β-Carotene Inhibits Expression of Matrix Metalloproteinase-10 and Invasion in Helicobacter pylori-Infected Gastric Epithelial Cells

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), key molecules of cancer invasion and metastasis, degrade the extracellular matrix and cell–cell adhesion molecules. MMP-10 plays a crucial role in Helicobacter pylori-induced cell-invasion. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, which activates activator protein-1 (AP-1), is known to mediate MMP expression. Infection with H. pylori, a Gram-negative bacterium, is associated with gastric cancer development. A toxic factor induced by H. pylori infection is reactive oxygen species (ROS), which activate MAPK signaling in gastric epithelial cells. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ) mediates the expression of antioxidant enzymes including catalase. β-Carotene, a red-orange pigment, exerts antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. We aimed to investigate whether β-carotene inhibits H. pylori-induced MMP expression and cell invasion in gastric epithelial AGS (gastric adenocarcinoma) cells. We found that H. pylori induced MMP-10 expression and increased cell invasion via the activation of MAPKs and AP-1 in gastric epithelial cells. Specific inhibitors of MAPKs suppressed H. pylori-induced MMP-10 expression, suggesting that H. pylori induces MMP-10 expression through MAPKs. β-Carotene inhibited the H. pylori-induced activation of MAPKs and AP-1, expression of MMP-10, and cell invasion. Additionally, it promoted the expression of PPAR-γ and catalase, which reduced ROS levels in H. pylori-infected cells. In conclusion, β-carotene exerts an inhibitory effect on MAPK-mediated MMP-10 expression and cell invasion by increasing PPAR-γ-mediated catalase expression and reducing ROS levels in H. pylori-infected gastric epithelial cells.     

Practical Synthesis of 2-Iodosobenzoic Acid (IBA) without Contamination by Hazardous 2-Iodoxybenzoic Acid (IBX) under Mild Conditions

We report a convenient and practical method for the preparation of nonexplosive cyclic hypervalent iodine(III) oxidants as efficient organocatalysts and reagents for various reactions using Oxone^® in aqueous solution under mild conditions at room temperature. The thus obtained 2-iodosobenzoic acids (IBAs) could be used as precursors of other cyclic organoiodine(III) derivatives by the solvolytic derivatization of the hydroxy group under mild conditions of 80 °C or lower temperature. These sequential procedures are highly reliable to selectively afford cyclic hypervalent iodine compounds in excellent yields without contamination by hazardous pentavalent iodine(III) compound.     

Simple and Equipment-Free Paper-Based Device for Determination of Mercury in Contaminated Soil

This work presents a simple and innovative protocol employing a microfluidic paper-based analytical device (µPAD) for equipment-free determination of mercury. In this method, mercury (II) forms an ionic-association complex of tetraiodomercurate (II) ion (HgI₄²⁻_(aq)) using a known excess amount of iodide. The residual iodide flows by capillary action into a second region of the paper where it is converted to iodine by pre-deposited iodate to liberate I_2(g) under acidic condition. Iodine vapor diffuses across the spacer region of the µPAD to form a purple colored of tri-iodide starch complex in a detection zone located in a separate layer of the µPAD. The digital image of the complex is analyzed using ImageJ software. The method has a linear calibration range of 50–350 mg L⁻¹ Hg with the detection limit of 20 mg L⁻¹. The method was successfully applied to the determination of mercury in contaminated soil and water samples which the results agreed well with the ICP-MS method. Three soil samples were highly contaminated with mercury above the acceptable WHO limits (0.05 mg kg⁻¹). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first colorimetric µPAD method that is applicable for soil samples including mercury contaminated soils from gold mining areas.     

Photoinduced Water Oxidation in Chitosan Nanostructures Containing Covalently Linked RuII Chromophores and Encapsulated Iridium Oxide Nanoparticles

