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A Bi/YbBiO3 heterojunction efficiently promotes CO2 electroreduction to formate.

Non-equilibrium dynamic assembly attracts considerable attention due to the possibility of forming diverse structures that can potentially lead to functional materials.

We propose an intramolecular synergistic counteracting strategy of fluorescence resonance energy transfer and the inner filter effect for accurate photoactivation monitoring, to eliminate the influence of the biological microenvironment.

Ascophyllum nodosum polysaccharide could regulate metabolite profiles of gut microbiota to inhibit inflammation progression and maintain intestinal health.

Gut microbes and untargeted/targeted metabolomics were combined to comprehensively understand the therapeutic effect and the underlying mechanism ofLycium barbarumarabinogalactan (LBP-3) in DSS-induced colitis mice.

A GBFC-powered antibacterial patch which can break low H2O2 limitations and precisely sterilize driven by electricity was created to treat bacteria-infected diabetic wounds without depending on any exogenous drugs.

CCFM16 raises Firmicutes and Clostridia then SCFAs levels to relieve constipation. Several taxa in Clostridiales prevent CCFM16 from properly functioning.

The mechanisms, common properties and biological applications of different types of metal ion hydrogels are summarized.

Selective hydrogenolysis of aryl ethers to produce aromatic compounds is a key strategy for lignin valorization. The use of non-noble-metal catalysts to realize the cleavage of C–O ether bonds under mild conditions has been of considerable research interest recently. We herein report the synthesis of a nitrogen-doped porous-carbon-skeleton-supported Ni–CeO2 catalyst (Ni–CeO2/CN). The synergistic effect between Ni and CeO2 species led to the Ni–CeO2/CN catalyst having a high activity and selectivity for the cleavage of C–O ether bonds at a low reaction temperature. In particular, the Ni–CeO2/CN catalyst showed excellent effectiveness in the hydrogenolysis of benzyl phenyl ether (α-O-4 bonds), and the full conversion was achieved after 2 h at a temperature of 60 °C, with phenol and toluene as the sole reaction products. In addition, the conversion of more robust β-O-4 ether bonds in 2-phenoxy-1-phenylethanol reached up to 100% with the yield of ethylbenzene and phenol at 150 °C for 2.5 h being 60.2% and 68.3%, respectively. The reusability-experiment results indicate that Ni–CeO2/CN maintained a high catalytic activity in five reaction runs, making this a promising route for C–O ether bond cleavage under mild conditions.

Piezocatalysis is a promising approach for environmental pollutant removal. Monoclinic dibismuth tetraoxide (m-Bi2O4) was first applied to piezocatalyze organics under ultrasonic vibration. The built-in electric field with ultrasonic stress drives the separation of holes and electrons in m-Bi2O4. Its excellent piezocatalytic activity, reusability and chemical stability make m-Bi2O4 a new candidate of piezocatalysis.

Purple sweet potato anthocyanins have been acknowledged for their beneficial effects on human inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Although the ability of anthocyanins in modulating the gut microbiota has been reported, the relationship between the bacteria modulated by anthocyanins and intestinal inflammation has not been fully elucidated. We aimed to ascertain whether the purple sweet potato anthocyanin extract (PSPAE) modulation of gut microbiota in the dextran sodium sulphate (DSS) induced chronic colitis mouse model could result in the maintenance of intestinal homeostasis and protection against bacterial intestinal inflammation. Chronic colitis was induced by adding DSS in drinking water while administering the mice with PSPAE via gavage (20 mg kg-1). Effects on colon tissue damage, gut microbiota composition, tight junction protein, and cytokines were evaluated. PSPAE prevented the loss of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus and inhibited the increase of Gammaproteobacteria and Helicobacter upon DSS treatment. The non-pathogenic-dependent and pathogenic-dependent microenvironments were established upon treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics. Both PSPAE treatment and non-pathogenic treatments modified the colonic expression of mouse tight junction proteins and maintained the architecture of the colon. However, the non-pathogenic treatment could not attenuate intestinal inflammation. Moreover, the pathogenic-dependent dysbiosis was exacerbated because of the increasing colonization of pathogens such as Helicobacter. The PSPAE exerted the modulation of gut microbiota to maintain the gut microbiome homeostasis in DSS-induced chronic colitis mice, which may help to propose a new treatment that combines efficacy and reduction of the possibility of bacterial intestinal infection.

