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To evaluate the efficacy of yellow light-emitting diode (LED) irradiation at 590 nm, alone or in combination with anti-inflammatory active substances against ultraviolet (UV)-induced inflammation in keratinocytes. HaCaT keratinocytes were pretreated with LED yellow light (590 nm) alone or in combination with an antiinflammatory active substance such as glycerophosphoinositol choline (GC), extract of grains of paradise (Aframomum melegueta Schum, AM), or a bisabolol and ginger root extract mixture (Bb-GE) before UVB irradiation. Following each treatment, we measured the levels of inflammatory mediators secreted by keratinocytes. HaCaT keratinocytes treated with UVB (300 mJ cm−²) and then cultured for 24 h exhibited significantly upregulated expression of proinflammatory factors, including interleukin (IL)-1α, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and IL-8. After pretreatment with 590 nm LED, UVB-induced inflammatory responses were significantly inhibited. Co-pretreatment with 590 nm LED irradiation and GC further inhibited the expression of IL-1α and IL-8. IL-8 expression was inhibited by co-pretreatment with 590 nm LED irradiation and AM, whereas PGE2 expression was inhibited by co-pretreatment with 590 nm LED irradiation and Bb-GE. Co-treatment with 590 nm LED irradiation and various active substances modulated UVB-induced inflammation in keratinocytes, suggesting the potential application of this approach to prevent damage caused by voluntary sun exposure in daily life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium‐sulfur batteries (Li−S) have possessed gratifying development in the past decade due to their high theoretical energy density. However, the severe polysulfide shuttling provokes undesirable self‐discharge effect, leading to low energy efficiency in Li−S batteries. Herein, an interlayer composed of oxygen‐rich carbon nanosheets (OCN) derived from bagasse is elaborated to suppress the shuttle effect and reduce the resultant self‐discharge effect. The OCN interlayer is able to physically block the shuttling behavior of polysulfides and its oxygen‐rich functional groups can strongly interact with polysulfides via O−S bonds to chemically immobilize mobile polysulfides. The self‐discharge test for seven days further shows that the self‐discahrge rate is diminished by impressive 93 %. As a result, Li−S batteries with the OCN interlayer achieve an ultrahigh discharge specific capacity of 710 mAh g−1 at a high mass loading of 7.18 mg. The work provides a facile method for designing functional interlayers and opens a new avenue for realizing Li−S batteries with high energy efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Chlorogenic acid (CGA), as one of the most abundant naturally occurring phenolic acids, has been documented to be beneficial for intestinal health. However, the underlying mechanism is still not fully understood. The adult intestinal stem cell is the critical driver of epithelial homeostasis and regeneration. RESULTS: This study hypothesized that CGA exerted intestinal health effects by modulating intestinal stem‐cell functions. Lgr5‐EGFP mice were treated for 14 days, and intestinal organoids derived from these mice were treated for 3 days, using CGA solution. In comparison with the control group, CGA treatment increased intestinal villous height and crypt depth in mice and augmented the area expansion and the number of budding intestinal organoids. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis revealed that CGA treatment significantly increased the expression of genes coding intestinal stem‐cell markers in intestinal tissue and organoids, and upregulated the expression of genes coding secretory cell lineages and enterocytes, although not statistically significantly. Fluorescence‐activated cell‐sorting analysis further confirmed that CGA augmented the number of stem cells. 5‐Ethynyl‐2'‐deoxyuridine (EdU) incorporation and Ki67 immunostaining results also demonstrated that CGA treatment enhanced intestinal stem‐cell proliferation. CONCLUSION: Altogether, our findings indicate that CGA could activate intestinal stem‐cell and epithelial regeneration, which could contribute to the improvement of intestinal morphology or organoid growth of mice. This highlights a promising mechanism for CGA as an excellent candidate for the formulation of dietary supplements and functional foods for intestinal protection. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oral microbiome is second only to its intestinal counterpart in diversity and abundance, but its effects on taste cells remains largely unexplored. Using single-cell RNASeq, we found that mouse taste cells, in particular, sweet and umami receptor cells that express taste 1 receptor member 3 (Tas1r3), have a gene expression signature reminiscent of Microfold (M) cells, a central player in immune surveillance in the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) such as those in the Peyer's patch and tonsils. Administration of tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 11 (TNFSF11; also known as RANKL), a growth factor required for differentiation of M cells, dramatically increased M cell proliferation and marker gene expression in the taste papillae and in cultured taste organoids from wild-type (WT) mice. Taste papillae and organoids from knockout mice lacking Spib (SpibKO), a RANKL-regulated transcription factor required for M cell development and regeneration on the other hand, failed to respond to RANKL. Taste papillae from SpibKO mice also showed reduced expression of NF-κB signaling pathway components and proinflammatory cytokines and attracted fewer immune cells. However, lipopolysaccharide-induced expression of cytokines was strongly up-regulated in SpibKO mice compared to their WT counterparts. Like M cells, taste cells from WT but not SpibKO mice readily took up fluorescently labeled microbeads, a proxy for microbial transcytosis. The proportion of taste cell subtypes are unaltered in SpibKO mice; however, they displayed increased attraction to sweet and umami taste stimuli. We propose that taste cells are involved in immune surveillance and may tune their taste responses to microbial signaling and infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In mammals, multiple cell-signaling pathways and transcription factors regulate development of the embryonic taste system and turnover of taste cells in the adult stage. Using single-cell RNA-Seq of mouse taste cells, we found that the homeobox-containing transcription factor Nkx2-2, a target of the Sonic Hedgehog pathway and a key regulator of the development and regeneration of multiple cell types in the body, is highly expressed in type III taste cells but not in type II or taste stem cells. Using in situ hybridization and immunostaining, we confirmed that