Pilot-Scale Optimization of Supercritical CO2 Extraction of Dry Paprika Capsicum annuum: Influence of Operational Conditions and Storage on Extract Composition

Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction was used to extract carotenoids from dry paprika Capsicum annuum. Studies regarding the effect of process parameters, including pressure (25–45 MPa), temperature (40–60 °C), and time (10–110 min), were carried out using response surface methodology. It was found that under optimal conditions (pressure of 45 MPa, temperature of 50 °C, and time of 74 min), the extract yield was 10.05%, and the total content of carotenoids in the extract was 4.21%, in good agreement with the predicted values (10.24% and 4.24%, respectively). Composition analysis showed that paprika extract mainly consisted of linoleic acid. There was no significant difference between the fatty acid content of the extracts obtained by SC-CO₂ extraction and n-hexane Soxhlet extraction. For functional purposes, the effect of storage conditions and time on the quality of paprika extract was also specified.     

Recent Advances in Synergistic Antitumor Effects Exploited from the Inhibition of Ataxia Telangiectasia and RAD3-Related Protein Kinase (ATR)

As one of the key phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-related kinases (PIKKs) family members, ataxia telangiectasia and RAD3-related protein kinase (ATR) is crucial in maintaining mammalian cell genomic integrity in DNA damage response (DDR) and repair pathways. Dysregulation of ATR has been found across different cancer types. In recent years, the inhibition of ATR has been proven to be effective in cancer therapy in preclinical and clinical studies. Importantly, tumor-specific alterations such as ATM loss and Cyclin E1 (CCNE1) amplification are more sensitive to ATR inhibition and are being exploited in synthetic lethality (SL) strategy. Besides SL, synergistic anticancer effects involving ATRi have been reported in an increasing number in recent years. This review focuses on the recent advances in different forms of synergistic antitumor effects, summarizes the pharmacological benefits and ongoing clinical trials behind the biological mechanism, and provides perspectives for future challenges and opportunities. The hope is to draw awareness to the community that targeting ATR should have great potential in developing effective anticancer medicines.     

A microfluidics-dispensing-printing strategy for Janus photonic crystal microspheres towards smart patterned displays

From the implementation point of view, the printable magnetic Janus colloidal photonic crystals (CPCs) microspheres are highly desirable. Herein, we developed a dispensing-printing strategy for magnetic Janus CPCs display via a microfluidics-automatic printing system. Monodisperse core/shell colloidal particles and magnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles precursor serve as inks. Based on the equilibrium of three-phase interfacial tensions, Janus structure is successfully formed, followed by UV irradiation and self-assembly of colloid particle to generate magnetic Janus CPCs microspheres. Notably, this method shows distinct superiority with highly uniform Janus CPCs structure, where the TMPTA/Fe₃O₄ hemisphere is in the bottom side while CPCs hemisphere is in the top side. Thus, by using Janus CPCs microspheres with two different structural colors as pixel points, a pattern with red flower and green leaf is achieved. Moreover, 1D linear Janus CPCs pattern encapsulated by hydrogel is also fabricated. Both the color and the shape can be changed under the traction of magnets, showing great potentials in flexible smart displays. We believe this work not only offers a new feasible pathway to construct magnetic Janus CPCs patterns by a dispensing-printable fashion, but also provides new opportunities for flexible and smart displays.     

Optimization of Flavonoid Extraction from Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge Flowers,and the Antioxidant and Antibacterial Capacity of the Extract

In the present work, the extraction process of total flavonoids (TFs) from X. sorbifolia flowers by ultrasound-assisted extraction was optimized under the response surface methodology (RSM) on the basis of single-factor experiments. The optimal extraction conditions were as follows: ethanol concentration of 80%, solid–liquid ratio of 1:37 (g/mL), temperature of 84 °C, and extraction time of 1 h. Under the optimized conditions, the extraction yield of the TFs was 3.956 ± 0.04%. The radical scavenging capacities of TFs against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) were much greater than that of rutin. The results of antibacterial experiments indicated that the TFs displayed strong inhibitory activities on E. coli, S. aureus and Bacillus subtilis. Therefore, X. sorbifolia flowers can be used as a novel source of natural flavonoids, and the TFs have potential applications as natural antioxidants or antibacterial agents in the food and pharmaceutical industries.     

锆氢化反应研究 Ⅰ.酯类及双官能团化合物的锆氢化反应

本工作以一氯一氢二茂锆为还原试剂,对苯甲酸苯乙酯和苯甲酸甲酯进行还原,对还原的条件及水解产物的分离鉴定进行了研究。并对同时含酯基与其它官能团的几种化合物进行了选择性还原,列出了官能团还原先后的顺序,对结果进行了讨论。     

离子选择电极阵列土壤中硝态氮测定

土壤硝态氮反映土壤短期氮素供应水平,实时了解土壤硝态氮的含量为精准农业和农业面源污染防控提供支撑,因此,在线实时检测土壤硝态氮方法突破就显得十分迫切。土壤硝态氮中的硝酸根离子在土壤中的高水溶性和流动性为全固态硝酸根离子选择电极高敏感检测土壤中硝态氮提供了条件,固态硝态氮离子选择电极的离子选择膜反应硝酸根离子在被测溶液中的浓度。采用全固态硝酸根离子选择电极,且与温度电极和pH电极融合组成电极阵列对土壤饱和溶液中的硝态根离子进行检测。设计了高输入阻抗运算放大电路对电极信号进行采集,并通过微处理控制蠕动泵完成土壤硝态氮待测溶液连续流动测量及实时传输结果。实验结果表明,电极响应时间≤15 s,斜率-51.63 mV/decade,线性范围10-5-10-2.2 mol/L,最低检测限10-5.23 mol/L。相对标准差在0.78%-4.47%范围内,加标回收率均在90%-110%以内。与国家标准紫外可见分光光度法测试结果相比,相关系数（R2）为0.9952,为土壤硝态氮在现场检测奠定技术基础。     