Constipation is a condition with a high prevalence rate worldwide and may occur in men and women of any age. Bifidobacterium bifidum has been shown to have a relieving effect on constipation, but the underlying mechanism is still unknown. This study explored the effects of gavage of three strains of B. bifidum (CCFM668, FHNFQ25M12 and FXJCJ32M2) from different sources in mice with loperamide-induced constipation. After 38 days of intervention, B. bifidum CCFM668, FHNFQ25M12 and FXJCJ32M2 showed the ability to modify the levels of gastrointestinal active peptides and promote the expression of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT or serotonin) receptor 4 (5-HT4R), thereby promoting small intestinal peristalsis. The strains could also effectively increase the thickness of the colonic mucosa. However, what was different from previous studies was that these results were independent of the levels of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and 5-HT. Further analysis of the intestinal flora revealed that the relative abundances of the genera Faecalibaculum and Ruminococcaceae_UCG_014 in the constipated mice increased significantly, whereas that of Erysipelatoclostridium decreased. A correlation analysis between the intestinal flora and evaluated gastrointestinal indicators demonstrated that the relative abundances of the genera Anaerotruncus, Angelakisella, Erysipelatoclostridium and Ruminococcaceae_UCG_014 were negatively correlated with the levels of gastrointestinal active peptides. B. bifidum FXJCJ32M2 can increase the relative abundances of Turicibacter and Dubosiella, and this was positively correlated with the expression of aquaporin 8 and vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor 1 but could not effectively alleviate faecal dryness or promote colonic motility. These findings suggest that B. bifidum shows significant intraspecific differences in the remission mechanism and provides a theoretical basis for subsequent population experiments and personalised treatment for constipation.

Globally, the incidence of hyperuricaemia is steadily increasing. The evidence increasingly suggests an association between hyperuricaemia and the gut microbiota, which may enable the development of a novel therapeutic approach. We studied the effects of treatment with lactic acid bacteria (LAB) on hyperuricaemia and their potential underlying mechanisms. A mouse model of hyperuricaemia was generated by oral gavage with hypoxanthine and intraperitoneal injections of potassium oxonate for 2 weeks. The anti-hyperuricaemic activities of 10 LAB strains relative to allopurinol as a positive drug control were investigated in the mouse model. Lactobacillus rhamnosus R31, L. rhamnosus R28-1 and L. reuteri L20M3 effectively reduced the uric acid (UA) concentrations in serum and urine and the xanthine oxidase (XOD) activity levels in serum and hepatic tissue in mice with hyperuricaemia. These strains also reversed the elevated lipopolysaccharide (LPS) concentration, hepatic inflammation and slight renal injury associated with hyperuricaemia. A correlation analysis revealed that UA-reducing LAB strains promoted short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production to suppress serum and hepatic XOD activity by increasing the abundances of SCFA production-related gut bacterial taxa. However, the UA-reducing effects of LAB strains might not be mediated by purine degradation. In summary, L. rhamnosus R31, L. rhamnosus R28-1 and L. reuteri L20M3 relieved hyperuricaemia in our mouse model by promoting SCFA production in a purine degradation-independent manner. Our findings suggest a novel therapeutic approach involving LAB strains for hyperuricaemia.

Antibiotic treatment, as an important therapeutic intervention, can cause damage to the host microbiome and the intestinal mucosal barrier. In order to find a way to alleviate the side effects of antibiotics, the present study investigated the effects of fucoidan (ANP) isolated from Ascophyllum nodosum on gut microbiota dysbiosis and colonic inflammation induced by ciprofloxacin-metronidazole (CiMe) in C57BL/6J mice. Our results showed that dietary ANP prevented colon shortening, alleviated the colonic tissue damages, and partially reversed the alteration of gut microbiota by increasing the abundance of potentially beneficial bacteria, e.g., Ruminococcaceae_UCG_014 and Akkermansia and decreasing the abundance of harmful bacteria, e.g., Proteus and Enterococcus. ANP also suppressed the overproduction of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 and promoted the expression of IL-10. In addition, ANP reversed the decreased production of short-chain fatty acids in CiMe-treated mice. Furthermore, correlation analysis indicated the presence of critical gut microbiota, which played important roles in reducing the inflammation-related indices. Thus, the present study suggests that fucoidan isolated from Ascophyllum nodosum is effective in providing protection against the negative effects of antibiotics on gut microbiota and colonic health.

Silicon-containing polymers are valuable organic/inorganic polymers with unique physical and chemical properties. Although silicon element ranks as the second most abundant element in the Earth's crust, there are currently limited varieties of silicon-containing polymers, especially functional ones. Herein, the first examples of a new class of organic–inorganic hybrid poly(siloxane amine)s are presented, which consist of alternating siloxane and amine units. Amine–epoxy polymerization of 1,3-bis(3-glycidyloxypropyl)tetramethyldisiloxane with diverse amines provides facile access to well-defined polymers under mild conditions. Thanks to the abundance of functional amines available in nature and industry, we could obtain poly(siloxane amine)s with various pendant groups in a one-pot manner, which enables further clickable post-functionalization. Unconventional fluorescence and low Tg values were observed due to the unique Si–N coordination and good flexibility of the siloxane backbones, respectively. Via dynamic covalent crosslinking, these polymers have been further demonstrated as valuable building blocks for reusable adhesives and reprocessable elastomers with malleability and recyclability. These functional poly(siloxane amine)s promise a new type of silicon-containing polymer and will be potentially applicable in materials and biological fields.

