3D bioprinted cancer cells are more tolerant to serum starvation than 2D cells due to autophagy

Cancer is a global issue and a serious threat to human health, one approach to treatment is starvation therapy. Recently, three-dimensional (3D) bioprinted tumor tissue models have been developed; however, whether 3D bioprinted models are good for in vitro study of starvation therapy is unclear. In this study, we studied the state of cells with serum-free medium in both 3D bioprinted scaffold and 2D cell cultures and found that 3D bioprinted cancer cells (3D cells) were more tolerant to serum starvation than 2D cells in terms of cell viability, cell proliferation, and M2 macrophage polarization. Moreover, the ratio of LC3II/I, an index of autophagy, increased much more in 3D cells, and 3D cells showed more autophagosomes than 2D cells after serum starvation, which indicated that the autophagy levels were higher in 3D cells. These results suggested that 3D cells are more tolerant to serum starvation than 2D cells, and autophagy may play an important role in this process.     

Eco friendly synthesis of fluorescent carbon dots for the sensitive detection of ferric ions and cell imaging

This study established a ferric ion (Fe³⁺) detection method as a result of the fluorescence quenching effect of Fe³⁺ on carbon dots (CDs). Specifically, we proposed, a green microwave synthesis route towards fluorescent CDs that requires only the brewer’s spent grain as starting materials. Transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectra and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were performed to investigate the CDs characteristic: morphology, size distribution, functional groups, and composition, respectively. The experimental results, which were run under optimal experimental conditions, indicated that the fluorescence intensity and concentration of Fe³⁺ were within the desired linear range (0.3–7 μM). The detection limit of this assay towards Fe³⁺ was 95 nM. The proposed method showed significant selectivity with respect to interfering ions. We evaluated the potential application of this method with tap water, lake water and fetal bovine serum as real samples. Additionally, the CDs could be served as superior bioimaging probes in Hela cells as a result of their excellent optical stability and good biocompatibility. In a word, the present study provides a new idea for CDs derived from the waste of agricultural products for detecting food or environmental contaminants and cell imaging.     

Low percolation conductive graphite flakes-filled poly(urethane-imide) composites with high thermal stability via imidization self-foaming structure

In the study, the conductive graphite flakes filled poly(urethane-imide) composites (PUI/GFs) with high performance were constructed by the thermal imidization self-foaming reaction. It was found that the foaming action could promote the redistribution of GFs during curing process and the formation of stable linear conductive pathways. The percolation threshold of PUI/GFs composites was lowered from 1.26 wt% (2000 mesh GFs) or 0.86 wt% (1000 mesh GFs) to 0.79 wt% (500 mesh GFs), which were relatively low percolation thresholds for polymer/GFs composites so far. When the content of 500 mesh GFs was 4.0 wt%, the electrical conductivity of the composite was as high as 3.96 × 10^?1 S/m. Also, a poly(urethane-imide) (PUI) matrix with excellent thermal stability (T_d10%: 334.97 °C) and mechanical properties (elongation at break: 324.52%, tensile strength: 15.88 MPa) was obtained by introducing the rigid aromatic heterocycle into the polyurethane (PU) hard segments. Moreover, the zero temperature coefficient of resistivity for the composites was observed at the temperature range from 30 °C to 200 °C. Consequently, PUI/GFs composites may provide the novel strategy for considerable conductive materials with high thermal stability in electrical conductivity.     

Pitfalls in X-ray absorption spectroscopy analysis and interpretation: A practical guide for general users

Despite the growing popularity of X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) in scientific research, many researchers do not receive formalized training on this technique. Some of them learned from online resources, which only briefly introduce XAS and its applications. Here, this article aims to provide the overview of tips about the XAS analysis, general rules, as well as required information for presenting XAS data in publications, and some common mistakes in XAS data interpretations. Armed with these basics, the motivated aspiring XAS researchers will find existing resources more accessible and can progress much faster in understanding and using XAS.     

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.     

An insight into the electrocatalytic properties of porous La0.3Sr0.7Fe0.7Cr0.3O3−δ electrodes towards oxygen reduction reaction

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - The electrocatalytic properties of porous La0.3Sr0.7Fe0.7Cr0.3O3−δ electrodes towards oxygen reduction reaction were investigated as a function...     

