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In this work, a series of indole‐containing pyrazole‐carbohydrazide derivatives A1‐A25 were synthesized, and their biological activity on tubulin polymerization inhibition and mitotic catastrophe was evaluated. For introducing indole group to CA‐4 pattern, the carbohydrazide linker was used for the first time. As the top hit, A18 suggested notable antiproliferation efficacy and tubulin polymerization inhibitory activity. Inferring comparable antitubulin effect with the positive control Colchicine, A18 indicated obviously lower cyto‐toxicity. The cell scratch test showed that A18 could block the cell migration, while the confocal imaging depicted that A18 could induce the mitotic catastrophe via a Colchicine‐like approach. The docking simulation visualized the probable binding pattern of A18. With the information in this work, some new hints on modification might be involved in further tubulin‐related investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of novel indole‐1,2,4‐triazole derivatives have been designed, synthesized, and evaluated as potential tubulin polymerization inhibitors. The top hit 12, bearing the 3,4,5‐trimethoxyphenyl moiety, exhibited substantial anti‐proliferative activity against HepG2, HeLa, MCF‐7, and A549 cells in vitro with IC50 values of 0.23 ± 0.08 μM, 0.15 ± 0.18 μM, 0.38 ± 0.12 μM, and 0.30 ± 0.13 μM, respectively. It also inhibited tubulin polymerization with the IC50 value of 2.1 ± 0.12 μM, which was comparable with that of the positive controls. Furthermore, compound 12 regulated the expression of cell cycle‐related proteins (Cyclin B1, Cdc25c, and Cdc2) and apoptosis‐related proteins (Bcl‐2, Bcl‐x, and Mcl‐1). Mechanistically, compound 12 could arrest cell cycle at the G2/M phase, thus induce an increase of apoptotic cell death. In addition, molecular docking hinted the possible interaction mode of compound 12 into the colchicine binding site of tubulin heterodimers. According to the applications of microtubule‐targeting agents in both direct and synergistic cancer therapies, we hope this work might be of significance for future researches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) show great advantages as new kinds of active materials for energy storage. In this study, bimetallic metal–organic frameworks (Ni/Co-MOFs) with nanosheet-assembled flower-like structures were synthesized by etching Ni-MOF microspheres in a cobalt nitrate solution. It can be clearly observed that the amount of Co(NO3)2 and etching time play crucial roles in the formation of Ni/Co-MOF nanosheets. The Ni/Co-MOFs were used as electrode materials for supercapacitors and the optimized Ni/Co-MOF-5 exhibited the highest capacitances of 1220.2 F g−1 and 986.7 F g−1 at current densities of 1 A g−1 and 10 A g−1, respectively. Ni/Co-MOF-5 was further sulfurized, and the derived Ni–Co–S electrode showed a higher specific capacitance of 1377.5 F g−1 at a current density of 1 A g−1 and a retention of 89.4% when the current density was increased to 10 A g−1, indicating superior rate capability. Furthermore, Ni/Co-MOF-5 and Ni–Co–S showed excellent cycling stability, i.e. about 87.8% and 93.7% of initial capacitance can be still maintained after 3000 cycles of charge–discharge. More interestingly, the Ni/Co-MOF-5//AC ASC shows an energy density of 30.9 W h kg−1 at a power density of 1132.8 W kg−1, and the Ni–Co–S//AC ASC displays a high energy density of 36.9 W h kg−1 at a power density of 1066.42 W kg−1. These results demonstrate that the as-synthesized bimetallic Ni/Co-MOF nanosheets and their derived nickel–cobalt sulfides have promising applications in electrochemical supercapacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrode materials for supercapacitors with one-dimensional porous nanostructures, such as nanowires and nanotubes, are very attractive for high-efficiency storage of electrochemical energy. Herein, ultralong Cu-based porous coordination polymer nanowires (copper-l-aspartic acid) were used as the electrode material for supercapacitors, for the first time. The as-prepared material exhibits a high specific capacitance of 367 F g−1 at 0.6 A g−1 and excellent cycling stability (94% retention over 1000 cycles). Moreover, porous CuO nanotubes were successfully fabricated by the thermal decomposition of this nanowire precursor. The CuO nanotube exhibits good electrochemical performance with high rate capacity (77% retention at 12.5 A g−1) and long-term stability (96% retention over 1000 cycles). The strategy developed here for the synthesis of porous nanowires and nanotubes can be extended to the construction of other electrode materials for more efficient energy storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore catalysts combining highly accessible specific surface areas with low recombination of the photo-induced electron–hole pairs, a novel SiO2@PDA@BiOBr composite photocatalyst with a hierarchical core–shell structure was prepared by a facile solvothermal method. The catalyst shows a superior performance on photodegradation of Rhodamine B under visible light irradiation, especially for SiO2@PDA-2@BiOBr with the reactant kinetics constant (k = 0.0487 min−1). The enhanced photocatalytic performance of SiO2@PDA-2@BiOBr was ascribed to the decreased band-gap, higher surface area, and effectively photo-generated electron–hole pairs by the introduction of polydopamine (PDA). In addition, the photocatalytic degradation is initiated by ṖO2− derived from dye photosensitization and h+ from the BiOBr. Cyclic experiments also indicate that the SiO2@PDA-2@BiOBr is reusable during the photodegradation process. The hierarchical core–shell SiO2@PDA@BiOBr photocatalyst will provide a theoretical model for the development of physical chemistry and structural properties of BiOBr-based composites