Polysiloxanes are a valuable class of hybrid organic/inorganic polymers with excellent properties and broad applications. Thus, developing new synthesis strategies is of great worth to expand the family of functional polysiloxanes and bring in improved properties and unprecedented functions. In this work, we have examined the imine chemistry for post-polymerization functionalization of polysiloxanes and further used these polymers for preparing coordination elastomers. Five kinds of imine-functionalized polysiloxanes were synthesized via the reaction of poly[(aminopropyl)methylsiloxane-co-dimethylsiloxane] with different aromatic aldehydes under mild conditions. All these polymers exhibit excellent thermal stability, a low glass transition temperature, and unconventional photoluminescence behavior. Based on the metal coordination of imine-functionalized polysiloxanes, a series of silicone elastomers were prepared with tunable mechanical properties adjusted by changing the imine content and the metal ion type and content. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the utilization of polymers with simple imines to construct supramolecular coordination elastomers. More importantly, by changing the electronic effect of the imine group to adjust its coordination ability, we provide a new strategy to adjust the mechanical properties of coordination elastomers.

A biological enzyme – Laccase from Trametes versicolor (LacTv) – has been recognized as a highly efficient bifunctional catalyst in a rechargeable lithium–air battery system whose intrinsic pH change during discharge/charge can regulate the in situ recovery of the enzyme, making them an in situ synergistic match, enabling the battery to offer an extraordinarily flat discharge voltage of ∼3.75 V for 120 h, and remarkable durability (cycling steadily over 1100 h) with a narrow voltage gap of ∼0.24 V.

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is increasing worldwide. Lactic acid bacteria have shown efficacy in alleviating diabetes. We studied the remission effect of nine strains of lactic acid bacteria on the symptoms of high-fat diet- and streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetes and its mechanism in mice. The oral administration of Bifidobacterium adolescentis, B. bifidum or Lactobacillus rhamnosus to mice every day for more than 12 weeks showed that the individual strains could reduce the fasting and postprandial blood sugar levels, improve glucose tolerance and prevent pancreatic damage. However, L. rhamnosus strains showed greater efficacy than Bifidobacterium strains in the regulation of blood lipid levels. The effects of lactic acid bacteria on the recovery of glycolipid metabolism disorder and gut microbiota dysbiosis showed inter- and intraspecific differences. In addition, the strains that exhibited hypoglycaemic effects played a beneficial role in reducing insulin resistance by contributing to the production of short-chain fatty acids and alleviation of inflammation. The ability of lactic acid bacteria to reduce inflammation was found to be closely related to their ability to alleviate diabetes mellitus.

Tailoring the performance of a photocatalyst by design is challenge in the field of renewable synthetic fuels. Herein, polymorphic heterostructures comprised of two indium oxide based photocatalysts, with distinct structures yet continuously adjustable fractions of the same composition, enable optimization of the activity and selectivity of CO2 hydrogenation to CO and CH3OH. The strategy rests on the cubic (c-) to rhombohedral (rh-) indium oxide hydroxide In2O3−x(OH)y phase transition, in which the fraction of the cubic phase that nucleates and grows within the rhombohedral phase is under precise structural and compositional control. Interfaces so-formed between cubic and rhombohedral polymorphs with distinct electronic band structures as well as separate locations of electron trapping oxygen vacancies and hole trapping hydroxyl defects in individual In2O3−x(OH)y components, enable charge generation, separation and lifetimes of photogenerated electron–hole pairs to be finely tuned. This facilitates command over H2 and CO2 surface chemical reactions that are responsible for the activity and selectivity towards products CO and CH3OH. The control over the performance metrics of a CO2 hydrogenation photocatalyst provided by tuneable rh/c-In2O3−x(OH)y polymorphic heterostructures, affords promising opportunities for the future development of renewable synthetic fuels.

Biomimetic behaviour in artificially created active matter that allows deterministic and controlled motility has become of growing interest in recent years. It is well known that phototrophic bacteria optimize their position with respect to light by phototaxis. Here, we describe how our fully artificial, magnetic and photocatalytic microswimmers undergo a specific type of behaviour that strongly resembles phototaxis: when crossing an illuminated stripe the particles repeatedly turn back towards the light once they reach the dark region, without any obvious reason for the particles to do so. In order to understand the origin of this behaviour we analyze different influences and elucidate through experiments and theoretical considerations that this behavior arises from a combination of orientational stabilization through activity and destabilizing Brownian motion. This interplay shows beautifully how simple physical effects can combine into complex behaviours.

Carbon materials usually exhibit a low capacity, short cycle life and poor rate performance as anode materials for lithium ion batteries (LIBs) and sodium ion batteries (SIBs). It remains a great challenge to explore carbon materials for ultrafast lithium and sodium storage with both a high capacity and a long cycling stability. Herein, we report the fabrication of nitrogen (N)/oxygen (O) dual dopant hollow porous carbon nanocapsules that show a state-of-the-art electrochemical performance. If used as anodes for LIBs, at an ultrahigh current density of 30 A g−1, the carbon nanocapsules can be cycled up to 11 000 cycles with a considerable capacity retention of ∼310 mA h g−1. For sodium storage, they also demonstrate an ultrastable cycling performance with a reversible capacity of ∼150 mA h g−1 after 10 000 cycles at a high current density of 5 A g−1. The outstanding electrochemical performance can be ascribed to the synergistic effects from heteroatom doping and the unique sealed porous hollow characteristics of the nanocapsules. Theoretical calculations suggest that the sealed capsule structure leads to a excellent mechanical stability, which can tolerate fast lithium/sodium intercalation and extraction at ultrahigh current densities.

