Treatment and nursing values of a new mixed-ligand In(III)-based complex on acute ischemic stroke

In the current research, through employing the dual ligand method, a novel coordination polymer has been produced in success via the reaction between H₂glu and In(NO₃)₃·6H₂O in the existence of the nitrogen-donor chelating 2,2′-bpy ligand in CH₃CN In(III) and DMF mixed solvent, and its chemical formula is In(glu)(Hglu)(2,2′-bpy) (1, 2,2′-bpy is 2,2′-bipyridine and H₂glu is glutaric acid). Its application values on the acute stroke were assessed and the corresponding mechanism was investigated simultaneously. Firstly, the levels of inflammatory response in the astrocytes were evaluated by ELISA by measuring the content of inflammatory cytokines released into cerebrospinal fluid. Additionally, the miRNA199a relative expression levels in astrocytes were measured via exploiting real time RT-PCR. Molecular docking simulation demonstrated that synthesized In ion complex exhibited excellent biological activities, multiple binding interactions were formed by the carboxyl groups on the In ion complex.     

Recent research advances of the biomimetic tumor microenvironment and regulatory factors on microfluidic devices: A systematic review

Tumor microenvironment is a multicomponent system consisting of tumor cells, noncancer cells, extracellular matrix, and signaling molecules, which hosts tumor cells with integrated biophysical and biochemical elements. Because of its critical involvement in tumor genesis, invasion, metastasis, and resistance, the tumor microenvironment is emerging as a hot topic of tumor biology and a prospective therapeutic target. Unfortunately, the complex of microenvironment modeling in vitro is technically challenging and does not effectively generalize the local tumor tissue milieu. Recently, significant advances in microfluidic technologies have provided us with an approach to imitate physiological systems that can be utilized to mimic the characterization of tumor responses with pathophysiological relevance in vitro. In this review, we highlight the recent progress and innovations in microfluidic technology that facilitates the tumor microenvironment study. We also discuss the progress and future perspective of microfluidic bionic approaches with high efficiency for the study of tumor microenvironment and the challenges encountered in cancer research, drug discovery, and personalized therapy.     

A new 3D supramolecular Zn(II) compound: Crystal structure and important role in treatment of pulpitis

An innovative thermostable 2-D layered Zn(II) compound, chemical terms are written as [Zn(3-pysa)₂(H₂O)₂]_n (1, 3-Hpysa = 3-pyridinesulfonic acid), has been generated from the solvothermal reactions of 3-Hpysa and Zn(NO₃)₂·6H₂O. Its single crystal analysis was implemented via the single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis together with the powder X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis and thermogravimetric analysis. The crystal framework is of monoclinic P2₁/n space group and its crystal cell figures: a = 7.7499(5), b = 10.9923(6), c = 8.3430(5) Å, α = 90, β = 96.924(6), γ = 90°, V = 705.55(7) ų, Z = 4. The 2D layers were finally combined to a 3-D supramolecular conformation through intermolecular H-bonds existing between coordinated H₂O molecules and sulfonate oxygen atoms from adjacent layer. Its practical role in pulpitis treatment was estimated and the relevant mechanism was studied in the meantime.     

Vitamin D Inhibits the Early Aggregation of α-Synuclein and Modulates Exocytosis Revealed by Electrochemical Measurements

Alpha-synuclein (α-Syn) localizes at presynaptic terminal and modulates synaptic functions. Increasing evidence demonstrate that α-Syn oligomers, forming at the early of aggregation, are cytotoxic and is thus related to brain neurodegenerative diseases. Herein, we find that vitamin D (VD) can reduce neurocytotoxicity. The reduced neurocytotoxicity might be attributed to the less amount of large-sized α-Syn oligomers inhibited by VD, measured by electrochemical collision at single particle level, which are not observable with traditionally ensembled method. Single-cell amperometry (SCA) results show that VD can recover the amount of neurotransmitter release during exocytosis induced by α-Syn oligomers, further verifying the neuroprotection of VD. Our study reveals the neuroprotective role of VD through inhibiting α-Syn aggregation, which is envisioned to be of great importance in treatment and prevention of the neurodegenerative diseases.     

Fractionated Crystallization Kinetics and Polymorphic Homocrystalline Structure of Poly(L-lactic acid)/Poly(D-lactic acid) Blends: Effect of Blend Ratio

Stereocomplex (SC) crystallization has been an effective way to improve the physical performances of stereoregular polymers. However, the competition between homo and SC crystallizations can lead to more complicated crystallization kinetics and polymorphic crystalline structure in stereocomplexable polymers, which influences the physical properties of obtained materials. Herein, we select the medium-molecular-weight (MMW) poly(_L-lactic acid)/poly(_D-lactic acid) (PLLA/PDLA) asymmetric blends with different PDLA fractions (f_D=0.01–0.5) as the model system and investigate the effects of f_D and crystallization temperature (T_c) on the crystallization kinetics and polymorphic crystalline structure. We observe the fractionated (i.e., multistep) crystallization kinetics and the formation of peculiar β-form homocrystals (HCs) in the asymmetric blends under quiescent conditions, which are strongly influenced by both f_D and T_c. Precisely, crystallization of β-form HCs is favorable in the MMW PLLA/PDLA blends with high f_D (≥0.2) at a low T_c (80–100 °C). It is proposed that the formation of metastable β-form HCs is attributed to the conformational matching between β-form HCs and SCs, and the stronger constrain effects of precedingly-formed SCs in the early stage of crystallization. Such effects can also cause the multistep crystallization kinetics of MMW PLLA/PDLA asymmetric blends in the heating process.