Nkx2-2 is expressed specifically in type III taste cells in the endoderm-derived circumvallate and foliate taste papillae but not in the ectoderm-derived fungiform papillae. Lineage tracing revealed that Nkx2 -2-expressing cells differentiate into type III, but not type II or type I cells in circumvallate and foliate papillae. Neonatal Nkx2-2 -knockout mice did not express key type III taste cell marker genes, while the expression of type II and type I taste cell marker genes were unaffected in these mice. Our findings indicate that Nkx2-2 -expressing cells are committed to the type III lineage and that Nkx2 -2 may be critical for the development of type III taste cells in the posterior tongue, thus illustrating a key difference in the mechanism of type III cell lineage specification between ectoderm- and endoderm-derived taste fields. [Display omitted] • Nkx2-2 is expressed in type III taste cells in endoderm-derived taste papillae. • Nkx2-2 expressing taste cells do not transdifferentiate into other taste cell types. • Mice lacking Nkx2-2 have reduced expression of type III taste cell marker genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Dosage-signal response curve of STRs is related to the Weber-Fechner's law. • Calcium signal from STRs assay and sensory intensity presented linear correlation. • Sweetness evaluation based on STRs exhibits a good stability and reliability. • Sweetness evaluation based on STRs is a potential alternative to sensory evaluation. Sweetness is a crucial indicator for identifying sweeteners used for flavor regulation and nutritional matching of foods. This study established a new quantitative sweetness evaluation method based on a combination of transiently transfected sweet taste receptor cells (STRs) and human sensory evaluation. Here, nine different sweeteners were evaluated and 10 sensory difference intensities and their corresponding concentrations were obtained through sensory evaluation. Using the same concentration solution as in the sensory evaluation, the dosage-response curve and EC 50 of the nine sweeteners were obtained by analyzing the intracellular calcium signal fluctuation of STRs. Data analysis revealed that the calcium signal intensity and sweetness intensity under the same concentration of sweetener presented a strong linear correlation (R2 > 0.9). Additionally, we found a favorable correlation (R2 = 0.8746) between the relative sweetness and EC 50. These findings indicate that the quantitative evaluation of sweetness based on STRs could be a potential alternative to human sensory evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coagulation, inflammation, and hyperplasia frequently restrict the effectiveness of cardiovascular stents. It is critical to modify stent surfaces to allow for in situ tissue healing. Interrelated coagulation and inflammation can impede endothelialization and are critical to the long-term performance of cardiovascular implants. This study proposes a relatively bio-inert "Anti-fouling plus" coating that is effective in anti-coagulation and anti-inflammation at the early stage of implantation and provides mild inflammatory responses during tissue remodeling process. The phosphorylcholine (PC)-based polymer PM(PCLA) is reacted onto a polydopamine-treated polylactic acid (PLA) surface. PC-based polymers that mimic cell membranes present remarkable antiinflammation and anticoagulation properties. The composite of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and tempol is loaded on the PM(PCLA) coating to achieve "anti-fouling plus" which can mediate inflammatory responses by scavenging reactive oxygen species. In vitro hemocompatibility and cell tests demonstrate the effectiveness of coatings in inhibiting thrombus and inflammation. Interestingly, this study originally reveals a novel strategy that the anti-fouling plus coating can direct vascular tissue healing on stent via promoted endothelialization and mediated contractile smooth muscle cell phenotype by switching inflammatory cells to a pro-repair phenotype during tissue healing process, even if the coating is relatively bio-inert. An "Anti-fouling plus" coating combined with improved blood compatibility and enhanced inflammation-regulation ability can create a gentle microenvironment for neointima repair on the blood-contacting device surface, allowing for effective promotion of endothelialization as well as regulation of smooth muscle cell phenotypic transformation, and inflammatory cell transformation to a pro-repair type. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Minimally invasive transcatheter interventional therapy utilizing cardiac occluders represents the primary approach for addressing congenital heart defects and left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombosis. However, incomplete endothelialization and delayed tissue healing after occluder implantation collectively compromise clinical efficacy. In this study, we have customized a recombinant humanized collagen type I (rhCol I) and developed an rhCol I-based extracellular matrix (ECM)-mimetic coating. The innovative coating integrates metal-phenolic networks with anticoagulation and anti-inflammatory functions as a weak cross-linker, combining them with specifically engineered rhCol I that exhibits high cell adhesion activity and elicits a low inflammatory response. The amalgamation, driven by multiple forces, effectively serves to functionalize implantable materials, thereby responding positively to the microenvironment following occluder implantation. Experimental findings substantiate the coating's ability to sustain a prolonged anticoagulant effect, enhance the functionality of endothelial cells and cardiomyocyte, and modulate inflammatory responses by polarizing inflammatory cells into an anti-inflammatory phenotype. Notably, occluder implantation in a canine model confirms that the coating expedites reendothelialization process and promotes tissue healing. Collectively, this tailored ECM-mimetic coating presents a promising surface modification strategy for improving the clinical efficacy of cardiac occluders. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mouse taste receptor cells survive from 3–24 days, necessitating their regeneration throughout adulthood. In anterior tongue, sonic hedgehog (SHH), released by a subpopulation of basal taste cells, regulates transcription factors Gli2 and Gli3 in stem cells to control taste cell regeneration. Using single-cell RNA-Seq we found that Gli3 is highly expressed in Tas1r3-expressing taste receptor cells and Lgr5+ taste stem cells in posterior tongue. By PCR and immunohistochemistry we found that Gli3 was expressed in taste buds in all taste fields. Conditional knockout mice lacking Gli3 in the posterior tongue (Gli3CKO) had larger taste buds containing more taste cells than did control wild-type (Gli3WT) mice. In comparison to wild-type mice, Gli3CKO mice had more Lgr5+ and Tas1r3+ cells, but fewer type III cells. Similar changes were observed ex vivo in Gli3CKO taste organoids cultured from Lgr5+ taste stem cells. Further, the expression of several taste marker and Gli3 target genes was altered in Gli3CKO mice and/or organoids. Mirroring these changes, Gli3CKO mice had increased lick responses to sweet and umami stimuli, decreased lick responses to bitter and sour taste stimuli, and increased glossopharyngeal taste nerve responses to sweet and bitter compounds. Our results indicate that Gli3 is a suppressor of stem cell proliferation that affects the number and function of mature taste cells, especially Tas1r3+ cells, in adult posterior tongue. Our findings shed light on the role of the Shh pathway in adult taste cell regeneration and may help devise strategies for treating taste distortions from chemotherapy and aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The surface engineering of polyphenol-based sandwich-like films with PEI and Hep. • The polyphenols provided electrostatic, H-bonding, π-π stacking, etc. • This design improved the loading capacity and long-term release of drugs. • It might be a straightforward, versatile, and durable surface modification method. Through electrostatic and H-bonding interaction, polyelectrolyte could be self-assembled onto the medical devices via layer-by-layer (LBL) method. However, the built-in instability of LBL coating has seriously limited its further application. The polyphenols were incorporated into the polyelectrolyte coating, which provided various synergistic forces, including electrostatic, H-bonding, π-π stacking, and weak chemical cross-linking. The surface engineering of polyphenol-based sandwich-like films with polyethyleneimine and heparin via LBL self-assembly. This design improved the loading capacity and long-term release of drugs, such as heparin, rapamycin, and gentamicin sulfate. These experiments suggested enhanced durability of antithrombotic potential (over 90 days), good anti-inflammatory and anti-bacteria performances, and promotion of vascular healing. Therefore, all-in-one sandwich-like coatings might be a straightforward, versatile, and durable surface modification method for implantable medical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cascade Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) is a multiple step nonradiative process that occurs between more than one pair of energy donor and acceptor molecules on the scale less than 10 nm, and it has played an important role in developing fluorescence sensors because of its simplicity and sensitivity. Here, blue-emitting neutral poly(vinyl carbazole), green-emitting tris-(8-hydroxy-quinoline) aluminum, tris[2-(4,6-difluorophenyl) pyridinato-C2,N] iridium (III), and orange-emitting 4-(dicyano-methylene)-2-methyl-6-(4-dimethylamino-styryl)-4H-pyran (DCM) are coassembled with layered double hydroxide nanosheets using a layer-by-layer method to form inorganic/organic composite luminescence ultrathin films (UTFs). The UV-vis absorption, scanning electron microscopy, and small-angle X-ray diffraction results demonstrate that the fabricated ultrathin films are ordered, linear growth, and homogeneous. The photoluminescence spectroscopy demonstrates that the 2D cascade FRET process is realized and a significant enhancement of light emission and extended lifetime of DCM dye is obtained in the UTF. Furthermore, these composite UTFs show fast, sensitive, and selective fluorescence signal patterns toward common volatile organic compounds (VOCs) based on interfering the 2D cascade FRET process, implying its potential application in the VOC selective sensing field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of drug-eluting stents (DESs) have yield a significant reduction in the incidence of re-stenosis, however, challenges remain including incomplete healing of the endothelium, inflammatory response and thrombogenesis at the site of vascular wall injury. Here, we developed a novel stent with polyphenol-polyamine surface combining the biological functions of nitric oxide gas and VEGF, selectively promoting the proliferation and migration of endothelial cells while suppressing smooth muscle cells. Compared with bare PLLA stents and traditional DESs, the functionalized stents enhanced vascular healing through remarkable inhibiting intimal hyperplasia and occurrence of thrombosis, accelerating the in-situ endothelium repair. Moreover, it showed a down-regulation of injury vascular inflammation response and reduction of the vessel wall injury in New Zealand Rabbits after 1- and 3-month implantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drug-eluting stents (DESs) placement remarkably reduces the over-proliferation of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and thus neointimal hyperplasia. However, the pharmacological agent also slows down the re-endothelization, delays injury vascular healing and increases the risk of in-stent restenosis (ISR). Here, inspired by mussel foot proteins (Mfps), a mimicking endothelium functional stent coating was efficiently fabricated by thiol-ene "click" reaction, consisting of catechol grafted chitosan (CS–C), zinc sulfate, and Arg-Glu-Asp-Val (REDV) peptide. The mimicking endothelium coating could continuously catalyze endogenous nitric oxide (NO) gas and maintain the bioactivity of REDV peptide. Compared with bare stents, the mimicking coatings significantly inhibited the acute thrombosis for the first 1-week, accelerated re-endothelization and decreased in-stent restenosis for 1- and 3-month after implantation. In addition, the synergistic effect of NO and REDV peptide also regulated inflammation response and promoted the expression of muscle fiber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the importance and complexity of grade identification for rice eating quality, this study aimed to use a self-established flow-injection voltammetric electronic tongue (FIE-tongue) combined with SFFS-BO-SVM to replace human sensory evaluation. A novel FIE-tongue was firstly designed and established in this work, and the optimal rice pretreatment conditions were determined by fractional factorial design (FFD) which used for FIE-tongue detection. Based on optimized detection data, the optimized features and hyperparameters of 16 samples in three eating quality grades for SVM model were obtained by Sequential Floating Forward Selection (SFFS) algorithm and Bayesian Optimization (BO) algorithm, respectively. Compared to the original SVM model established by all features, the accuracy of SFFS-BO-SVM model for different grades were all higher than 92%, and have the increasement of 5.5%, 18.8%, and 11.4%, respectively. Therefore, the FIE-tongue combined with SFFS-BO-SVM method should be promising for rice eating quality