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have attracted a surge of attention as a potential alternative for replacing lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, the current cathodes of SIBs suffer from problems of limited capacity, capacity decay, inferior cycling performance and structural instability. Na2RuO3 is known for its high capacity including both cationic redox and anionic redox processes. Here, we show a general method for improving the sodium storage performance of Na2RuO3via Mn doping. A series of Na2Ru1−xMnxO3 are explored through X-ray diffraction (XRD), galvanostatic charge–discharge testing, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements and so on. The results exhibit that a suitable Mn doping (x = 0.1) enhances the kinetics and structural stability of the electrode, accounting for a superior electrochemical performance. Our findings provide a simple method to develop advanced cathodes for SIBs with a long lifespan and large capacity.

The concept of a solid catalyst coated with a thin ionic liquid layer (SCILL) was applied to the stereoselective hydrogenation of α-pinene. Nickel, a non-noble metal, was supported on a discarded fluid catalytic cracking catalyst (DF3C) and then modified with different loadings of the ionic liquid 1-ethanol-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([C2OHmim][BF4]). The resulting catalysts showed a range of conversions and selectivities for the hydrogenation of α-pinene. The SCILL catalysts afforded cis-pinane with high selectivity and their activity depended on the ionic liquid loading. For an ionic liquid loading of 10 wt%, although the catalytic activity was suppressed, the selectivity and conversion could reach above 98% and 99%, respectively. In addition, the catalyst remained stable after 13 runs and the activity was almost unchanged with the conversion maintained at approximately 99%. Thus, the ionic liquid layer not only improved the selectivity for cis-pinane but also protected the active site of the catalyst and prolonged the service lifetime of the catalyst. The SCILL catalytic system provides an example of an ionic liquid catalytic system which eliminates organic solvents from the catalytic process.

In this work, we report a novel design of mixed P2 + T phase NaxCo0.1Mn0.9O2 (0.44 ≤ x ≤ 0.7) with interface rich characteristics for high performance sodium storage, whereby the tunneled T phase offers fast Na ion diffusivity and excellent structural stability, the layered P2 phase contributes to high specific capacity, and the P2 + T phase interface offers additional channels and active sites for charge transfer and excess charge storage. Consequently, the as-prepared NaxCo0.1Mn0.9O2 (0.44 ≤ x ≤ 0.7) demonstrates an excellent discharge capacity of 219 mA h g−1 at a current rate of 0.1C (1C = 176 mA g−1), and retains 117 mA h g−1 even at a high rate of 5C. This outstanding performance is significantly superior to that of pure T-type Na0.44Co0.1Mn0.9O2 and P2-type Na0.7Co0.1Mn0.9O2, and also outperforms state-of-the-art manganese-based cathodes. The kinetic analysis indicates the drastically improved Na+ diffusion coefficient of the P2 + T phase, which is 6 and 200 times that of the pure T and P phases, respectively. The good reversibility and structural stability is evidenced through an ex situ XRD study.

We report novel metal-capped TiO2 photochemically-active colloids endowed with a 'hybrid drive': directional motion is achieved in water upon UV illumination, as well as in dilute peroxide solutions upon illumination with UV or visible light. From the different behaviours of nearby particles, we infer that distinct reaction pathways affect the local composition and flow of the solution.

In the present study, a single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) aptamer binding to Bifidobacterium breve with high avidity and selectivity was selected through a whole-bacterium-based systemic evolution of ligands using an exponential enrichment (SELEX) process. Following 12 rounds of selection specific for B. breve, three FAM-labeled aptamers were chosen for flow cytometry analysis and the results revealed that all three aptamers possessed a high binding affinity for B. breve. To obtain the optimal sequence, sequence truncation experiments of these three aptamers were conducted. An aptamer variant BB16-11f with high affinity and selectivity was acquired. In addition, the dissociation constant was significantly reduced to 18.66 ± 1.41 nM. Furthermore, an enzyme linked aptamer assay was developed to prove the potential application of the aptamer BB16-11f in the detection of B. breve. The results showed that the colorimetric assay had a linear relationship between the absorbance at 450 nm and the concentrations of B. breve ranging from 103 cfu mL−1 to 107 cfu mL−1 with a correlation coefficient of 0.98. The limit of detection (LOD) of the assay was 1000 cfu mL−1. Additionally, the developed method was also successfully used to detect B. breve in a milk environment. Taken together, we hold that the developed colorimetric bioassay based on the aptamer BB16-11f is a promising method for the detection of B. breve.