     

Quantitative Investigation on Structural Evolution of Co-continuous Phase under Shear Flow

Components of co-continuous phase can form an interpenetrating network structure, which has great potential to synergistically improve the mechanical properties of the blends, and to impart the functional blends superior electrical conductivity and permeability. In this work, the effects of shear rates (50–5000 s^?1) at different temperatures on the phase morphology, phase size and lamellar crystallites of biodegradable co-continuous polybutylene terephthalate (PBAT)/polybutylene succinate (PBS) blend are quantitatively investigated. The results show that the above features of the PBAT/PBS have a strong dependence on the shear flow and thermal field. The co-continuous phase of the blend is well maintained at 130 °C. Interestingly, this phase structure transforms into a “sea-island” structure at 160 °C, which gradually recovers to a co-continuous phase when the shear rate increases from 1000 s^?1 to 5000 s^?1. The phase size decreases with the increase of shear rate both at 130 °C and 160 °C due to the refinement and deformation of phase structures caused by strong shear stress. Unexpectedly, a unique phenomenon is observed that the shear-induced lamellar crystallites are oriented perpendicular to shear direction in the range of 500–5000 s^?1 at 130 °C, while the orientation of lamellar crystallites at 160 °C is along the shear direction within the whole range of shear rates. The degree of orientation for the PBAT/PBS blend crystals increases first and then decreases at both temperatures above. In addition, the range of shear rate has reached the level in the industrial processing. Therefore, this work has important guiding significance for the regulation of the co-continuous phase structure and the performance for the blend in the practical processing.

     

NaY分子筛Lewis酸促进甲醇经亚硝酸甲酯分解制二甲氧基甲烷※

二甲氧基甲烷(Dimethoxymethane, DMM)作为一种基础有机化学品, 在树脂、溶剂、燃料等领域具有广泛用途. 传统合成方法采用甲醇甲醛缩合, 反应效率比较低. 亚硝酸甲酯(CH₃ONO)是一种性质活泼的气体, 可由甲醇、O₂、NO在无需催化剂的条件下获得, 其反应活性比甲醇高很多. 通过亚硝酸甲酯在常压条件下催化分解可以高效制备DMM. 本工作系统研究了不同类型分子筛的酸性对亚硝酸甲酯催化分解制备DMM的影响规律, 催化活性顺序为: NaY (97%)=HY (97%)>HZSM-5 (90%)>Hβ (89%)>NaZSM-5 (18%)>Naβ (6%), DMM选择性顺序为: NaY (53%)>HY (12%)=Naβ (12%)>NaZSM-5 (7%)>Hβ (4%)>HZSM-5 (3%), 其中NaY分子筛是一种性能优异的亚硝酸甲酯分解制备DMM的催化剂. 通过X射线衍射(XRD)、比表面及孔隙度分析(BET)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、吡啶红外(Py-FTIR)等结构表征手段, 发现分子筛的酸性位点是促进亚硝酸甲酯分解的活性中心, 而Na⁺和Al物种的Lewis酸是高选择性生成DMM的关键. 本工作可为DMM提供一种新的高效合成路线.     

Anticancer Aminoferrocene Derivatives Inducing Production of Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species

Elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and deficient mitochondria are two weak points of cancer cells. Their simultaneous targeting is a valid therapeutic strategy to design highly potent anticancer drugs. The remaining challenge is to limit the drug effects to cancer cells without affecting normal ones. We have previously developed three aminoferrocene (AF)-based derivatives, which are activated in the presence of elevated levels of ROS present in cancer cells with formation of electron-rich compounds able to generate ROS and reduce mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). All of them exhibit important drawbacks including either low efficacy or high unspecific toxicity that prevents their application in vivo up to date. Herein we describe unusual AF-derivatives lacking these drawbacks. These compounds act via an alternative mechanism: they are chemically stable in the presence of ROS, generate mitochondrial ROS in cancer cells, but not normal cells and exhibit anticancer effect in vivo.     

Characterization and properties of plywood bioadhesive derived from cottonseed protein and sawdust cellulose

Cellulose - The development of plant adhesive with good bonding strength, water resistance and thermal stability remains challenging to replace formaldehyde-based adhesive resins that usually...