanocrystals Intercalating Graphene Oxide Membrane for Efficient Hydrogen Purification

Graphene oxide (GO) is a promising two-dimensional building block for fabricating high-performance gas separation membranes. Whereas the tortuous transport pathway may increase the transport distance and lead to a low gas permeation rate, introducing spacers into GO laminates is an effective strategy to enlarge the interlayer channel for enhanced gas permeance. Herein, we propose to intercalate CO₂-philic MIL-101(Cr) metal-organic framework nanocrystals into the GO laminates to construct a 2D/3D hybrid structure for gas separation. The interlayer channels were partially opened up to accelerate gas permeation. Meanwhile, the intrinsic pores of MIL-101 provided additional transport pathways, and the affinity of MIL-101 to CO₂ molecules resulted in higher H₂/CO₂ diffusion selectivity, leading to a simultaneous enhancement in gas permeance and separation selectivity. The MIL-101(Cr)/GO membrane with optimal structures exhibited outstanding and stable mixed-gas separation performance with H₂ permeance of 67.5 GPU and H₂/CO₂ selectivity of 30.3 during the 120-h continuous test, demonstrating its potential in H₂ purification application.     

Numerical Investigation of Graphene as a Back Surface Field Layer on the Performance of Cadmium Telluride Solar Cell

This paper numerically explores the possibility of ultrathin layering and high efficiency of graphene as a back surface field (BSF) based on a CdTe solar cell by Personal computer one-dimensional (PC1D) simulation. CdTe solar cells have been characterized and studied by varying the carrier lifetime, doping concentration, thickness, and bandgap of the graphene layer. With simulation results, the highest short-circuit current (I_sc = 2.09 A), power conversion efficiency (η = 15%), and quantum efficiency (QE~85%) were achieved at a carrier lifetime of 1 × 10³ μs and a doping concentration of 1 × 10¹⁷ cm⁻³ of graphene as a BSF layer-based CdTe solar cell. The thickness of the graphene BSF layer (1 μm) was proven the ultrathin, optimal, and obtainable for the fabrication of high-performance CdTe solar cells, confirming the suitability of graphene material as a BSF. This simulation confirmed that a CdTe solar cell with the proposed graphene as the BSF layer might be highly efficient with optimized parameters for fabrication.     

Polyoxygenated Klysimplexane- and Eunicellin-Based Diterpenoids from the Gorgonian Briareum violaceum

Three new polyoxygenated diterpenoids with a rare 4-isopropyl-1,5,8a-trimethylperhydrophenanthrane structure of the klysimplexane skeleton, briarols A‒C (1‒3), and one eunicellin-based diterpenoid, briarol D (4), were isolated from Briareum violaceum, a gorgonian inhabiting Taiwanese waters. The chemical structures of these compounds were determined by employing extensive analyses of NMR and high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HRESIMS) data. Metabolites 1‒3 were found to possess the rarely found skeleton of the diterpenoid klysimplexin T. All isolated compounds showed very weak cytotoxic activity against the growth of three cancer cell lines. A plausible biosynthetic pathway for briarols A‒C from the coexisting eunicellin diterpenoid briarol D (4) was postulated.     

Enhanced Oral Absorption of Icaritin by Using Mixed Polymeric Micelles Prepared with a Creative Acid-Base Shift Method

The purpose of this study was to develop mixed polymeric micelles with high drug loading capacity to improve the oral bioavailability of icaritin with Soluplus^® and Poloxamer 407 using a creative acid-base shift (ABS) method, which exhibits the advantages of exclusion of organic solvents, high drug loading and ease of scaling-up. The feasibility of the ABS method was successfully demonstrated by studies of icaritin-loaded polymeric micelles (IPMs). The prepared IPMs were characterized to have a spherical shape with a size of 72.74 ± 0.51 nm, and 13.18% drug loading content. In vitro release tests confirmed the faster release of icaritin from IPMs compared to an oil suspension. Furthermore, bioavailability of icaritin in IPMs in beagle dogs displayed a 14.9-fold increase when compared with the oil suspension. Transcellular transport studies of IPMs across Caco-2 cell monolayers confirmed that the IPMs were endocytosed in their intact forms through macropinocytosis, clathrin-, and caveolae-mediated pathways. In conclusion, the results suggested that the mixed micelles of Soluplus^® and Poloxamer 407 could be a feasible drug delivery system to enhance oral bioavailability of icaritin, and the ABS method might be a promising technology for the preparation of polymeric micelles to encapsulate poorly water-soluble weakly acidic and alkaline drugs.