Enzymatic biofuel cells (EBFCs) are considered as a promising approach to meet the requirements of power sources. Electrode materials, which are significant factors to affect the power output of EBFCs, have aroused great interest. Herein, we developed an EBFC using a Fe3O4–carbon nanofiber/gold nanoparticle hybrid as the substrate electrode for improving the performance of the power output. The open-circuit voltage (Eocv) of the designed EBFC reached 0.68 ± 0.03 V, and the maximum power density (Pmax) reached 126 ± 4.5 μW cm−2. The as-prepared EBFC showed 3 times higher Pmax compared to the EBFC based on the carbon nanofiber/gold nanoparticle hybrid, which was ascribed to the good electrocatalytic activity of Fe3O4 NP loaded carbon nanofibers (CNFs), the 3D porous structure of CNFs as well as the uniform distribution of Au NPs. The Fe3O4–CNF/gold nanoparticle hybrid is considered as a promising candidate for constructing electrochemical biosensors and biofuel cells.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of three different kinds of oligosaccharides (a fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS) formulation consisting of 95% FOS (FOS95); a galacto-oligosaccharide (GOS) formulation consisting of 90% GOS (GOS90) and an isomalto-oligosaccharide (IMO) formulation consisting of 90% IMO (IMO90)) at dosages of 0.8, 4 g per d per kg bw and 8 g per d per kg bw on the composition and activity of the microbiota in the gut of mice with constipation induced by loperamide. Oligosaccharides were intragastrically administered to specific pathogen-free BALB/c mice once per day for 17 days. Feces were collected during a feeding trial and subjected to 16S rDNA amplicon analysis. Constipation indices, changes in gut microbiota and metabolic activity were measured to evaluate the effects of the oligosaccharides. The results show that oligosaccharides treated constipation by increasing both the water content of the feces and the small intestinal transit rate. The dosage required to treat constipation was different for different oligosaccharides. High-dose GOS90 was the most effective in relieving constipation, followed by medium-dose FOS95 and IMO90. The fecal samples were investigated after the oligosaccharide treatment. All three oligosaccharides increased the ratio of acetic acid and decreased the ratio of propionic and butyric acids in the feces. The increase in the ratio of acetic acid and the concentration of butyric acid were found to have relatively larger effects on constipation. After treatment with oligosaccharides, the gut microbiotas of the mice were dominated by Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria. At the genus level, oligosaccharide treatment increased the levels of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium and decreased the levels of Odoribacter, Alistipes and Bacteroides. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that oligosaccharides administered as a dietary supplement increase the water content of feces, reduce intestinal transit time, modulate the composition of the gut microbiota and increase the concentration of short-chain fatty acids in the feces of mice with constipation.

Reaction pathways and intrinsic kinetics of rosin hydrogenation over a spent equilibrium catalyst-supported nickel catalyst were investigated in a batch reactor. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed that the reaction pathway of rosin involved isomerization, hydrogenation, and dehydrogenation of various resin acids. In the temperature range between 423 and 453 K and stirring rates above 500 rpm, external and internal mass transfer limitations in catalyst particles with a size of 20–80 μm were eliminated. A power-law model was used to determine the intrinsic kinetic parameters of rosin hydrogenation based on the experimental data. The results showed that reactivity trends of rosin hydrogenation below 453 K are well-fitted by a pseudo-first-order kinetic model. Activation energies for neoabietic acid isomerization, palustric acid isomerization, abietic acid (AA) partial hydrogenation, AA hydrogenation, AA dehydrogenation, and pimaric acids hydrogenation were 66.60, 58.06, 73.02, 86.67, 107.42, 37.60 kJ mol−1, respectively.

A novel composite room temperature (RT) gas sensor based on a α-Ni(OH)2 thin nanosheet (TNS)/reduced graphene oxide composite (α-Ni(OH)2 TNS/rGO composites) was successfully synthesized via a facile reflux method. In this synthesis, Ni2+ and urea were adsorbed on GO through electrostatic interactions in a water solution. The subsequent reflux treatment led to the transformation of the Ni(OH)2 TNS coated on GO and also to the reduction of graphene oxide. Compared to the pristine Ni(OH)2 TNS prepared in the absence of GO, the prepared α-Ni(OH)2 TNS/rGO composite showed higher NOx gas sensing performance with a low detection limit of 970 ppb, high response and fast response at RT. The enhanced sensing properties are attributed to the synergy of the superior conductivity of rGO and the 3D nanostructure of the α-Ni(OH)2 TNS/rGO composite. The present strategy for combining various hydroxide and nanoscaled building blocks into integrated 3D structures will open new opportunities for designing and synthesizing multifunctional composites.

We report a method of utilizing a UV-triggered thiol-disulfide exchange reaction for constructing biodegradable hydrogels with tailored properties from a water-soluble comb-like polymer of P(EMA-SS-PEG), a polyethylene glycol grafted poly(ethyl methacrylate) derivative with the disulfide linkage as the grafting point. This photochemical method provides precise spatiotemporal control over the structures and properties of disulfide-crosslinked hydrogels. By varying the irradiation time, we facilely adjust the cross-linking degree of hydrogels, thereby regulating their morphology, mechanical properties, hydrophilic properties, and swelling ratio. The photochemical method can easily fabricate macro-micro-customized patterned hydrogels, indicating its precise spatial control on the photochemical gelation process. In addition, the tailor-made biodegradable hydrogels can achieve tunable absorption and release behaviors of RB dyes, proving their potential application in controlled drug delivery.