grading and other food quality control. • A novel flow-injection E-tongue was established to optimize rice detection. • FFD method was designed to obtain ideal rice pretreatment method. • SFFS-BO-SVM method were designed to increase 11.9% of recognition accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The formaldehyde adsorption performance of TiO 2 is directly measured. • High and stable formaldehyde photocatalytic performance of TiO 2 is achieved. • The TiO 2 /Ti foil can be directly devised into a self-supporting annular reactor. • The TiO 2 /Ti foil catalytically out-performs conventional TiO 2 -P25 catalyst. One-step hydrothermal synthesis approach is applied to prepare oriented TiO 2 nanowires on a Ti foil which serves as both the substrate and Ti source. The grown TiO 2 nanowires are characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffractometry. The adsorption and photocatalytic performance of the TiO 2 /Ti foil catalyst in formaldehyde degradation has been explored in detail by a home-made setup, aiming at elucidating the photocatalytic performance of the TiO 2 /Ti foil catalyst as functions of the experimental preparation parameters, such as NaOH concentration, hydrothermal reaction temperature and time elapse as well as post-annealing temperature. More strikingly, the TiO 2 /Ti foil catalyst can be directly devised into a self-supporting annular reactor which is at least twice as efficient for the formaldehyde degradation as that based on commercial TiO 2 powder catalyst. This study presents a scalable and commercially viable strategy for indoor air purification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Sour taste perception builds on both chemical and physiological foundations, and plays an important role in food flavor, including that of fruit, beer, wine, and other beverages. A uniform sourness standard and sourness conversion method for researchers and food enterprises is necessary to obtain uniform conclusions. RESULTS: This study established an optimized organic acid sensory sourness analysis and sourness conversion method. It is based on sour sensory difference strength curves, which consist of an absolute threshold value and sensory difference threshold values. Defining the absolute threshold value of citric acid sourness as 1, sourness could be calculated according to the curve. With a logarithmic curve form, the acid sourness indexes (AI) were calculated as 1, 0.74, 0.77, 1.31, and 1.21 for citric, malic, fumaric, lactic, and tartaric acid samples, respectively. Consequently, each acid's sourness and concentration could be obtained and converted. Single acid and mixed acid sourness comparison evaluation's result implied that the novel method was more accurate (91.7–100%) than the hydrogen ion concentration method. CONCLUSION: The novel sourness determination and conversion equation would provide more accurate sourness standard and calculation method in food sensory areas. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drug-eluting stents have become one of the most effective methods to treat cardiovascular diseases. However, this therapeutic strategy may lead to thrombosis, stent restenosis, and intimal hyperplasia and prevent re-endothelialization. In this study, we selected 3-aminophenylboronic acid-modified hyaluronic acid and carboxylate chitosan as polyelectrolyte layers and embedded an epigallocatechin-3-gallate–tanshinone IIA sulfonic sodium (EGCG–TSS) complex to develop a sandwich-like layer-by-layer coating. The introduction of a functional molecular EGCG–TSS complex improved not only the biocompatibility of the coating but also its stability by enriching the interaction between the polyelectrolyte coatings through electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding, π–π stacking, and covalent bonding. We further elucidated the effectiveness of sandwich-like coatings in regulating the inflammatory response, smooth muscle cell growth behavior, stent thrombosis and restenosis suppression, and vessel re-endothelialization acceleration via in vivo and in vitro. Conclusively, we demonstrated that sandwich-like coating assisted by an EGCG–TSS complex may be an effective surface modification strategy for cardiovascular therapeutic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On page 6752, J. Lu and co‐workers present a sensor that is selective for volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Based on an inorganic/organic composite ultrathin film, the sensor applies 2D cascade Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) as readout. PVK@Ir(F2ppy)3@ 4‐(dicyanomethylene)‐2‐methyl‐6‐(4‐dimethylaminostyryl)‐4H‐pyran (DCM) and layered double hydroxide (LDH)nanosheets are assembled by the layer‐by‐layer method. These films show sensitive and selective fluorescence signal patterns for four VOC vapors by modulating the respective FRET process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Sweetness calculation equation for sucrose established: S suc = 12.36 ∗ log 10 C suc + 5.47. • Sweetness index (SI) for five sugars established. • Sweetness calculation equation for four sugars established: S X-ose = 12.36* log 10 (C X-ose SI) +5.47. • Conversion method and equation are more reliable than those in previous studies. Abstract This study's aim is to establish a new sensory sweetness definition and conversion method for five sugars. A "closed-type" question based on triangle test and paired comparison was used for sensory evaluation. The absolute threshold and nine sensory difference threshold values were determined and used to generate a sweet sensory difference strength curve. Defining absolute threshold of sucrose sweetness as 1, the sucrose sweetness at any concentration could be calculated via the curve. After taking the logarithm of each curve, sweetness index was calculated as 1, 1.12, 0.94, 1.29, and 1.25 for sucrose, glucose, fructose, lactose and maltose, respectively. Based on this, each sugar concentration and sweetness could be converted and calculated. Single sugar and mixed-sugars sweetness comparison experiments verified the new sweetness index and sweetness values were more accurate (83.3–100%) than those reported in previous studies. Therefore, this new definition and conversion method established more reliable references for sweet taste sensory applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Verified the feasibility of simple preparation of vascular stents coatings by a one-step method. • Based on DA, HA and Cu, the coating of mimicking the function of NO and HA secretion by endothelial cells was established. • Compared with bare stent materials, the coating showed significantly improved the ability of antithrombotic, promoted ECs proliferation, inhibited SMCs growth and mild inflammatory response. • The synergistic effect between the functional components was verified. • Vascular