Mesoporous sodium four-coordinate aluminosilicate nanoparticles modulate dendritic cell pyroptosis and activate innate and adaptive immunity

Pyroptosis is a programmed cell death widely studied in cancer cells for tumour inhibition, but rarely in dendritic cell (DC) activation for vaccine development. Here, we report the synthesis of sodium stabilized mesoporous aluminosilicate nanoparticles as DC pyroptosis modulators and antigen carriers. By surface modification of sodium-stabilized four-coordinate aluminium species on dendritic mesoporous silica nanoparticles, the resultant Na-^IVAl-DMSN significantly activated DC through caspase-1 dependent pyroptosis via pH responsive intracellular ion exchange. The released proinflammatory cellular contents further mediated DC hyperactivation with prolonged cytokine release. In vivo studies showed that Na-^IVAl-DMSN induced enhanced cellular immunity mediated by natural killer (NK) cells, cytotoxic T cells, and memory T cells as well as humoral immune response. Our results provide a new principle for the design of next-generation nanoadjuvants for vaccine applications.

Na-^IVAl-DMSN acts as both antigen carriers and modulators to “hyperactivate” dendritic cells (DCs) via potassium (K⁺) efflux dependent pyroptosis, eventually leading to enhanced adaptive and innate immunity.     

基于单透镜的空间光-单模光纤耦合方法

将自由空间光耦合进单模光纤产生超连续谱的实验中,空间光与单模光纤的耦合效率是其中的一个关键问题。常采用的单透镜或显微物镜进行耦合存在耦合效率低、调整难度大、端面易损伤等问题。提出了先将自由空间的光耦合进纤芯尺寸较大的单模光纤,然后将纤芯较大的单模光纤和纤芯较小的单模光纤进行熔接。实验结果表明,改进的耦合系统耦合效率大大提高,达到60％以上,且调整难度降低,光纤端面的损伤概率降低,大大提高了超连续谱产生的效率。     

Vanadium-Substituted Dawson-Type Polyoxometalate–TiO2 Nanowire Composite Film as Advanced Cathode Material for Bifunctional Electrochromic Energy-Storage Devices

Polyoxometalates (POMs) demonstrate potential for application in the development of integrated smart energy devices based on bifunctional electrochromic (EC) optical modulation and electrochemical energy storage. Herein, a nanocomposite thin film composed of a vanadium-substituted Dawson-type POM, i.e., K₇[P₂W₁₇VO₆₂]·18H₂O, and TiO₂ nanowires were constructed via the combination of hydrothermal and layer-by-layer self-assembly methods. Through scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy characterisations, it was found that the TiO₂ nanowire substrate acts as a skeleton to adsorb POM nanoparticles, thereby avoiding the aggregation or stacking of POM particles. The unique three-dimensional core−shell structures of these nanocomposites with high specific surface areas increases the number of active sites during the reaction process and shortens the ion diffusion pathway, thereby improving the electrochemical activities and electrical conductivities. Compared with pure POM thin films, the composite films showed improved EC properties with a significant optical contrast (38.32% at 580 nm), a short response time (1.65 and 1.64 s for colouring and bleaching, respectively), an excellent colouration efficiency (116.5 cm² C⁻¹), and satisfactory energy-storage properties (volumetric capacitance = 297.1 F cm⁻³ at 0.2 mA cm⁻²). Finally, a solid-state electrochromic energy-storage (EES) device was fabricated using the composite film as the cathode. After charging, the constructed device was able to light up a single light-emitting diode for 20 s. These results highlight the promising features of POM-based EES devices and demonstrate their potential for use in a wide range of applications, such as smart windows, military camouflage, sensors, and intelligent systems.     

Interfacial Adhesion between Fatty Acid Collectors and Hydrophilic Surfaces: Implications for Low-Rank Coal Flotation

Fatty acids, which are enriched in vegetable oil, have attracted much attention in low-rank coal flotation because of their unique chemical structure. In this study, density functional theory calculations, molecular dynamics simulations, and atomic force microscopy were employed to investigate the adsorption structure and forces between collectors and hydrophilic surfaces. The results show that fatty acids can be easily adsorbed onto surfaces through hydrogen bonds, and can cover the oxygen sites. The existence of hydration film on hydrophilic surfaces prevented nonpolar molecules from being able to adsorb, while polar fatty acids could adsorb and expel water molecules. The adhesion force between the RCOOH-terminated probe and the surface appeared in the retraction process, which differed significantly from that of the RCH₃-terminated probe, indicating that polar fatty acids are more suitable as flotation collectors for low-rank coal than nonpolar hydrocarbon oil. The simulation and AFM test revealed the mechanisms of polar fatty acids, and can provide guidance for low-rank coal flotation applications.     