A new fluorescent smart unit (BNAP) based on bisnaphthalimide was designed and synthesized, in which two naphthalimide segments were conjugated through a twisted single bond at the 4-site. With the dual naphthalimide planes, BNAP can act as a double-channel rotor, which can output the shorter emission in the twisted state and the longer emission in the planar state. Because of the restriction of intramolecular rotation (RIR) effects, BNAP showed strong emission character in high viscosity circumstances. The longer and moderate emission in aggregates is attributed to the synergetic effects of RIR and intramolecular planarization. As a molecular rotor with dramatic changes in both emission wavelength and intensity, BNAP could be developed for the rapid detection of viscosity. The probe generates a logarithmic response to the viscosity of a glycerol/water system with different ratios. Furthermore, the probe exhibits high sensitivity to viscosity-related temperature variations. This property is very important because temperature always changes the surrounding viscosity in many biological systems and mechanical systems.

A small eggshell Ni-based catalyst, supported in a fluid catalytic cracking catalyst residue (SFC3R) with distinct outer shell regions, was synthesized by incipient wetness impregnation using n-heptane and nickel nitrate solution and was applied to C5 petroleum resin hydrogenation. For comparison, a uniform Ni/SFC3R catalyst was prepared by conventional impregnation. The eggshell Ni/SFC3R catalyst exhibited higher activity and better stability than the uniform Ni/SFC3R catalyst for C5 petroleum resin hydrogenation because of its nickel component distribution in the outer region of the particles, small NiO particles, and interaction of NiO–SFC3R. The morphology and microstructure of the micron-sized Ni/SFC3R particles were determined through a FIB (focused ion beam)-cutting technique combined with SEM-EDX. The results showed that the eggshell thickness was approximately 1.8 μm.

A manganese oxide-based catalytic tubular micromotor (PEDOT/MnO2) is described that displays effective autonomous motion in hydrogen peroxide with high speed (318.80 µm s−1) and can operate in very low levels of fuel, down to 0.4%. The polymer bilayer micromotor also exhibits efficient locomotion in different biological media including bovine serum albumin and bovine serum. Moreover, the micromotor is applied to deliver a chemotherapeutic anticancer drug, camptothecin, using electrostatic interactions, offering considerable potential for diverse clinical and biomedical applications such as drug delivery for theranostic microsystems.

A phenazine derivative with a succinimide endcap (PHS) was designed and synthesized for cysteine (Cys) with near-infrared (NIR) emission. Upon the addition of Cys, the color of the solution changed clearly from greenish black to orange, which was attributed to the disappeared absorbance at 616 nm. An enhanced NIR emission band at 670 nm was found in the fluorescence spectra and a corresponding excitation peak at 466 nm arose in the excitation spectra. Verified by the dynamic reaction, the cyanoacetic acid moiety should be susceptible to be attacked by the –SH group in a fast rate through Michael addition reaction. Being highly reactive to the amino group (–NH2), the NHS-active carbonyl site could target the amino acid and accelerate the process of nucleophilic attack from the –SH group. This cycloaddition mechanism of the α,β-unsaturated carbonyl NHS-ester was proved by 1H NMR titration. In addition to its good biocompatibility, PHS was successfully applied to the detection of Cys in Hela cell lines with NIR fluorescence signals.

Submicrochains composed of massage ball-like WO3@CuWO4 composites with nano-sized WO3 protrusions on submicro-sized CuWO4 particles were prepared via a simple Cu2+ intercalation method. WO3 grains (8 to 15 nm) modified on the surface of mesoporous single crystal CuWO4 particles with 100 to 300 nm size resulted in the formation of a WO3–CuWO4 heterojunction with a Cu : W atomic ratio up to 3 : 10. The disperse density of the WO3 nanoparticles (NPs) depended on the excess quantity of raw material H2WO4. The gas sensing results show that the massage ball-like WO3@CuWO4 sensor possessed a 54.2% higher response for 1000 ppm CO, and a low 5 ppm CO detection limit at room temperature (RT); compared with WO3@CuWO4 sensors, mesoporous the CuWO4 submicrochain sensor had the fastest response time of the whole CO concentration range and the response time was only 1.0 s for 1000 ppm CO gas and 3.7 s for 10 ppm CO gas at RT.

The aim of this study was to describe the hydrolysis behavior of sugarcane bagasse pith (SCBP) in subcritical CO2–water. The hydrolysis was carried out in a batch reactor using different temperatures (160 to 260 °C), liquid to solid ratios (20:1 to 100:1), CO2 pressures (0 to 7.3 MPa), stirring speeds (0 to 500 rpm) and reaction times (0 to 40 min). The highest total reducing sugar yield (43.6%) was obtained at 200 °C, liquid to solid ratio 30:1, 2 MPa CO2, 500 rpm and 50 min. Two-dimensional heteronuclear single quantum coherence (2D HSQC) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FT-IR) were used to help elucidate the physical and chemical characteristics of the raw material and residual solid particles, with results consistent with the removal of hemicellulose during hydrolysis. The changes in the concentration of products with time were analyzed to understand product distribution through high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and to infer the reaction mechanism.