stents coated with coating exhibited the ability to rapidly endothelialize and inhibit intimal hyperplasia. Implantation of vascular stents, with particular reference to drug-eluting stents (DESs), is considered the main tool in treating coronary artery diseases (CADs) and has saved millions of lives. However, the complications, in-stent thrombosis (IST) and in-stent restenosis (ISR), of DESs are a major risk for stenting failure because of thrombus and hyperplasia. Vascular endothelial cells (ECs) are capable of secreting extracellular matrix (ECM) and vasoactive substances to maintain and regulate the homeostasis of the vascular environment. Hence, conferring endothelial-like functions to vascular stents is an effective solution to improve their biocompatibility. In this work, we propose a simple preparation method for a multi-functional coating that can mimic ECs function with continuous generation of nitric oxide (NO), located in a hyaluronic acid platform. The coating was fabricated by a one-pot deposition of dopamine (DA), thiol-hyaluronic acid (HA -SH), and copper ions (Cu). Thiol-modified HA was efficiently incorporated by DA, which mimics the adhesion mechanism of mussels, via the "thiol-Michael addition" click reaction, along with the complexing Cu which can catalyze the endogenous S-nitrosothiols (RSNO) to continuous liberation nitric oxide (NO). Both in vitro and in vivo experiments showed that the biomimetic microenvironment which hyaluronic acid coating combined with NO-generation capability could remarkably improve the anticoagulant properties of the vascular stents and further accelerate the in-situ endothelialization process while inhibiting the intimal hyperplasia and regulating inflammation. In conclusion, this study shows a simple one-pot method for the construction of multi-functional coatings that mimic an endothelial-like environment, which might endow vascular stents with enhanced anti-coagulation and endothelialization capability to prevent IST and ISR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Using solar energy to drive catalytic conversion of CO 2 into value-added chemicals has great potential to alleviate the global energy shortage and anthropogenic climate change. Herein, a "hitting three birds with one stone" strategy was reported to prepared boron-doped g-C 3 N 4 /TiO 2- x composite (BCT) by a one-step thermal reduction process. A series of characterizations showed that the composite catalyst has extended full-spectrum absorption, rapid photogenerated charge separation, and outstanding CO 2 photoreduction performance (265.2 μmol g-1h−1), which is 7.5 and 9.2 times higher than that of pure TiO 2 and g-C 3 N 4 , respectively. In addition, the CO 2 conversion rate can be further increased to 345.1 μmol g-1h−1 at 70 °C due to its excellent photothermal conversion. Mechanistic studies reveal that synergistic effects alter the charge density distribution, thereby lowering the energy barrier for CO 2 conversion by adsorbing and activating CO 2 molecules. This work provides a novel three-in-one integrated strategy for fabricating high-efficiency catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated that, in contrast to the properties of food‐derived copper, water‐derived copper exerts neurotoxic effects and exhibits different speciation during digestion. The cellular uptake efficiencies of different speciation of copper are distinct. However, it is unclear whether these different speciation share the same transport pathway in intestinal epithelial cells. In the present study, the intracellular accumulation of copper derived from copper ion and copper complex solutions was investigated in Caco‐2 cells. RESULTS: The cellular accumulation of copper derived from copper ions was higher than that of copper derived from the copper complex. Treatment with carboplatin and Ag+, which are copper transporter receptor 1 (Ctr1, LC31A1) inhibitors, did not inhibit copper accumulation in Caco‐2 cells, but inhibited copper accumulation in HepG2 cells. Zinc ion significantly decreased the intracellular copper content from 114 ± 7 μg g−1 protein to 88 ± 4 μg g−1 protein in the copper ion‐treated Caco‐2 cells, but not in the copper complex‐treated Caco‐2 cells (84.6 ± 14 μg g−1 protein versus 87.7 ± 20 μg g−1 protein, P > 0.05). Additionally, copper accumulation in Caco‐2 and HepG2 cells significantly differed depending on different solvents (Hanks' balanced salt solution and NaNO3, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the intracellular accumulation of copper derived from copper ion and copper complex is mediated by distinct copper transport pathways. Copper speciation may be an important factor that affects copper absorption and toxicity. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An environment-friendly coating termed "Anti-fouling plus" with inflammatory self-regulation ability was prepared. • The "Anti-fouling plus" coating presented an "on–off" Dex releasing property in response to externally high levels of ROS. • The "Anti-fouling plus" coating could mediate a gentle vascular microenvironment and thus promote vascular remodeling. Unhealthy vascular tissue healing after stenting is primarily triggered by endothelial dysfunction and excessive smooth muscle cell proliferation, which is induced and aggravated by local thrombosis and excessive inflammation. Excessive inflammatory response is closely related to elevated concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Here, an environment-friendly coating strategy termed "Anti-fouling plus" with inflammatory self-regulation ability was proposed. Upon this, membrane-mimicking copolymer MA(PCLA) served as the antifouling coating, effectively inhibiting coagulation and inflammation during the early stage of implantation. Furthermore, a ROS-responsive prodrug was drawn into the coating to promote tissue healing. A molecular prodrug of thioketal-bearing dexamethasone was engineered to be released in a controlled and responsive manner in response to externally high levels of ROS. The released dexamethasone exhibited highly effective anti-inflammation properties after implantation. The combination of ROS-responsive prodrug and membrane-mimicking antifouling interface strategy intelligently integrated inflammation responsiveness and regulation, which could mediate a gentle vascular microenvironment and thus promote vascular remodeling. In vivo stent implantation studies demonstrated that the proposed "Anti-fouling plus" coating effectively inhibited neointima hyperplasia, modulated the inflammatory response and promoted endothelialization, offering promising surface modification approaches for vascular stents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Lactoferrin-DHA-codelivered liposomes with various membrane structure were studied. • Liposomal size influenced particle degradation more