The luminophore Ru(bpy)₂(dcbpy)²⁺ (bpy=2,2’-bipyridine; dcbpy=4,4’-dicarboxy-2,2’-bipyridine) is covalently linked to a chitosan polymer; crosslinking by tripolyphosphate produced Ru-decorated chitosan fibers (NS-RuCh), with a 20 : 1 ratio between chitosan repeating units and Ru^II chromophores. The properties of the Ru^II compound are unperturbed by the chitosan structure, with NS-RuCh exhibiting the typical metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) absorption and emission bands of Ru^II complexes. When crosslinks are made in the presence of IrO₂ nanoparticles, such species are encapsulated within the nanofibers, thus generating the IrO₂⊂NS-RuCh system, in which both Ru^II photosensitizers and IrO₂ water oxidation catalysts are within the nanofiber structures. NS-RuCh and IrO₂⊂NS-RuCh have been characterized by dynamic light scattering, scanning electronic microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, which indicated a 2 : 1 ratio between Ru^II chromophores and IrO₂ species. Photochemical water oxidation has been investigated by using IrO₂⊂NS-RuCh as the chromophore/catalyst assembly and persulfate anions as the sacrificial species: photochemical water oxidation yields O₂ with a quantum yield (Φ) of 0.21, definitely higher than the Φ obtained with a similar solution containing separated Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ and IrO₂ nanoparticles (0.05) or with respect to that obtained when using NS-RuCh and “free” IrO₂ nanoparticles (0.10). A fast hole-scavenging process (rate constant, 7×10⁴ s⁻¹) involving the oxidized photosensitizer and the IrO₂ catalyst within the IrO₂⊂NS-RuCh system is behind the improved photochemical quantum yield of IrO₂⊂NS-RuCh.     

New green process to increase the solubility of soil fertilizer based on Potassium Nitrate (KNO3)

Fertilization is the set of operations that consists of fertilizing the soil so that the plant finds all these mineral nutrition needs, among these nutrients is found potassium nitrate (KNO₃), as an important source of two elements which are nitrogen (N) and potassium (K). The need for potassium nitrate for plants will increase dramatically as its demand for nutrition growing up. However, the application of this potassium in fertilization is limited by a physicochemical parameter which is solubility. The availability of potassium and nitrogen in ionic form, which can be assimilated by the plant, is closely related to its solubility in irrigation water. Herein, we have chosen three experimental parameters such as the KNO₃ content, the magnetization time, and the type of water, to optimize the factors which have the maximum effect on KNO₃ solubility.We adopted a model from nine experiments performed with Minitab software, which informed us that the solubility of KNO₃ in irrigation water is strongly influenced by water type, magnetization time and KNO₃ content. The best conditions which allow the best solubility of potassium nitrate are 24% KNO₃, 30 ​min of water magnetization, and salt water (SW).     

Transition metal-based electrocatalysts for overall water splitting

Electrochemical overall water splitting is attracting a broad focus as a promising strategy for converting the electrical output of renewable resources into chemical fuels, specifically oxygen and hydrogen. However, the urgent challenge in water electrolysis is to search for low-cost, high-efficiency catalysts based on earth-abundant elements as an alternative to the high-cost but effective noble metal-based catalysts. The transition metal-based catalysts are more appealing than the noble metal catalysts because of its low cost, high performance and long stability. Some recent advances for the development in overall water splitting are reviewed in terms of transition metal-based oxides, carbides, phosphides, sulfides, and hybrids of their mixtures as hybrid bifunctional electrocatalysts. Concentrating on different catalytic mechanisms, recent advances in their structural design, controllable synthesis, mechanistic insight, and performance-enhancing strategies are proposed. The challenges and prospects for the future development of transition metal-based bifunctional electrocatalysts are also addressed.     

亚表面引发原子转移自由基聚合构筑温度响应型纳米纤维油水分离膜

亚表面引发聚合是一种用于制备共价嵌入型聚合物刷的新型改性策略.该方法在发展高稳定性聚合物刷功能化表界面材料方面具有显著的优势.本工作利用亚表面引发原子转移自由基聚合(sSI-ATRP)对静电纺丝聚丙烯腈(PAN)基纳米纤维膜进行亚表面改性,通过接枝聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺(PNIPAM)制备了温度响应型纳米纤维油水分离膜(...     

单分子层受限冰-水共存界线毛细波与固-液相变动力学

冰-水界面动力学性质在冰形核、生长、表界面熔化中扮演核心角色,长期以来一直被广泛关注.然而,受限水体系中冰-水界面的动力学性质却鲜有报道.本工作利用平衡态分子动力学模拟方法和受限固-液两相平衡模拟技术,对两种水模型(恒定偶极矩、可极化)描述的单分子层受限冰-水两相平衡体系中的一维固-液界线开展研究.通过对一维受限冰-水...     

用混合床离子色谱柱同时测定阴阳离子

将阴离子交换树脂和阳离子交换换树脂混合后填充在一根色谱柱中，即所谓阴阳离子混合床柱。研究了阴阳离子在此混合柱上的保留行为并探讨了其保留机理。