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Multimode sensing has attracted extensive attention because they provide more than one transduction channel, thus improving accuracy and sensitivity. Due to the structural diversity, MnO2 nanosheets and nanoneedles were successively obtained via one-step redox reaction and different self-assembly methods. MnO2 nanosheets possess outstanding optical properties including extremely strong resonance Rayleigh scattering (RRS) and absorbance signal, and were selected as a dual-mode sensing material. Inspired by the selectivity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) towards dephosphorylate ascorbic acid 2-phosphate (AAP) to generate ascorbic acid (AA), which has the ability to decompose MnO2 nanosheets along with optical signals and colour change, a dual-mode optical ALP sensing platform has been designed. Therefore, MnO2 nanosheets can serve as colorimetric probes by directly visualizing the colour variation with bare eyes. Moreover, the detection limit obtained by the RRS sensing mode can be as low as 0.17 mU L−1, which is far superior to that obtained by previously reported methods. The strategy not only has good feasibility and sensitivity, but also shows good prospects for a series of ALP-extended sensing applications.

The cancer cell membrane (CCM) is widely used for nanomedicine encapsulation to improve their tumor-targeting ability. However, few researches are focused on drug release process and mechanism of these composite. Cell membrane fusion (two separate lipid membranes merge into a single continuous bilayer), one of the most fundamental processes in biology could be promoted by heating. Thus, in this manuscript, CCM was exploited as the gate keeper and tumor-targeting moiety of anticancer drug-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN). In addition, the drug release process and mechanism based on cell membrane fusion were studied. The loaded drugs included indocyanine green (ICG), a FDA-approved near-infrared photothermal agent for clinical applications, and doxorubicin (DOX), a chemotherapy drug. By coating CCM on drug-loaded MSN, the keeper could prevent unexpected drug leaking during the circulation and provide tumor targeting based on its specific recognition function. After arriving tumor tissue post-tail vein injection, the tumor position is irradiated by 808 nm light to trigger light–thermal conversion process of ICG to heat the composite (DOX-ICG@MSN@CCM) and promote cell membrane fusion between the encapsulated CCM and targeted tumor cell membrane. Such process can enhance the uptake efficacy of DOX-ICG@MSN@CCM to tumor cells. Furthermore, ICG could provide a synergistic photothermal therapy activity with DOX.

Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is a rare and severe auto-inflammatory skin disease that is characterized by recurrent, acute onset, and generalized pustular eruptions on erythematous, inflamed skin. GPP is traditionally classified as a variant of psoriasis vulgaris, even though recent clinical, histological and genetic evidence suggests that it is a heterogeneous disease and requires a separate diagnosis. In recent years, variants of IL36RN, CARD14, AP1S3 and MPO genes have been identified as causative or contributing to genetic defects in a proportion of patients affected by GPP. These disease-related genes are involved in common inflammatory pathways, in particular in the IL-1/IL-36-chemokines-neutrophil pathogenic axis. At present, no standard therapeutic guidelines have been established for GPP management, and there is a profound need for novel efficacious treatments of GPP. Among them, biological agents antagonizing the IL-36 pathway are promising therapeutics. The aim of the present review is to provide the most recent updates on the genetics, genotype-phenotype correlation and pathological basis of GPP, as well as on biologic treatments available for GPP and relative clinical courses.

Virus-like nanostructures could involve their interaction with biological hosts, as well as adaptive immune responses. Herein, imitating the intrinsic structure of virus, we formulated novel virus-like hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (VH-MSNs) by using self-consuming perovskite template. The unique topological structure on the surface of nanoparticles could enhance cellular uptake and amplify the immune response. By loading doxorubicin (DOX) on nanoparticles, we achieved a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy. This study provides a promising platform with superior cellular uptake property for drug delivery and a basis for the study of the effect of surface physical structure on the nanocarriers.

Multimode sensing has attracted extensive attention because they provide more than one transduction channel, thus improving accuracy and sensitivity. Due to the structural diversity, MnO

Aggravating the pollution of microcystins (MCs) in freshwater environments is detrimental to aquatic living organisms and humans, and thus threatens the stability of ecosystems. Some environmental factors have been verified to promote the production of MCs in Microcystis aeruginosa, thereby aggravating the pollution of MCs. However, the effects of cerium (Ce), the most abundant rare earth element in global water environments, on the production of MCs in M. aeruginosa are unknown. Here, Lake Taihu water was selected as a representative of freshwater environments. By using interdisciplinary methods, it was found that: (1) the exposure level of Ce [Ce(III) and Ce(IV)] in Lake Taihu water is in the range of 0.271–0.282 μg/L; (2) Ce exposure in Lake Taihu water promoted the contents of three main MCs (MC-LR, MC-LW and MC-YR) in M. aeruginosa and water; (3) a cellular mechanism of Ce promoting the production of MCs in M. aeruginosa in Lake Taihu water was suggested: Ce enhanced endocytosis in cells of M. aeruginosa to promote the essential element uptake by M. aeruginosa for MC synthesis. Thus, Ce exposure in Lake Taihu water aggravates the pollution of MCs via enhancing endocytosis in cells of M. aeruginosa. The results provide reference for assessing the environmental risk of Ce in water environments, investigating the mechanism of the pollution of MCs induced by environmental factors, and developing strategies aimed at preventing and controlling the pollution of MCs.