A simple and sensitive fluorescence “turn-off” biosensor for detection of vancomycin at nanogram level was proposed based on the electron transfer mechanism and the fluorescence quenching of CdTe quantum dots (QDs). The electron transfer process during the interaction between vancomycin and GSH (glutathione)-CdTe QDs was investigated not only by ultraviolet/visible (UV/vis) absorption and fluorescence (FL) spectroscopy but also by fluorescence lifetime measurements. The degree of the electron transfer and as resulted fluorescence quenching was proportional to the increasing of vancomycin concentration in the range of 1.534 ng mL−1–20 μg mL−1, with a corresponding detection limit of 0.4605 ng mL−1. This proposed a biosensor that could be used to determine vancomycin in environmental water samples, pharmaceutical formulation and spiked human serum with all of the recoveries over 95.8%. The mechanism of the detection was dynamic quenching with an electron transfer (ET) process. The experimental conditions, key affecting factors and the influence of the coexisting substances have also been optimized and studied.

A hierarchical nickel shell anchored on silica coated magnetic Fe3O4@SiO2 nanospheres (MNPs) has been designed and constructed, which combines the capacity of effective adsorption of protein bovine hemoglobin (BHb) and selective deletion of BHb from real bovine blood samples. Firstly, –NH2 modified silica/magnetite nanoparticles (Fe3O4@SiO2–NH2) were synthesized by combining a sol–gel method and a refluxing process. The Fe3O4@SiO2–NH2 composites revealed a core–shell structure, and the thickness of the silica shell can be easily adjusted by controlling the amount of ammonium solution. Then, the hierarchical nickel shells were anchored on the surface of Fe3O4@SiO2–NH2 by reducing Ni2+ between the solid Fe3O4@SiO2–NH2 and nickel solution with NaBH4. By taking advantage of the high affinity of Ni2+ on the shell surface toward His-tagged proteins and the fast response toward an assistant magnet, the hetero-nanoparticles can be applied to selectively bind to and magnetically separate BHb from the bovine blood. Significantly, it is expected that this approach can be extended to other bimolecular separation and purification processes.

Flowerlike and polyhedral NiO–graphene nanocomposites have been successfully synthesized using a facile hydrothermal method. The formation mechanism of the two nanocomposites with different morphologies has been studied. The resulting products are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic analysis (XPS), thermogravimetry (TG), and the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method. The prepared NiO–graphene nanocomposites with different shapes can be used for supercapacitor electrode materials. Through electrochemical tests, the flowerlike NiO–graphene composite shows higher specific capacitance than that of the polyhedral one with a specific capacitance as high as 500 F g−1 at a scan rate of 5 mV s−1 while the polyhedral NiO–graphene composite delivers better long-term cycle stability with 84% specific capacitance remaining after 3000 cycles in a 1 M KOH electrolyte.

A new ratiometric fluorescent nanoprobe based on DNA-stabilized silver nanoclusters (AgNCs) was one-pot synthesized by a simple reduction method. The obtained nanoprobe exhibited two typical green and red emissions of FAM and AgNCs, used as reference and response signals, respectively. Upon the addition of Hg2+ or Cu2+, the red emission of AgNCs was quenched greatly, whereas the green emission of FAM remained constant, resulting in the ratiometric fluorescence determination of Hg2+ and Cu2+. This ratiometric nanoprobe showed good selectivity for Hg2+ and Cu2+ over many other metal ions, and exhibited high sensitivity with a detection limit as low as 1.03 nM and 2.77 nM for Hg2+ and Cu2+, respectively. Moreover, with the aid of a chelating agent, EDTA, this ratiometric fluorescent nanoprobe can discriminate and realize exclusive determination of Hg2+ and Cu2+. This ratiometric fluorescent nanoprobe was successfully applied for the determination of Hg2+ and Cu2+ in real tap water samples.

Cumulative amounts of waste equilibrium fluid catalytic cracking catalyst (Ecat) are generated in the petrochemical industry every year. They are contaminated by toxic heavy metal ions, and are dumped into landfills, posing difficulties in solid waste management and resulting in severe environmental problems as well as resource waste. Thus, using Ecat as a support, a new non-noble metal supported Ni catalyst (Ni/Ecat) was synthesized and applied to convert terebinth, a renewable feedstock, into value-added pinane. The catalyst was characterized by SEM, XRD, FTIR and TPR. In the hydrogenation process, important variables like temperature, pressure, reaction time and stirring speed have been studied by response surface methodology (RSM). The optimum reaction time, temperature, hydrogen pressure, and stirring speed were found to be 2.3 h, 110 °C, 3.2 MPa and 540 rpm, respectively, with conversion of terebinth of 98.90% and selectivity of cis-pinane of 94.00%. This result clearly showed that Ni/Ecat exhibited high activity, selectivity and good stability. The Ni/Ecat can be reused 13 times with terebinth conversion of 93.73% and selectivity of cis-pinane of 93.60%.

