Pharmacokinetics,hepatic disposition,and heart tissue distribution of 14 compounds in rat after oral administration of Qi-Li-Qiang-Xin capsule via ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry

In the present study, a specific and sensitive approach using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry was developed and validated for the quantitative analysis of 14 constituents in rat plasma, liver, and heart. The method was fully validated and successfully applied to pharmacokinetic, hepatic disposition, and heart tissue distribution studies of 14 compounds after the oral administration of Qi-Li-Qiang-Xin capsule. Ginsenoside Rb1, alisol A, astragaloside IV, and periplocymarin were found to be highly exposed in rat plasma, while toxic components such as hypaconitine, mesaconitine, and periplocin had low circulation levels in vivo. Moreover, sinapine thiocyanate, neoline, formononetin, calycosin, and alisol A exhibited significant liver first-pass effects. Notably, high levels of alisol A, periplocymarin, benzoylmesaconine, and benzoylhypaconine were observed in the heart. Based on high exposure and appropriate pharmacokinetic features in the systemic plasma and heart, astragaloside IV, ginsenoside Rb1, periplocymarin, benzoylmesaconine, benzoylhypaconine, and alisol A can be considered as the main potentially effective components. Ultimately, the results provide relevant information for discovery of effective substances, as well as further anti-heart failure action mechanism investigations of Qi-Li-Qiang-Xin capsule.     

Kinetics and Mechanism of Catalytic Reduction of U(VI) with Hydrazine on Platinum Catalysts in Nitric Acid Media

The kinetics of U(IV) produced by hydrazine reduction of U(VI) with platinum as a catalyst in nitric acid media was studied to reveal the reaction mechanism and optimize the reaction process. Electron spin resonance (ESR) was used to determine the influence of nitric acid oxidation. The effects of nitric acid, hydrazine, U(VI) concentration, catalyst dosage and temperature on the reaction rate were also studied. In addition, the simulation of the reaction process was performed using density functional theory. The results show that the influence of oxidation on the main reaction is limited when the concentration of nitric acid is below 0.5 mol/L. The reaction kinetics equation below the concentration of 0.5 mol/L is found as: -dc(UO₂²⁺)/dt)=kc^0.5323(UO₂²⁺)c^0.2074(N₂H₅⁺)c^-0.2009(H⁺). When the temperature is 50 ℃, and the solid/liquid ratio r is 0.0667 g/mL, the reaction kinetics constant is k=0.00199 (mol/L)^0.4712/min. Between 20 ℃ and 80 ℃, the reaction rate gradually increases with the increase of temperature, and changes from chemically controlled to diffusion-controlled. The simulations of density functional theory give further insight into the influence of various factors on the reaction process, with which the reaction mechanisms are determined according to the reaction kinetics and the simulation results.     

The metallic C6S monolayer with high specific capacity for K-ion batteries

K-ion batteries (KIBs) attract considerable attention due to the abundance of K, high-working voltages, and chemical similarity with Li, enabling the utilization of mature Li-ion technology. However, shortage of high-performance anode materials is a critical obstacle for the development of KIBs. Through first-principles swarm-intelligence structural search, we identify a potential anode material, the C₆S monolayer, which provides not only a remarkably high specific capacity of 1546 mAh/g but also a low diffusion barrier of 0.11 eV and a low open-circuit voltage of 0.21 V. Inherent metallicity originates from delocalized π electrons.     

Polymer Electrolytes – New Opportunities for the Development of Multivalent Ion Batteries

Batteries, as highly concerned energy conversion system, have a great development prospect in various fields, especially in the field of energy powered vehicles. Multivalent ion batteries are getting more attention due to their low cost, high abundance in earth crust, high capacity and safety compared with Lithium batteries. Despite above advantages, several problems still need to be solved before multivalent ion batteries achieve large-scale application, such as interfacial parasitic reaction, anode passivation, and dendrites. The replacement of liquid electrolytes with gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) which pose high safety, high mechanical strength and simplified battery system, is an effective strategy to inhibit dendrite growth and improve electrochemical performance. This review mainly discusses the advantages and challenges of multivalent ion batteries including zinc, magnesium, calcium and aluminum batteries. Meanwhile, the major targets of this review are introducing the recent developments and making a summary of the future trends of GPEs in the multivalent ion batteries.     