obviously than its composition. • Liposome contained complex phospholipids showed a higher rate of in vitro digestion. • Small-sized complex phospholipid liposomes promoted cargos absorption in organoids. Inspired by membrane structure of breast milk and infant formula fat globules, four liposomes with different particle size (large and small) and compositions (Single phospholipids contained phosphatidylcholine, complex phospholipids contained phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and sphingomyelin) were fabricated to deliver lactoferrin and DHA. In vitro infant semi-dynamic digestive behavior and absorption in intestinal organoids of liposomes were investigated. Liposomal structures were negligible changed during semi-dynamic gastric digestion while damaged in intestine. Liposomal degradation rate was primarily influenced by particle size, and complex phospholipids accelerated DHA hydrolysis. The release rate of DHA (91.7 ± 1.3 %) in small-sized liposomes (0.181 ± 0.001 μm) was higher than free DHA (unencapsulated, 64.6 ± 3.4 %). Complex phospholipids liposomal digesta exhibited higher transport efficiency (3.4-fold for fatty acids and 2.0-fold for amino acids) and better organoid growth than digesta of bare nutrients. This study provided new insights into membrane structure-functionality relationship of liposomes and may aid in the development of novel infant nutrient carriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taste perception, initiated by activation of taste receptors in taste bud cells, is crucial for regulating nutrient intake. Genetic polymorphisms in taste receptor genes cannot fully explain the wide individual variations of taste sensitivity. Alternative splicing (AS) is a ubiquitous posttranscriptional mode of gene regulation that enriches the functional diversity of proteins. Here, we report the identification of a novel splicing variant of sweet taste receptor gene Tas1r2 (Tas1r2_∆e4) in mouse taste buds and the mechanism by which it diminishes sweet taste responses in vitro and in vivo. Skipping of Tas1r2 exon 4 in Tas1r2_∆e4 led to loss of amino acids in the extracellular Venus flytrap domain, and the truncated isoform reduced the response of sweet taste receptors (STRs) to all sweet compounds tested by generating nonfunctional T1R2/T1R3 STR heterodimers. The splicing factor PTBP1 (polypyrimidine tract-binding protein 1) promoted Tas1r2_∆e4 generation through binding to a polypyrimidine-rich splicing silencer in Tas1r2 exon 4, thus decreasing STR function and sweet taste perception in mice. Taken together, these data reveal the existence of a regulated AS event in Tas1r2 expression and its effect on sweet taste perception, providing a novel mechanism for modulating taste sensitivity at the posttranscriptional level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

4‐(2‐Chlorobenzyl)‐1‐(furan‐2‐yl)‐[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3‐a]quinazolin‐5(4H)‐one is a triazoloquinazolinone compound with broad‐spectrum biological activity. In this study, the four‐step method was used to synthesize the title compound, and its structure was confirmed by Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), 13‐carbon nuclear magnetic resonance (13C NMR) spectroscopy, and mass spectroscopy (MS). Further, its single crystal was characterized by X‐ray diffraction. The density functional theory was used to calculate the optimal structure of the molecule. The results demonstrated that the analyzed structure was consistent with the crystal structure determined by single‐crystal diffraction. In addition, discrete Fourier transform was used to study the molecular electrostatic potential and Frontier molecular orbital of the title compound, revealing a few of the compound's physicochemical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel series of triazoloquinazolinone derivatives were designed, synthesised, and evaluated for their in vitro biological activities against the SHP2 protein. Moreover, some compounds were evaluated against A375 cells. The results revealed that target compounds possessed moderate to excellent inhibitory activity against SHP2 protein, whereas compounds 12f, 12l, 12j, 17e, and 17f have strong antiproliferative activity on A375 cells. The compound 12l showed remarkable cytotoxicity against A375 cells and a strong inhibitory effect against SHP2 protein when compared with SHP244. The structure-activity relationships (SARs) indicated that electron-donating groups (EDGs) on phenyl rings are beneficial for improving the antitumor activity; compounds with a hydroxyl substituent at the 2-position of phenyl ring exhibited superior activities than compounds with a substituent at the 4-position. In addition, compound 12l displayed improved physicochemical properties as well as metabolic stability compared to SHP244. Our efforts identified 12l as a promising SHP2 protein inhibitor, warranting its further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of chronic administration of caffeine on the anatomical characteristics of taste buds, the expression level of taste receptor protein in mice, and preference for a palatable solution. We found that following a 21-day administration of caffeine, mice showed increased behavioural responses to sweet stimuli (acesulfame-K solution). Mirroring this behavioural change, chronic caffeine treatment evidently decreased the maximal cross-sectional area and height of the longitudinal axis of fungiform taste buds, the number of taste cells per fungiform taste bud, and the expression of G protein α-gustducin, while the expression of the sweet taste receptors T1R2 and T1R3 was reversed. Our findings demonstrate that chronic administration of caffeine has an impact on taste sensitivity and changes in taste bud features, which may contribute to the alteration of taste behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Speciation can provide knowledge about absorption, reactivity to binding sites, bioavailability, toxicity, and excretion of elements. In this study, the speciation of copper in different model solutions under the influence of gastrointestinal (GI) pH was studied by ion selective electrode (ISE) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES). It was found that the electrode response (mV) against Cu2+ decreased with the increase in pH and dropped to the lowest point at pH 7.5 in all model solutions. When amino acids and organic acids were present, the ratio of filtered copper (0.45 μm, pH 7.5) was more than 90%. When casein was present, whey protein, pancreatin, and starch were added, and the ratio of filtered copper was 85.6 ± 0.3, 56.7 ± 8.8, 38.5 ± 5.1, and 1.0 ± 0.3%, respectively. When there is not enough organic ligand, excessive copper will form copper hydroxide precipitation with the increase in pH, but it got the highest electrode response (mV) against Cu2+. From