to enhance the photocatalytic performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanorods-composed yolk–shell bimetallic-organic frameworks microspheres are successfully synthesized by a one-step solvothermal method in the absence of any template or surfactant. Furthermore, hierarchical double-shelled NiO/ZnO hollow spheres are obtained by calcination of the bimetallic organic frameworks in air. The NiO/ZnO hollow spheres, as supercapacitor electrodes, exhibit high capacitance of 497 F g−1 at the current density of 1.3 A g−1 and present a superior cycling stability. The superior electrochemical performance is believed to come from the unique double-shelled NiO/ZnO hollow structures, which offer free space to accommodate the volume change during the ion insertion and desertion processes, as well as provide rich electroactive sites for the electrochemical reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hierarchical NiO/NiMn-LDH nanosheet array on Ni foam was prepared via a facile two-step approach and exhibited a high specific capacitance (937 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1) and good cycling stability (91% retention after 1000 cycles at 5 A g−1). The improved electrochemical performance is benefited from the synergistic properties of hierarchical NiO/LDH nanosheet composites on a conductive substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are considered as suitable materials for various applications in the area of photocatalysis. On the other hand, 2D BiOBr materials are efficient for the photodegradation of organic dyes under visible light illumination. In this work, BiOBr/NH2-MIL-125(Ti) composite photocatalysts with different NH2-MIL-125(Ti) content were prepared by incorporating NH2-MIL-125(Ti) with BiOBr using a co-precipitation method. A series of characterizations confirmed the strong synergistic effect between BiOBr and NH2-MIL-125(Ti). In rhodamine B (RhB) degradation experiments, the composite photocatalyst with a mass percent of 7 wt% NH2-MIL-125(Ti) exhibited an improved photocatalytic activity compared to pristine BiOBr and NH2-MIL-125(Ti). Furthermore, the enhanced photocatalytic performance under visible light illumination could be attributed to the Ti3+–Ti4+ intervalence electron transfer and synergistic effect between NH2-MIL-125(Ti) and BiOBr, and also resulted in a separation efficiency of photo-generated electron–hole pairs during the photocatalytic reaction. This study can open up numerous opportunities for the development of various MOF-based visible light photocatalysts when combined with 2D bismuth oxyhalide materials for applications in environmental cleaning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanorods-composed yolk–shell bimetallic-organic frameworks microspheres are successfully synthesized by a one-step solvothermal method in the absence of any template or surfactant. Furthermore, hierarchical double-shelled NiO/ZnO hollow spheres are obtained by calcination of the bimetallic organic frameworks in air. The NiO/ZnO hollow spheres, as supercapacitor electrodes, exhibit high capacitance of 497 F g−1 at the current density of 1.3 A g−1 and present a superior cycling stability. The superior electrochemical performance is believed to come from the unique double-shelled NiO/ZnO hollow structures, which offer free space to accommodate the volume change during the ion insertion and desertion processes, as well as provide rich electroactive sites for the electrochemical reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hexagonal nanosheet LDH@ZIF-8 composite was fabricated by in situ growth of ZIF-8 on Zn–Al LDH without adding any zinc precursor, and exhibited a CO2 adsorption capacity of 1.0 mmol g−1 at room temperature and 1 bar, which was significantly higher than that of pure Zn–Al LDH or ZIF-8, indicating a synergy between ZIF-8 and Zn–Al LDH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as chemical sensors have developed rapidly in recent years. There have been many papers concerning this field and interest is still growing. The reason is that the specific merits of MOFs can be utilized to enhance sensitivity and selectivity by various energy/charge transfers occurring among different ligands, ligand, and metal centers, such as from ligands to metal centers or metal centers to ligands, as well as from MOF skeletons to guest species. This review intends to provide an update on recent progress in various applications of different MOF-based sensors on the basis of their luminescent and electrochemical responses towards small molecules, gas molecules, ions (cations and anions), pH, humidity, temperature, and biomolecules. MOF-based sensors function by utilizing different mechanisms, including luminescent responses of 'turn-on' and 'turn-off', as well as electrochemical responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a novel fluorescent probe with first-time-selected thiazepine backbone, TZPzine-1, was developed for selective detection of hydrazine in water samples and living cells. Chosen from our recent anti-cancer agents, TZPzine-1 inferred structurally based advantages of the optical adjustability and the hydrazine-trapping approach. It also showed applicable properties including high sensitivity (LOD = 50 nM), wide linear range (0–15 equiv.), high selectivity (especially from competing species), rapid response (within 20 min), and practical steadiness in various pH (6.0–11.0) and temperature (15–50 °C) conditions. To satisfy the interdisciplinary requirements in environmental toxicology, TZPzine-1 was successfully applied in water samples and living cells. We hope that the information in this work, as well as the concept of monitoring the nitrogen cycle, may be referable for future research on systematic management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]