In Vitro Anticancer Activity of Nanoformulated Mono- and Di-nuclear Pt Compounds

Nanoformulations of mononuclear Pt complexes cis-PtCl₂(PPh₃)₂ ( 1 ), [Pt(PPh₃)₂(L−Cys)] ⋅ H₂O ( 3 , L−Cys=L-cysteinate), trans-PtCl₂(PPh₂PhNMe₂)₂ ( 4 ; PPh₂PhNMe₂=4-(dimethylamine)triphenylphosphine), trans-PtI₂(PPh₂PhNMe₂)₂ ( 5 ) and dinuclear Pt cluster Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄ ( 2 ) have comparable cytotoxicity to cisplatin against murine melanoma cell line B16F10. Masking of these discrete molecular entities within the hydrophobic core of Pluronic® F-127 significantly boosted their solubility and stability, ensuring efficient cellular uptake, giving in vitro IC₅₀ values in the range of 0.87–11.23 μM. These results highlight the potential therapeutic value of Pt complexes featuring stable Pt−P bonds in nanocomposite formulations with biocompatible amphiphilic polymers.     

Cu2O-Catalyzed Conversion of Benzyl Alcohols Into Aromatic Nitriles via the Complete Cleavage of the C≡N Triple Bond in the Cyanide Anion

Nitrogen transfer from cyanide anion to an aldehyde is emerging as a promising method for the synthesis of aromatic nitriles. However, this method still suffers from a disadvantage that a use of stoichiometric Cu(II) or Cu(I) salts is required to enable the reaction. As we report herein, we overcame this drawback and developed a catalytic method for nitrogen transfer from cyanide anion to an alcohol via the complete cleavage of the C≡N triple bond using phen/Cu₂O as the catalyst. The present condition allowed a series of benzyl alcohols to be smoothly converted into aromatic nitriles in moderate to high yields. In addition, the present method could be extended to the conversion of cinnamic alcohol to 3-phenylacrylonitrile.     

Facile preparation of MgAl2O4/CeO2/Mn3O4 heterojunction photocatalyst and enhanced photocatalytic activity

Novel Mn₃O₄-promoted double p?n junction MgAl₂O₄/CeO₂/Mn₃O₄ heterojunction photocatalyst was constructed by one-step synthesis method and two-step synthesis method. The X-ray powder diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectrum, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, optical and photoluminescence demonstrated that the MgAl₂O₄/CeO₂/Mn₃O₄ heterojunction photocatalyst was synthesized by the two-step synthesis method comprehends a high crystallinity, charge carrier migration and separation efficiency, and relatively low optical absorption coefficient. The MgAl₂O₄/CeO₂/Mn₃O₄ heterojunction photocatalysts were efficiently used as simulated sunlight-driven n-n and p-n double junction photocatalyst for the simultaneous degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye. The continuous double p?n junction MgAl₂O₄/CeO₂/Mn₃O₄ heterojunctions strengthened the function of single n-n or p-n junction and guided the charge carrier migration and separation direction; thus, the oxidation and reduction reactions occur at the active site of spatial separation and prevent the recombination of electrons and holes. The results suggest that the continuous double p?n junction MgAl₂O₄/CeO₂/Mn₃O₄ heterojunctions are very promising candidate material for enhancing the photocatalytic activity in the photocatalytic degradation of MB dye.     

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.     

Influence of Substitutional Defects in ZIF-8 Membranes on Reverse Osmosis Desalination: A Molecular Dynamics Study

In this study, molecular dynamics simulation is used to investigate the effects of water-based substitutional defects in zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIF)-8 membranes on their reverse osmosis (RO) desalination performance. ZIF-8 unit cells containing up to three defect sites are used to construct the membranes. These substitutional defects can either be Zn defects or linker defects. The RO desalination performance of the membranes is assessed in terms of the water flux and ion rejection rate. The effects of defects on the interactions between the ZIF-8 membranes and NaCl are investigated and explained with respect to the radial distribution function (RDF) and ion density distribution. The results show that ion adsorption on the membranes occurs at either the nitrogen atoms or the defect sites. Complete NaCl rejection can be achieved by introducing defects to change the size of the pores. It has also been discovered that the presence of linker defects increases membrane hydrophilicity. Overall, molecular dynamics simulations have been used in this study to show that water-based substitutional defects in a ZIF-8 structure reduce the water flux and influence its hydrophilicity and ion adsorption performance, which is useful in predicting the type and number of defect sites per unit cell required for RO applications. Of the seven ZIF-8 structures tested, pristine ZIF-8 exhibits the best RO desalination performance.