Engineering Sensitized Photon Upconversion Efficiency via Nanocrystal Wavefunction and Molecular Geometry

Triplet energy transfer from inorganic nanocrystals to molecular acceptors has attracted strong attention for high‐efficiency photon upconversion. Here we study this problem using CsPbBr₃ and CdSe nanocrystals as triplet donors and carboxylated anthracene isomers as acceptors. We find that the position of the carboxyl anchoring group on the molecule dictates the donor‐acceptor coupling to be either through‐bond or through‐space, while the relative strength of the two coupling pathways is controlled by the wavefunction leakage of nanocrystals that can be quantitatively tuned by nanocrystal sizes or shell thicknesses. By simultaneously engineering molecular geometry and nanocrystal wavefunction, energy transfer and photon upconversion efficiencies of a nanocrystal/molecule system can be improved by orders of magnitude.     

Stabilization of the Closed-Ring Isomer of Spiropyran by Amide Naphthotube in Water and Its Application in Naked-Eye Detection of Toxic Paraoxon

The thermodynamically unstable, colourless closed-ring isomer of spiropyran can be stabilized in water by the anti-configurational isomer of amide naphthotube. The influence of the binding on the thermodynamics and kinetics of spiropyran have been studied. The complex was further used to prepare a test paper that allows naked-eye detection of toxic paraoxon.     

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.     

Antiproliferative effect of 2-Hydroxy-6-tridecylbenzoic acid from ginkgo biloba sarcotestas through the aryl hydrocarbon receptor pathway in triple-negative breast cancer cells

Abstract

This study aims to isolate the potential antiproliferative and cytotoxic compounds from ginkgo biloba sarcotestas (GBS) and investigates the underlying mechanism in human MDA-MB-231 and mouse 4T-1 triple-negative breast cancer cells. Our results showed that 2-Hydroxy-6-tridecylbenzoic acid was isolated by cytotoxicity-guided fractionation where different fractions were assessed using MTT assay against MDA-MB-231 and 4T-1 cells. Colony formation assay showed that 2-Hydroxy-6-tridecylbenzoic acid significantly inhibited cell proliferation. The inhibition was associated with the enhancement of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1B1 expression in a dose- and time-dependent manner and no significant change of CYP1A1 expression by qPCR and Western blot assays in MDA-MB-231 and 4T-1 cells. The mechanism was further demonstrated by the activation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) pathway with the upregulation of AhR, AhR nuclear translocator (ARNT) and AhR-dependent xenobiotic response elements (XRE) activity. These findings may have implications for development of anticancer agents containing 2-Hydroxy-6-tridecylbenzoic acid as functional additives.     

Method development and validation for the determination of biogenic amines in soy sauce using supercritical fluid chromatography coupled with single quadrupole mass spectrometry

Biogenic amines have been reported in many foods such as fish, meat, and soy sauce. The consumption of foods containing high concentrations of biogenic amines has been associated with health hazards. In this study, a green and efficient method using supercritical fluid chromatography coupled with single quadrupole mass spectrometry was developed for determination of biogenic amines in soy sauce. The chromatographic and mass spectrometry conditions were systematically optimized in terms of selectivity and peak shape. Nine biogenic amines were well separated within 25 min on a Cosmosil 5HP column using 5% (v/v) water and 0.2% (v/v) ammonia solution in methanol as mobile phase additives at a backpressure of 120 bar and temperature of 40°C. The established method was fully validated regarding the linearity, sensitivity, precision, and accuracy. The limits of detection and limits of quantification ranged from 0.03 to 10.50 μg/mL and 0.10 to 23.1 μg/mL, respectively. The relative standard deviations for intra‐ and interday precisions were all lower than 9.36% and the recoveries ranged from 75.82 to 99.63% and 80.10 to 99.89% for two levels of standards spiked in soy sauce, respectively. Finally, the established method was successfully applied to the quantitative analysis of biogenic amines in soy sauce.     

Overview of Polyvinyl Alcohol Nanocomposite Hydrogels for Electro‐Skin,Actuator, Supercapacitor and Fuel Cell

The properties of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanocomposite hydrogels influenced by nanoparticles are reviewed. Various kinds of nanoparticles with excellent mechanical and electrical properties have been introduced into PVA hydrogel to produce stretchable and conductive PVA nanocomposite hydrogel. Understanding the mechanism between the matrix of PVA hydrogel and nanoparticles is therefore critical for the development of PVA nanocomposite hydrogels. This review focuses on the nanoparticles include carbon nanotubes, graphene oxide and metal nanoparticles, and describes the effects of nanoparticles on the mechanical and conductive properties of PVA nanocomposite hydrogels. A new promising area of soft stretchable PVA nanocomposite hydrogel is highlighted for possible applications. Finally, a brief outlook for future research is presented.     