High salt-induced hypertension (HT) is an increasingly relevant health issue. However, the molecular mechanism of the metabolic transformation in HT development remains largely unknown. Features of the time-dependent metabolic transfer during HT onset and development should describe crucial aspects of HT phenotypes and may allow early prevention. To investigate the progression of HT and identify potential biomarkers, the metabolic profiles of urine, plasma, and fecal extracts of HT rats fed a high salt diet were investigated using a 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabonomics approach. In this study, the profiles at the 4th and 8th weeks for urine and fecal extracts could be classified, which revealed progression axes from normal status to HT status. Changes in succinate, α-ketoglutaric acid (α-KG), citrate, creatine and creatinine, choline, phosphocholine (PC) and glycerophosphocholine (GPC), trimethylamine-N-oxide and betaine, taurine and hippurate in urine, in conjunction with gut flora disturbance in feces were observed during the initial stage of HT (6th week). During the severe HT period (8th week), these metabolic changes became more pronounced, and the metabolic disturbance in plasma lipid and choline indicated a possible increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Thus, an increase in dietary salt can induce a series of metabolic changes, and 1H NMR-based metabonomics offers a non-invasive means to elucidate the progression of HT induced by this dietary pattern.

Here we reported a facile method to synthesize multifunctional nanocables with a tunable chemical composition. Through the in situ templating method, polydopamine could be directly coated onto the magnetic silver nanowires to form Ag NW/Fe3O4@PDA nanocables. Then, Au(Ag)/AgCl/Fe3O4@PDA@Au was elaborately fabricated by utilizing Ag NWs/Fe3O4@PDA as a template by means of spatially confined galvanic replacement and reduction among Ag NWs, PDA and HAuCl4. These multifunctional nanotubes exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity in the presence of visible light.

Acute alcoholic liver damage is a common illness and poses a potential health risk for humans presently. Salvianic acid (SA) has been found to be effective in liver protection. However, the mammalian systems responses to acute alcohol exposure and the underlying biochemical mechanism of SA treatment are not clear. In this study, we systematically analysed the acute alcohol-induced metabonomic changes and the therapeutic effect of SA by using a 1H NMR-based metabonomics approach together with histopathological and clinical biochemistry assessments. The rats in the treatment and model groups were gavaged with 5 g kg−1 BW edible alcohol once every 12 h three times to establish the acute alcoholic liver damage model. SA-treated rats were gavaged with 20 mg kg−1 SA for five days before alcohol administration. The model rats presented acute alcoholic injury with centrilobular inflammation and necrosis. SA treatment not only alleviated the hepatic damage but also promoted the recovery of liver function. We found that acute alcohol exposure induced significant elevation of lactate, glycerol, acetate, creatine and ketone bodies but reduction of glycine and TMAO/betaine. SA reversed the metabolic changes in multiple metabolic pathways, including anaerobic glycolysis, fatty acid oxidation, lipolysis, oxidative stress, creatinine and methylation metabolism. These findings provide an overview of the biochemical consequences of acute alcohol intake and new insights into the SA effects on acute alcoholic liver injury, demonstrating metabonomics as a powerful approach for examining the molecular mechanisms of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Multifunctional nanocables were prepared by directly welding superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticle decorated CNTs and Au nanoparticles together with polydopamine (Pdop) as “glue” in a facile but effective way. Additionally, the size and density of the Au nanoparticles can be easily controlled by different chemical approaches. Moreover, these core–shell nanocables can be a versatile platform for multiple applications.

In this paper, a series of loose and porous p-type In2O3/TiO2 composite nanofibers (ITCN) has been synthesized via a facile synthesis using an electrospinning approach, followed by an appropriate thermal treatment under ambient conditions. It was found that the ITCN, with an In2O3 composite content of 14.3 at% (ITCN2), which had lots of loose pores (approximate size of 4–6 nm) in the nanofibers (NFs), made of nanoparticles (7–12 nm), exhibited a short response time of 3 s at 97 ppm and a low detection limit of 97 ppb to NOx, which was over 9 times higher than the response of pure TiO2 nanofibers at room temperature. The ITCN2 performance came from the composite In3+ as an ionic charge-compensating and highly electrically conductive agent, which resulted from adding a large number of gas sensing active sites and increased the conductivity. Hence, the p-type In2O3-composite TiO2 has potential for the development of novel gas sensors at room temperature.

A surface plasmon resonance (SPR) detection system based on a hybridization chain reaction (HCR) was developed for amplified detection of DNA and small molecules with high sensitivity. This methodology is capable of detecting the target in complicated biological samples and can be further extended to the detection of other proteins or biomarkers.

The mesoporous Al2O3–In2O3 composites with one-dimensional (1D) nanofibres (NFs) have been fabricated via a facile one-step synthesis of the electrospinning approach, followed by appropriate thermal treatment under ambient conditions. The composite nanomaterials display high dispersion of both In2O3 and Al2O3, forming a heterostructure and mesoporous tubular structure in a broad Al : In atomic ratio up to 1 : 4. It has been found that the Al2O3 composite tube-like nanostructures not only increase efficient sites for gas adsorption, but also possess higher donor densities. Moreover, the mesoporous structure also provides effective and fast channels for fast capturing and migration of electrons. The results show that the mesoporous Al2O3–In2O3 nanotubes exhibit excellent sensing properties to NOx down to a detection limit of 291 ppb at room temperature (RT), while containing 20 at% Al2O3 (labeled as meso-20AI NTs) with an average diameter of nanoparticles of about 10 nm. With respect to the 97 ppm NOx, the maximum response of 100 was determined, 7.3 times as high as the pure In2O3 NTs. Owing to its unique composite structure, 1D meso-20AI NTs may be promising for application in gas sensors.