基于核酸的纸基荧光生物传感器的设计及应用

纸基生物传感器由于其具有成本低、操作方便、生物可降解、识别元件用量低等优点,近年来受到了广泛的关注。其中,以功能核酸作为识别元件的纸基荧光生物传感器具有较高的灵敏度、瞬时响应以及实时检测等特性,在便携式传感设备方面展现出巨大的潜力。此外,将核酸作为识别元件的纸基无细胞蛋白合成平台,通过条件合成的报告荧光蛋白可实现对病毒、重金属等目标物的特异性检测,具有良好的应用前景。首先,本文介绍了基于核酸的纸基荧光生物传感器的设计,特别是基于核酸的识别元件与纸基材料的结合方式。其次,总结了基于核酸的纸基荧光生物传感器在临床诊断、食品安全检测、环境污染物检测等不同领域的最新研究进展,讨论了其优势与局限性。最后,探讨了基于核酸的纸基荧光生物传感器的发展方向与应用前景,以期为相关领域的研究提供参考。     

Triple-Layered Metal-Organic Framework Hybrid for Tandem Response-Driven Enhanced Chemotherapy

The precise release of drugs is essential to improve cancer therapeutic efficacy. In this work, a tandem responsive strategy was developed based on a triple-layered metal-organic framework (MOF) hybrid. The MOF nanoprobe was stepwise fabricated with a telomerase-responsive inner, a pH-sensitive MOF filling and H₂O₂-responsive coordination complex shell of Fe³⁺ and eigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). In the tumor microenvironment, the shell was dissociated by endogenous H₂O₂ and simultaneously produced highly reactive hydroxyl radicals by a Fenton reaction. Meanwhile, the released EGCG could downregulate the expression of P-glycoprotein responsible for drug resistance. After the dissociation of the framework by protons, telomerase could trigger the release of the drug from the DNA duplex on the exposed inner shell. By integrating confined drug release, inhibited efflux pump and chemodynamic therapy, the all-in-one chemotherapy strategy was identified with enhanced therapeutic efficacy in drug-resistant cancer cells.     

Achieving Enhanced Photochromic Properties of Diarylethene through Host-Guest Interaction in Aqueous Solution

Diarylethene (DTE) has been widely used in fluorescence probes, molecular logic gates, optical data-storage devices owing to the excellent photochromic property, while constructing high-performance photochromic DTE in aqueous media remains a big challenge. Herein we present several host-guest systems formed between cucurbit[n]uril (CB[n], n=7, 8, 10) and two water-soluble DTE derivatives 1 and 2 . It was found that host-guest interactions not only affect the photophysical properties of photochromic guests, but also make great differences on the photoreaction process. Different host-guest binding behaviors also lead to different effects on the photochromic properties of guests. In the presence of CB[n], both 1 and 2 showed enhanced emission and higher fluorescence quenching ratio at photostationary state. Besides, CB[10] ⋅1 exhibited faster response rate in cyclization reaction and better photofatigue resistance than free 1 in aqueous solution, while the supramolecular assembly of (CB[8])_n ⋅ ( 2 )_n showed slower response rate in both directions of the reversible photoreaction. Besides, the photofatigue resistance of 2 can be greatly improved through binding with CB[7]. Our results suggest that host-guest interactions could be an efficient way to improve photochromic properties of DTE in aqueous solution.     

Analysis of NH3-TPD Profiles for CuSSZ-13 SCR Catalyst of Controlled Al Distribution – Complexity Resolved by First Principles Thermodynamics of NH3 Desorption,IR and EPR Insight into Cu Speciation**

NH₃ temperature-programmed desorption (NH₃-TPD) is frequently used for probing the nature of the active sites in CuSSZ-13 zeolite for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO_x. Herein, we propose an interpretation of NH₃-TPD results, which takes into account the temperature-induced dynamics of NH₃ interaction with the active centers. It is based on a comprehensive DFT/GGA+D and first-principles thermodynamic (FPT) modeling of NH₃ adsorption on single Cu²⁺, Cu⁺, [CuOH]⁺ centers, dimeric [Cu-O-Cu]²⁺, [Cu-O₂²⁻-Cu]² species, segregated CuO nanocrystals and Brønsted acid sites (BAS). Theoretical TPD profiles are compared with the experimental data measured for samples of various Si/Al ratios and distribution of Al within the zeolite framework. Copper reduction, its relocation, followed by the intrazeolite olation/oxolation processes, which are concomitant with NH₃ desorption, were revealed by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and IR. DFT/FPT results show that the peaks in the desorption profiles cannot be assigned univocally to the particular Cu and BAS centers, since the observed low-, medium- and high-temperature desorption bands have contributions coming from several species, which dynamically change their speciation and redox states during NH₃-TPD experiment. Thus, a rigorous interpretation of the NH₃-TPD profiles of CuSSZ-13 in terms of the strength and concentration of the active centers of a particular type is problematic. Nonetheless, useful connections for molecular interpretation of TPD profiles can be established between the individual component peaks and the corresponding ensembles of the adsorption centers.