化学计量学在分析化学中的应用

从化学定量构效关系、模式识别法、人工神经网络、波谱化学、多元校正分析法等方面对化学计量学在分析化学中的应用进行了综述。阐明了化学计量学在分析化学中的作用及广阔的应用前景。     

ENVIRONMENTAL STABILITY OF THE POLYENE PREPARED BY DEHYDROCHLORINATION OF POLY(VINYL CHLORIDE)

A high-quality polyene can be obtained by exensive dehydrochlorination of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) in aliquid/solid two-phase system. The liquid phase is a tetrahydrofuran solution of PVC containing a small amount ofpoly(ethylene glycol) with molar mass of 400 g as a phase transfer catalys. The solid phase is potassium hydroxide particles.The structure of the polyene is polyacetylene-like and has a long conjugated C=C sequence and a narrow dispersity ofpolyene sequences according to its FT-infrared and Raman spectra. The environmental stability of the polyene was alsostudied by IR, Raman spectra and elemental analysis. Experimental results demonstrated that the polyene was susceptible toair and could be changed into a material containing high concentrations of hydroxyl and carbonyl groups. The polyenesequences were shortened and its dispersity became broader due to the effect of dioxygen.     

Determination of Monochloroacetic Acid and Dichloroacetic Acid for Quality Control of Acetic Acid Chlorination Industry by Ion Chromatography

An ion chromatographic method is described for the purpose of quality control in the process of monochloroacetic acid production. Using 2.5 mM NaOH–10% methanol as eluent, the simultaneous determination of acetic acid, monochloroacetic acid, dichloroacetic acid, and Cl⁻ was obtained in a single run. Monochloroacetic acid and dichloroacetic acid showed good linearity in the range 0.1–20 and 0.15–20 μg/ml and correlation coefficients were 0.9999 and 0.9998, respectively. The detection limits (signal-to-noise ratio 3:1) of monochloroacetic acid and dichloroacetic acid were 17 and 25 ng/ml. This simple, sensitive, and time-saving method can be applied for composition analysis in acetic acid chlorination production.     

吸收光谱法研究新型双钼配合物{Mo[S2CN(C2H5)2 4}{MOCl6)}的结构

双钼配合物〔Mo(DTC)₄〕〔MoCl₆〕(其中DTC=S₂CN(C₂H₅)₂)由于它在一个分子中同时包含两个处于不同配位环境中的、表观氧化态都是正五价的钼,即:一个Mo⁵⁺与四个DTC配体构成配位阳离子〔Mo(DTC)₄〕⁺;另一个Mo⁵⁺与氯离子配体构成配位阴离子〔MoCl₆〕^-而独具特色。本文首次发表了它的红外和紫外-可见吸收光谱数据,并通过初步的光谱分析,确定了上述配合物的结构特征。     

Vitamin E Can Ameliorate Oxidative Damage of Ovine Hepatocytes In Vitro by Regulating Genes Expression Associated with Apoptosis and Pyroptosis,but Not Ferroptosis

(1) Background: the current research was conducted to investigate the potential non-antioxidant roles of vitamin E in the protection of hepatocysts from oxidative damage. (2) Methods: primary sheep hepatocytes were cultured and exposed to 200, 400, 600, or 800 μmol/L hydrogen peroxide, while their viability was assessed using a CCK-8 kit. Then, cells were treated with 400 μmol/L hydrogen peroxide following a pretreatment with 50, 100, 200, 400, and 800 μmol/L vitamin E and their intracellular ROS levels were determined by means of the DCF-DA assay. RNA-seq, verified by qRT-PCR, was conducted thereafter: non-treated control (C1); cells treated with 400 μmol/L hydrogen peroxide (C2); and C2 plus a pretreatment with 100 μmol/L vitamin E (T1). (3) Results: the 200–800 μmol/L hydrogen peroxide caused significant cell death, while 50, 100, and 200 μmol/L vitamin E pretreatment significantly improved the survival rate of hepatocytes. ROS content in the cells pretreated with vitamin E was significantly lower than that in the control group and hydrogen-peroxide-treated group, especially in those pretreated with 100 μmol/L vitamin E. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) concerning cell death involved in apoptosis (RIPK1, TLR7, CASP8, and CASP8AP2), pyroptosis (NLRP3, IL-1β, and IRAK2), and ferroptosis (TFRC and PTGS2). The abundances of IL-1β, IRAK2, NLRP3, CASP8, CASP8AP2, RIPK1, and TLR7 were significantly increased in the C1 group and decreased in T1 group, while TFRC and PTGS2 were increased in T1 group. (4) Conclusions: oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide caused cellular damage and death in sheep hepatocytes. Pretreatment with vitamin E effectively reduced intracellular ROS levels and protected the hepatocytes from cell death by regulating gene expression associated with apoptosis (RIPK1, TLR7, CASP8, and CASP8AP2) and pyroptosis (NLRP3, IL-1β, and IRAK2), but not ferroptosis (TFRC and PTGS2).