Phase‐Junction Electrocatalysts towards Enhanced Hydrogen Evolution Reaction in Alkaline Media

To ensure sustainable hydrogen production by water electrolysis, robust, earth‐abundant, and high‐efficient electrocatalysts are required. Constructing a hybrid system could lead to further improvement in electrocatalytic activity. Interface engineering in composite catalysts is thus critical to determine the performance, and the phase‐junction interface should improve the catalytic activity. Here, we show that nickel diphosphide phase junction (c‐NiP₂/m‐NiP₂) is an effective electrocatalyst for hydrogen production in alkaline media. The overpotential (at 10 mA cm^?2) for NiP₂‐650 (c/m) in alkaline media could be significantly reduced by 26 % and 96 % compared with c‐NiP₂ and m‐NiP₂, respectively. The enhancement of catalytic activity should be attributed to the strong water dissociation ability and the rearrangement of electrons around the phase junction, which markedly improved the Volmer step and benefited the reduction process of adsorbed protons.     

Design,Synthesis and Anticancer Activity of a New Series of N-aryl-N′-[4-(pyridin-2-ylmethoxy)benzyl]urea Derivatives

The development of cancer treatments requires continuous exploration and improvement, in which the discovery of new drugs for the treatment of cancer is still an important pathway. In this study, based on the molecular hybridization strategy, a new structural framework with an N-aryl-N’-arylmethylurea scaffold was designed, and 16 new target compounds were synthesized and evaluated for their antiproliferative activities against four different cancer cell lines A549, MCF7, HCT116, PC3, and human liver normal cell line HL7702. The results have shown seven compounds with 1-methylpiperidin-4-yl groups having excellent activities against all four cancer cell lines, and they exhibited scarcely any activities against HL7702. Among them, compound 9b and 9d showed greatly excellent activity against the four kinds of cells, and the IC₅₀ for MCF7 and PC3 cell lines were even less than 3 μM.     

Four New Gallate Derivatives from Wine-Processed Corni Fructus and Their Anti-Inflammatory Activities

Four new gallate derivatives—ornusgallate A, ent-cornusgallate A, cornusgallate B and C (1a, 1b, 2, 3)—were isolated from the wine-processed fruit of Cornus officinalis. Among them, 1a and 1b are new natural compounds with novel skeletons. Their chemical structures were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopy methods including NMR, IR, HRESIMS, UV, ECD spectra and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The in vitro anti-inflammatory activities of all compounds were assayed in RAW 264.7 cells by assessing LPS-induced NO production. As the result, all compounds exhibited anti-inflammatory activities at attested concentrations. Among the tested compounds, compound 2 exhibited the strongest anti- inflammatory activity.     

A Novel Dual Drug Approach That Combines Ivermectin and Dihydromyricetin (DHM) to Reduce Alcohol Drinking and Preference in Mice

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) affects over 18 million people in the US. Unfortunately, pharmacotherapies available for AUD have limited clinical success and are under prescribed. Previously, we established that avermectin compounds (ivermectin [IVM] and moxidectin) reduce alcohol (ethanol/EtOH) consumption in mice, but these effects are limited by P-glycoprotein (Pgp/ABCB1) efflux. The current study tested the hypothesis that dihydromyricetin (DHM), a natural product suggested to inhibit Pgp, will enhance IVM potency as measured by changes in EtOH consumption. Using a within-subjects study design and two-bottle choice study, we tested the combination of DHM (10 mg/kg; i.p.) and IVM (0.5–2.5 mg/kg; i.p.) on EtOH intake and preference in male and female C57BL/6J mice. We also conducted molecular modeling studies of DHM with the nucleotide-binding domain of human Pgp that identified key binding residues associated with Pgp inhibition. We found that DHM increased the potency of IVM in reducing EtOH consumption, resulting in significant effects at the 1.0 mg/kg dose. This combination supports our hypothesis that inhibiting Pgp improves the potency of IVM in reducing EtOH consumption. Collectively, we demonstrate the feasibility of this novel combinatorial approach in reducing EtOH consumption and illustrate the utility of DHM in a novel combinatorial approach.