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A series of dense oxygen permeable dual-phase membranes with a composition of 60 wt% Ce0.8Gd0.2O2−δ-40 wt% Ba0.95La0.05Fe0.9M0.10O3−δ ( CGO- BLFM0.10, M=Fe, Nb, Zr, Zn, Sc, Y) were successfully synthesized and evaluated as potential ceramic membranes for oxy-fuel combustion. The effects of B-site doped elements in electronic-conducting phase ( BLFM0.10) on the crystal structure, microstructure, chemical compatibility, oxygen permeability, as well as chemical stability of CGO- BLFM0.10 were systematically investigated. All electronic-conducting phase BLFM0.10 oxides exhibited a pure cubic perovskite structure and showed good chemical compatibility with ionic-conducting phase CGO. CGO- BLFSc0.10 showed the best oxygen permeation stability under a pure CO2 atmosphere. CO2-corrosion on the perovskite phase is the main reason for the property deterioration of fluorite-perovskite-typed dual-phase membrane materials. The stability of dual-phase membrane materials can be effectively enhanced by reducing the basicity of electronic-conducting phase of perovskite materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of multi‐drug resistant (MDR) bacteria poses a serious threat to human health. It has become imperative to develop efficient antimicrobial strategies. Here, a manganese‐doped dopamine‐derived hollow carbon sphere (MnOx/HNCS) is developed as a nanozyme and photothermal agent for the synergistic treatment of MDR bacterial infections. MnOx/HNCS possesses oxidase, superoxide dismutase, and peroxidase like activities and implements self‐cascading enzymatic catalysis to produce superoxide anion (O2•−), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and hydroxyl radicals (•OH). Importantly, near‐infrared light facilitates the electron transport of MnOx/HNCS, allowing it to exhibit stable photothermal effects and photo‐enhanced enzymatic activity. Thereby MnOx/HNCS displays a broad‐spectrum synergistic antibacterial efficiency in vitro against six MDR pathogens based on the above photo‐regulated properties. In vivo experiments further demonstrate the excellent antibacterial efficiency of MnOx/HNCS in the MDR bacteria‐infected wound model. Notably, MnOx/HNCS not only has excellent disinfection capacity, but also can accelerate wound healing by stimulating the deposition of the extracellular matrix and reepithelialization. This study proposes a promising antibiotics‐alternative broad‐spectrum antibacterial strategy and paves a new avenue for the establishment of multifunctional photo‐responsive synergistic therapeutic platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims/Introduction: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is frequently accompanied by fatty liver disease. Lipid accumulation within the liver is considered as one of the risk factors for insulin resistance. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is used to treat liver dysfunction; however, the effect and mechanism of HGF on hepatic lipid metabolism are still not fully understood. Materials and Methods: Male C57BL/6 mice were induced with a high‐fat diet for 12 weeks, followed by a 4‐week treatment of HGF or vehicle saline. The levels of fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance were calculated for insulin sensitivity. Biochemical plasma parameters were also measured to assess the effect of HGF on lipid accumulation. Additionally, genes in the lipid metabolism pathway were evaluated in palmitic acid‐treated HepG2 cells and high‐fat diet mice. Results: HGF treatment significantly decreased the levels of fasting blood glucose, hepatic triglyceride and cholesterol contents. Additionally, HGF‐regulated expression levels of sterol regulatory element‐binding protein‐1c/fatty acid synthase, peroxidase proliferator‐activated receptor‐α, and upstream nuclear receptors, such as farnesoid X receptor and small heterodimer partner. Furthermore, c‐Met inhibitor could partially reverse the effects of HGF. Conclusions: HGF treatment can ameliorate hepatic insulin resistance and steatosis through regulation of lipid metabolism. These effects might occur through farnesoid X receptor–small heterodimer partner axis‐dependent transcriptional activity. HGF reduced the levels of fasting blood glucose, blood lipid level, and improved the HFD‐fed mice. HGF significantly regulated lipogenesis‐related genes SREBP‐1c/FAS as well as PPARα, and nuclear receptors such as FXR, SHP. HGF ameliorates hyperglycemia and by improving hepatic insulin resistance and steatosis in HFD‐fed C57BL/6 mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinical therapy of multidrug resistant (MDR) bacteria‐induced deep‐tissue infections such as pneumonia is highly challenging. Ultrasound (US)‐induced sonodynamic therapy (SDT) is a promising strategy for treatment of deep‐tissue diseases given the strong tissue penetration of US. Here, ZIF‐8‐derived carbon@TiO2 nanoparticles (ZTNs) are developed as inhalable sonosensitizers for bacterial pneumonia. ZTNs upon US irradiation exhibit an excellent efficacy to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) and thereby to kill Gram‐negative MDR bacteria in vitro. Taking advantage of aerosolized intratracheal inoculation, ZTNs can be precisely delivered to lung infection sites, and display an effective SDT‐based elimination of Gram‐negative MDR bacteria in the lung infection models of immunocompetent or immunodeficient mice. Particularly, ZTNs upon US irradiation give a 100% survival rate in the severely immunodeficient NOD/SCID mice with a lethal bacterial pneumonia. In addition, ZTNs have no obvious toxicity at both cellular and animal levels. Metal–organic‐framework‐derived nanoparticles as safe and efficient inhalable sonosensitizer have a great potential to be used for the clinical antibiotics‐alternative treatment of MDR bacterial pneumonia. This study presents a new paradigm for SDT‐based treatment of deep‐tissue bacterial infections, and will expand the nanomedicine application of inorganic sonosensitizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photothermal therapy based on conjugated polymers represents a promising antibacterial strategy but still possesses notable limitations. Herein, degradable pseudo conjugated polymers (PCPs) containing photothermal molecular backbones and reactive oxygen species (ROS)‐sensitive thioketal bonds are designed. Triphenylphosphine (PPh3) is introduced into PCPs to generate phosphonium‐based PCPs (pPCPs), which further assembled with hyaluronic acid into pPCP nanoparticles (pPCP‐NPs). pPCP‐NPs with quaternary phosphonium cations selectively anchor on and destroy bacterial cell membranes through electrostatic action. Under 1064 nm laser irradiation, pPCP‐NPs (pPCP‐NPs/+L) produce near‐infrared‐II (NIR‐II) photothermal antibacterial effect, thereby killing bacteria in a sustained manner. pPCP‐NPs are readily degraded upon ROS abundant at infection sites, therefore exhibiting enough biosafety. pPCP‐NPs/+L display an almost 100% bacterial inhibition rate in vitro and resultin a nearly complete recovery of bacteria‐induced mouse wounds. A further metabolomics analysis denotes that pPCP‐NPs/+L work in a concerted way to induce bacterial DNA damage, inhibit bacterial carbon/nitrogen utilization and amino acid/nucleotide synthesis. Taken together, degradable pPCP‐NPs with both NIR‐II photothermal effect and cationic phosphonium structural bacteriostasis provide a new avenue for antibiotics‐alternative anti‐infection therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]