Search

We proposed to monitor the early stage of alcohol-induced liver injury through quantitatively detecting Golgi viscosity. Therefore, the first Golgi-targeted fluorescent rotor (GA-Vis) was developed. With the aid of GA-Vis, the changes in Golgi viscosity during alcohol-induced liver injury were quantitatively evaluated by fluorescence lifetime imaging in live cells and zebrafish. GA-Vis was qualified as a practical tool for future diagnoses of alcohol-induced liver injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An organic–inorganic perovskite compound [(CH3)4P][Cd(SCN)3] (1) and its fluorine-substituted product [(CH3)3PCH2F][Cd(SCN)3] (2) exhibit ferroelastic phase transitions above room temperature. The very close van der Waals radii of H and F atoms ensure isomorphism of the crystal structures. However, the higher phase transition temperature, stronger ferroelastic spontaneous strain value and dielectric properties of 2 can possibly be explained by differences in the electronegativity between F and H atoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new synergistic lithium ion solvation structure effect tailored by mixed organic/inorganic lithium salts is introduced to mitigate the growth of lithium-dendrites. A uniform lithium plating, lower polarization and higher coulombic efficiency are confirmed by lithium plating/stripping. The effect of different solvation structures was analyzed by Raman spectroscopy and simulations. Then, a reliable lithium–sulfur full battery with high performance over hundreds of cycles was configured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both 3D organic–inorganic perovskites ([Et3P(CH2)2Cl][Cd(dca)3] (1) and [Et3P(CH2)2F][Cd(dca)3] (2) [dca = dicyanamide, N(CN)2−]) display two sequentially reversible high-temperature phase transitions and switchable dielectric properties. Through halogen substitution, 1 shows exceptional switching behaviour of second harmonic generation effects and remarkably 2 represents the first above-room-temperature 3D ferroelastic material characterized by two ferroelastic phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A design strategy of reducing the molecular symmetry was used to obtain a series of picrate-based high-temperature phase transition compounds. Their dielectric switching behaviours accompanied by phase transitions can be attributed to the order–disorder transitions of the cations and the displacements of both cations and anions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new galvanic replacement synthetic strategy using metallic Ti as a template for hollow voids is presented and an intriguing hollow interwoven structured Sb/TiO2 is introduced. The applied Ti can play the triple role of reducing the Sb-ion into Sb, acting as a sacrificial template to generate hollow voids through a structural evolution and behaving as an alternative non-sensitive titanium salt to form TiO2. Interwoven Sb/TiO2 can be readily activated and can also buffer drastic volumetric variations during storage of alkaline ions (e.g. Li+, Na+), thereby demonstrating high capacity and superior cycling ability in rechargeable batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new organic–inorganic perovskite-type compound [(CH3)3PCH2OH][CdBr3] exhibits a ferroelastic phase transition at 339 K. Domain structures were observed and analyzed. The origin of the phase transition can be attributed to the motion or reorientation of the [(CH3)3PCH2OH]+ cations and the displacement of Cd2+ and Br− ions in solid-state crystals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional (3D) cubic superstructures of PtPd nanocubes were achieved by spontaneous adjustment of PtIV reduction kinetics, and exhibited enhanced catalytic activity and long-term durability towards methanol oxidation compared with the state-of-the-art Pt/C. This work demonstrates the first example of designing 3D shaped architectures of PtPd nanocubes for methanol electrooxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2-Heptyl-3-hydroxy-4-quinolone, known as the Pseudomonas Quinolone Signal, is a key regulator of bacterial cooperative behaviour known as quorum sensing. A simple electrochemical strategy was employed for its sensitive detection using a bare boron-doped diamond electrode by cyclic voltammetry and amperometry. PQS (and potentially other quinolones) was then detected in cultures of P. aeruginosa pqsL−mutant strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly enantioselective Michael addition of malonates to β,γ-unsaturated α-ketoesters has been promoted by chiral N,N′-dioxide-Yttrium(iii) complexes, providing the corresponding products in excellent yields with 94–99% eevalues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 2-pyridone modified zinc phthalocyanine (denoted ZnPc-PYR) achieves a one stone for three birds outcome in the photodynamic therapy (PDT) treatment of cancer. ZnPc-PYR can be excited by both 665 and 808 nm light to treat superficial and deep tumors, store and slowly release singlet oxygen (1O2) to improve its utilization and downregulate the HIF-1 (hypoxia-inducible factor 1) expression level to enhance the tumor cell's sensitivity to PDT treatment under hypoxic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is unprecedentedly found that ethylamine hydrochloride (EaCl) and phenol (PhOH) can form a new type of deep eutectic solvent (DES) with quite low viscosity. The strong hydrogen-bond donating abilities of EaCl and PhOH provide two active sites for robust interaction with NH3. Thus, the capacities of EaCl + PhOH DESs for NH3 absorption are notably high even at low pressures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultralong (∼25–30 μm) surface-Pt-rich Au93Pt7 alloy nanowires (ANWs) were achieved by a directional coalescence between spherical nanoparticles. Also, the ANWs exhibit superior electrocatalytic activity and long-term durability towards ethanol oxidation, ∼12 times in the mass activity better than the state-of-the-art commercial Pt/C catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and normal pulse voltage (NPV) are adopted to construct high-quality graphene-wrapped CuO nanoflowers grown in situ on copper foam (CuO NP@G/CF) as an efficient oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalyst. The CuO NF@G/CF electrode exhibits a small overpotential of 320 mV to drive a current density of 10 mA cm−2 with a low Tafel slope of 63.1 mV dec−1. This enhancement in OER performance stems from the synergistic effect between highly conductive graphene and hierarchically porous CuO nanoflowers with a number of high-density active sites and open spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The carbon monoxide (CO)-carrying palladium nanosheet (PdNS-CO) was exploited as a photothermally triggered donor of CO. Irradiating material containing PdNS-CO with 808 nm-wavelength light caused a rapid heating of the material, triggering a release of CO. The enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect was found to be improved by such released CO and resulted in an increase in the accumulation of PdNS-CO at tumors and hence promoted its use in photothermal therapy (PTT) using a low laser power density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes a novel Dean flow assisted cell ordering system which is connected to an electrospray ionization-mass spectrometer for the detection of lipids in a single-cell. This platform provides a facile method for direct analysis of label-free lipids in single-cells and significantly improves the efficiency of single-cell mass spectrometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a design concept for multifunctional prodrugs that simultaneously induce apoptosis and suppress cancer cell metastasis in vitro and in vivo. These “all-in-one” prodrug constructs possess therapeutic potential as novel “integrative” platforms for metastatic cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient catalytic asymmetric intermolecular C2 Friedel–Crafts alkylation reaction between N-methyl skatole and β,γ-unsaturated α-ketoesters has been realized by a chiral N,N′-dioxide-Ni(ii) complex. The corresponding indole derivatives were obtained in good yield (up to 96%) with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee) under mild reaction conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]