this study, it can be concluded that the speciation of copper in GI tract is strongly influenced by the pH and the composition of food. When there are few ligands coexisting in the GI tract, the concentration of copper ion may be relatively high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reduction of sodium intake without affecting saltiness perception is still a huge challenge. The acid method (pH 2.0, 85 °C, 90min) and subcritical water treatment (SW, pH 6.3–2.0, 120 °C, 30min) were used to prepare saltiness-enhanced polysaccharides from soy hull. Structural and physicochemical properties of soy hull polysaccharides (SHP) and their relationship to the salivary diffusion and mucosal retention of Na+ were analyzed. Compared to acid-extracted SHP (ASHP), SW-extracted SHP (SW6.3, SW5.0, and SW4.0) exhibited a higher saltiness-enhanced effect, accompanied by an accelerated diffusion of Na+ in the saliva and enhanced adhesive retention of Na+ on the porcine tongue. These phenomena may be attributed to different fractions extracted by two methods. ASHP mainly consists of pectic polysaccharides with a higher galacturonic acid content, while RG-I enriched pectic and hemicellulosic polysaccharides were speculated for SW6.3, SW5.0 and SW4.0, which exhibited highly branched conformation with higher M w and lower charge. The SHP-induced disruption of the salivary mucin network probably accelerates the Na+ permeation and the adhesion of Na+ on the porcine tongue. SW3.0 and SW2.0 showed lower apparent viscosity and M w due to excessive degradation of the backbone and side chain, weakening the diffusion and adhesion of Na+, and salt taste. These results would be useful to reveal the regulatory mechanism of polysaccharides on saltiness perception, which provided a technology to prepare a saltiness-enhanced ingredient from a by-product of soybean processing for low-sodium foods. [Display omitted] • The salivary penetration and mucosal retention of Na + strongly affect salty taste. • The saltiness-enhanced effect of SW-extracted SHP was higher than that of ASHP. • SW-extracted SHP exhibit higher salivary penetration and retention of Na+. • SW extracted high-branched RG-I enriched SHP with higher M w and lower charge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We have developed a sensor that detects N 2 H 4 in 99 % water environment referening drug molecular design methods. • A reasonable strategy for the construction of water-soluble fluorescent sensors was developed. • The measurement scope of this sensor is 0.28∼120μM, LOD = 1.22ppb. • Long stokes shift (91nm) can effectively eliminate the inherent bioluminescence interference in short wavelengths. Hydrazine is a serious hazard for humans; therefore, the detection of N 2 H 4 is extremely important. In recent years, fluorescence sensing, which is a simple and efficient method, has attracted immense attention. Although sensors for hydrazine have been reported, only a few have successfully worked in almost pure water media, Therefore, organic cosolvents are required, however, they are known to interfere with the analysis of the real sample. Furthermore, a few currently known hydrazine sensors have emission wavelengths smaller than the size of the organism itself, thereby making it difficult to eliminate the inherent bioluminescence interference at short wavelengths. In order to solve these problems, we have developed a new type of water-soluble(LogP (Oct/buff) = 1.68, LogD7.4=-1.97), fluorescent, colorimetric sensor. This sensor is based on the ICT mechanism to specifically detect N 2 H 4 in colorimetric and proportional modes (measurement scope is 0.28–120 μM, LOD = 1.22 ppb). In addition, it was successfully used to image A549 cells and detect hydrazine in river water samples and water vapor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drug-eluting stents (DESs) implantation is an effective method to tackle in-stent restenosis (ISR), which has been considered as an efficient treatment for coronary atherosclerosis. Although fruitful results have been achieved in treating coronary artery diseases (CAD), concern has arisen regarding the long-term safety and efficacy of DESs, primarily due to adverse events such as delayed re-endothelialization, persistent inflammatory response, and late stent thrombosis (LST). Taking inspiration from the immunomodulatory functions of camouflage strategies, this study designed a bio-inspired nanoparticle-coated stent. Briefly, the platelet membrane-coated poly (lactic- co -glycolic acid)/Rapamycin nanoparticles (PNP) were sprayed onto stents, forming a homogenous nanoparticle coating. The bilayer of poly (lactic- co -glycolic acid) (PLGA) and platelet membrane works synergistically to promote the sustained-release effect of rapamycin. In vitro studies revealed that the PNP-coated surfaces promoted the competitive adhesion of endothelia cells while inhibiting smooth muscle cells. Subsequent in vivo studies demonstrated that these surfaces expedite re-endothelialization and elicit immunomodulatory effects by regulating the cGMP-PKG and NF-kappa B signaling pathways, influencing the biosynthesis cofactors and immune system signaling. The study successfully deviced a novel and biomimetic drug-eluting stent system, unraveling its detailed functions and molecular mechanism of action for enhanced vascular healing. A biomimetic nanoparticle-embedded drug eluting coating is demonstrated efficient preparation, immune escape, and controlled drug release, which promotes reendothelialization, regulates the inflammatory response, and inhibits thrombosis and restenosis. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochromic materials with unique performance arouse great interest on account of potential application values in smart window, low-power display, automobile anti-glare rearview mirror, and e-papers. In this paper, high-performing Al-doped NiO porous electrochromic film grown on ITO substrate has been prepared via a layered double hydroxides(LDHs) precursor in situ pyrolytic route. The Al 3+ ions distributed homogenously within the NiO matrix can significantly influence the crystallinity of Ni-Al LDH and NiO:Al 3+ films. The electrochromic performance of the films were evaluated by means of UV–vis absorption spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and chronoamperometry(CA) measurements. In addition, the ratio of Ni 3+ /Ni 2+ also varies with Al content which can lead to different electrochemical performances. Among the as-prepared films, NiO film prepared from Ni-Al (19:1) LDH show the best electrochromic performance with a high transparency of 96%, large optical modulation range (58.4%), fast switching speed (bleaching/coloration times are 1.8/4.2 s, respectively) and excellent durability (30% decrease after 2000 cycles). The improved performance was owed to the synergy of large NiO film