Rapid measurements of curcumin from complex samples coupled with magnetic biocompatibility molecularly imprinted polymer using electrochemical detection

Curcumin widely exists in food, and rapid selective and accurate detection of curcumin have great significance in chemical industry. In this experiment, a new magnetic biocompatibility molecularly imprinted polymer was prepared with nontoxic and biocompatible Zein to adsorb curcumin selectively. The polymer has high biocompatibility, good adsorption capacity, and specific adsorption for curcumin. Combined with portable electrochemical workstations, the polymer can be used to detect curcumin rapidly and cost‐effectively. Using curcumin as a template and Zein as the crosslinking agent, the polymers were synthesized on the surface of Fe₃O₄ particles for solid phase extraction. The experimental results showed that the polymer reached large adsorption capacity (32.12 mg/g) with fast kinetics (20 min). The adsorption characteristic of the polymer followed the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo‐second‐order kinetic models. Hexacyanoferrate was used as electrochemical probe to generate signals, and the linear range was 5–200 µg/mL for measuring curcumin. The experimental analysis showed that the polymer was an ideal material for selective accumulation of curcumin from complex samples. This approach has been successfully applied to the determination of curcumin in food samples with electrochemical detection, indicating that this is a feasible and practical technique.     

Recent advances of ambient ionization mass spectrometry imaging in clinical research

The structural information and spatial distribution of molecules in biological tissues are closely related to the potential molecular mechanisms of disease origin, transfer, and classification. Ambient ionization mass spectrometry imaging is an effective tool that provides molecular images while describing in situ information of biomolecules in complex samples, in which ionization occurs at atmospheric pressure with the samples being analyzed in the native state. Ambient ionization mass spectrometry imaging can directly analyze tissue samples at a fairly high resolution to obtain molecules in situ information on the tissue surface to identify pathological features associated with a disease, resulting in the wide applications in pharmacy, food science, botanical research, and especially clinical research. Herein, novel ambient ionization techniques, such as techniques based on spray and solid‐liquid extraction, techniques based on plasma desorption, techniques based on laser desorption ablation, and techniques based on acoustic desorption were introduced, and the data processing of ambient ionization mass spectrometry imaging was briefly reviewed. Besides, we also highlight recent applications of this imaging technology in clinical researches and discuss the challenges in this imaging technology and the perspectives on the future of the clinical research.     

Palladium-catalyzed regioselective cascade reaction of carbon dioxide,amines and allenes for the synthesis of functionalized carbamates

A palladium-catalyzed regioselective three-component cascade reaction of carbon dioxide,amines and allenes has been developed,providing an expedient and practical method for the construction of a range of functionalized carbamates containing dihydrobenzofuran or indole moiety in moderate to excellent yields.The broad substrate scope,good functional group tolerance and excellent chemo-and regioselectivity are the features of the transformation.     

Ag@Au Core‐Shell Nanowires for Nearly 100 % CO2‐to‐CO Electroreduction

Electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO₂) to CO is regarded as an efficient method to utilize the greenhouse gas CO₂, because the CO product can be further converted into high value‐added chemicals via the Fisher–Tropsch process. Among all electrocatalysts used for CO₂‐to‐CO reduction, Au‐based catalysts have been demonstrated to possess high selectivity, but their precious price limits their future large‐scale applications. Thus, simultaneously achieving high selectivity and reasonable price is of great importance for the development of Au‐based catalysts. Here, we report Ag@Au core–shell nanowires as electrocatalyst for CO₂ reduction, in which a nanometer‐thick Au film is uniformly deposited on the core Ag nanowire. Importantly, the Ag@Au catalyst with a relative low Au content can drive CO generation with nearly 100 % Faraday efficiency in 0.1 m KCl electrolyte at an overpotential of ca. ?1.0 V. This high selectivity of CO₂ reduction could be attributed to a suitable adsorption strength for the key intermediate on Au film together with the synergistic effects between the Au shell and Ag core and the strong interaction between CO₂ and Cl^? ions in the electrolyte, which may further pave the way for the development of high‐efficiency electrocatalysts for CO₂ reduction.