specific surface area and porous morphology, as well as Al doping stifled the formation of Ni 3+ making bleached state more pure. This LDHs precursor pyrolytic method is simple, low-cost and environmental benign and is feasible for the preparation of NiO:Al and other Al-doped oxide thin film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Epicatechins were all significantly lost during OP. • Non-galloylated catechins were lost through dimerization and epimerization. • Galloylated catechins were lost through hydrolysis, complexation, or dimerization. • EGCG was the least stable of the epicatechins, whereas EC the most. • EGCG was susceptible to pH condition, mucin, and esterase, in human oral cavity. Oral processing (OP), referring to the whole process of food digestion in human mouth, has a major influence on food flavor perception. This study focused on the compositional changes of the four green tea epicatechins (viz., EC, EGC, ECG, EGCG) during OP, based on targeted and nontargeted metabolomics. It was found that the four epicatechins were all extensively lost through transformation undergoing OP, among which EC was the most stable one, whereas EGCG the least. EGCG was further revealed to be susceptible to human oral cavity in the simulated OP in vitro. It could be converted physically by precipitating with mucin in saliva, and chemically through hydrolysis and dimerization, mediated mainly by the neutral pH condition. The OP of epicatechins also caused salivary composition changes possibly involving health benefits of green tea. These findings could raise awareness of the interactions between epicatechins, or any other food materials, with human mouth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potassium chloride (KCl) can be considered as the most ideal salt replacer to reduce dietary sodium intake and ease various health risks of a high-sodium diet. However, a high proportion of sodium chloride (NaCl) replacement with KCl remains a challenge, because KCl has an inherent metallic bitterness. This study demonstrates a strategy for this bitterness-masking using a natural polysaccharide kappa-carrageenan to specifically bind with K+ and reduce the amount of free K+ as bitter stimulant. The results show that carrageenan can significantly slow down the release and diffusion of K+, leading to a reduced bitter taste of KCl in the mouth. Up to 50% replacement of NaCl by KCl can be achieved. Furthermore, the use of carrageenan-KCl-NaCl complex as salt substitutes can regulate mineral absorption (Na, K, Ca) and reduce hypertension and renal injury risks in the animal tests. In conclusion, this natural biopolymer-based strategy successfully masks the bitter of salt-replacer KCl, opening a route to the universally applicable salt-reduction in future foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Compared with food-derived Cu, water-derived Cu formed smaller complexes. • Compared with food-derived Cu, water-derived Cu had higher Cu2+ concentrations. • When drinking water on an empty stomach, higher Cu2+ concentrations were present. • Drinking water on an empty stomach formed a higher proportion of smaller complexes. In recent years, the safety of copper in drinking water has increasingly been questioned. Copper speciation is an important factor that affects its bioavailability and toxicity; thus, it is critical to investigate the speciation of copper that is ingested from food and drinking water during in vitro digestion. After digestion, water- and food-derived copper formed 60 ± 4% 0.1–1 kDa and 49 ± 6% 10–1,000 kDa copper complexes, respectively. Under simulated fasting drinking water conditions, up to 90 ± 2% 0.1–1 kDa copper complexes formed. In addition, using ion selective electrode analysis, water-derived copper was detected that contained higher Cu2+ concentrations after digestion than those of food-derived copper. These results indicate that water-derived copper forms smaller-sized species and exhibits higher Cu2+ concentrations during digestion than those of food-derived copper, thereby highlighting the importance of reassessing the safety limit for copper in drinking water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A heterostructure of g-C 3 N 4 (CN) foam/layered double hydroxide (LDH) monolith is fabricated. • CN foam/LDH exhibits good CO 2 adsorption performance (1.52 mmol g−1). • CN foam/LDH exhibits improved CO 2 photocatalytic reduction performance (55.1 μmol g-1h−1). • The practicability of CN foam/LDH monolith with different thicknesses was studied for the first time. Sunlight-driven photocatalytic CO 2 into useful carbon compounds is an ideal way to mitigate the greenhouse effect. However, this strategy is limited by poor light absorption and rapid photoexcited electron-hole recombination of traditional photocatalysts. Here, a g-C 3 N 4 (CN) foam/LDH heterojunction monolith (NCF) was fabricated by growing NiFe-LDH in situ on the porous CN foam substrate. The composite had good air permeability and light transmittance, which improves light-harvesting, CO 2 capture, and interfaces charge transfer of the NCF. The results show that the NCF catalyst has good CO 2 adsorption performance (1.52 mmol g−1) and enhanced CO 2 photoreduction activity (55.1 μmol g-1h−1), which is ∼ 10 times higher than that of pure LDHs powder. Furthermore, the practical applicability of the NCF monolith with different thicknesses is illustrated via the CO 2 photoreduction test for the first time. This work could shed light on the development of dual-functional materials for efficient capture and photoreduction of CO 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the inexpensive 4,4-diaminostilbene-2,2-disulfonate (DAS) and 4,4-dinitro-stilbene-2,2- disulfonate (DNS) anions with arbitrary molar ratios were successfully co-intercalated into Zn2Al-layered double hydroxides (LDHs). The DAS(50%)-DNS/LDHs composite exhibited the broad UV-visible light absorption and fluorescence quenching, which was a direct indication of photo-induced electron transfer (PET) process between the intercalated DAS (donor) and DNS (acceptor) anions. This was confirmed by the matched HOMO/LUMO energy levels alignment of the intercalated DAS and DNS anions, which was also compatible for water splitting. The DAS(50%)-DNS/LDHs composite was fabricated as the photoanode and Pt as the cathode. Under the UV-visible light illumination, the enhanced photo-generated current (4.67 mA/cm2 at 0.8 V vs. SCE) was generated in the external circuit, and the photoelectrochemical water split was realized. Furthermore, this photoelectrochemical water splitting performance had excellent crystalline, electrochemical and optical stability. Therefore, this novel inorganic/organic hybrid photoanode exhibited potential application prospect in photoelectrochemical water splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]