Neurexins are extensively investigated presynaptic cell-adhesion molecules which play important roles in transmitting signals and processing information at synapses that connect neurons into a vast network of cellular communications. Synaptic transmission of information is a fast and dynamic process which relies on rapid and tight regulation of synaptic protein expression. However, the mechanism underlying those regulation is still not fully understood. Therefore, we explore how the expression of NRXN2α, one of encoding genes for neurexins, is regulated at the translational level. NRXN2α transcript has a long and conserved 5′-untranslated region (5′UTR) suggestive of the rapid regulation of protein expression at the translational level. We first demonstrate that the 5′UTR has negative effects on the expression of the NRXN2α and find a critical subregion responsible for the major inhibitory function. Then we identify a particular secondary structure of G-quadruplex in the 5′UTR. Moreover, we find that the synergistic roles of G-quadruplex and upstream AUGs are responsible for most of NRXN2α-5′UTR inhibitory effects. In conclusion, we uncovered 5′ UTR of neurexin2 potentially inhibits neurexin2 translation by multiple mechanisms. In addition, this study underscores the importance of direct protein quantitation in experiments rather than using mRNA as an indirect estimate of protein expression.

Additional file 3: Table S1. Primers used in the present study.

A ferroelectric ceramic barium titanate (BaTiO3, BT) layer and an interfacial agent polydopamine (PDA) as the shells are coated on the cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4, CFO) nanoparticles successively to fabricate the interfacial compatibility of this magnetic oxide. Subsequently, the coated nanoparticles are compounded with ferroelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoro ethylene) (P(VDF-TrFE)) matrix to obtain the CFO@BT@PDA/(P(VDF-TrFE) magnetoelectric nanocomposite films. We find these nanocomposites with three phases including a CFO magnetic core, a BT piezoelectric shell and the P(VDF-TrFE) piezoelectric matrix show a considerable dielectric permittivity of 85.7 and a maximum polarization of 49.5 μC/cm2. Attractively, after poling the saturated magnetization of this film increases from 52.1 emu/g to 61.7 emu/g, corresponding to a significant magnetoelectric effect. Through non self-consistent theory (NSC), the magnetoelectric coupling coefficient (αE33) of CFO@BT@PDA/(P(VDF-TrFE) film is calculated to reach 150.58 mV/cm·Oe, indicating that this flexible multiferroic film has a prospect of application on energy collector or new information storage devices.

Many reports indicated that the cellular uptaken and photodynamic anti-cancer activity of amino group modified phthalocyanine (Pc) could be greatly improved in the acid environment around cancer cells because such Pc could transfer to their hydrochloride protonated form and inhibit the intramolecular photoinduced electron transfer (PET) effect. However, no more researches are carried out to indicate whether this law has the extensive applicability in all kinds of amino modified Phthalocyanines (Pcs). So, here, four amino groups modified Pcs and their hydrochloride or quaternized cationic derivatives, with two kinds of amino groups (phenylamine and benzylamine) substituted were synthesized. Their solubility in aqueous system, cancer cell uptaken ability and photodynamic activities were also systematically compared. Our research results indicated that above law had the extensive applicability in benzylamine amino groups modified Pcs. But for phenylamine amino groups modified ones, the cancer cell uptaken ability and anti-cancer activity of hydrochloride derivatives were obviously decreased comparing with the unmodified Pc because its nitrogen atom was closer to the Pc ring, which would induce its nitrogen atom and the ring to form p–π conjugation system, furthermore, the relatively free state of lone pair electrons of surrounding nitrogen atom leaded to PET strengthening.

A series of hypocrellin A (HA) self-assembled nanostructures were prepared by controlling the charge properties of drugs and the ion strength of the environment. Comparative studies with nanostructures and HA have demonstrated that the self-assembled effect on the HA molecule significantly enhances its water dispersion ability, 1O2 generation efficiency and, thereby, the in vitro phototoxicity to human cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cells.

The river chief system has been advanced in all respects, river management is an important part of river chief system. River demarcation refers to the demarcation of river shoreline and the scope of management and protection, which is the premise of water management. Based on the analysis of the present situation, management and demarcation of the river in Anji County, the article puts forward the management problem and necessity of the demarcation of the current situation of the river in Anji County, and puts forward the principles and methods of the demarcation of the river shoreline and the scope of management protection according to different types.

The stable 4 : 1 host–guest complex of phthalocyanine (Pc) and hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin was designed, computer modeled and prepared. The complex formation can greatly increase water solubility, reactive oxygen generation ability, biocompatibility and, thereby, the in vitro phototoxicity of Pc to cancer cells.

This work reports on the effects of pH (especially base addition) on the properties of two cationic phthalocyanines substituted with amide groups. The absorption spectra, photo-stability, singlet oxygen generation ability and photodegradation of CT DNA of the two cationic phthalocyanines in different pH were studied and compared. Results indicated that the base additive can promote a shift in the amide/imidohydrine balance toward imidohydrine, which resulted in the reduction of aggregate and enhancement of photodynamic activities. This base induced tautomeric transformation could be a novel way to generate low aggregated and high photodynamic efficiency cationic Pcs.

For a long time, water conservancy projects across administrative region is mostly invest in the construction by superior government, each side unconditional benefit, this is difficult to arouse the enthusiasm of benefited party to investment, and makes the government faces a great financial pressure, at the same time, it is easy to produce regional imbalance and contradiction of water resources. Finally, it will affect the resource efficiency and investment efficiency of the project. The transregional water allocation is an important basis for implementing the total water use control system in drainage basin and regions and an important content for implementing tough water management measures. This article summarily analyses the typical engineering way of water allocation, and the basic principle of the water allocation, takes Qingxi Reservoir water allocation on concrete analysis, puts forward the main factors of Qingxi Reservoir water allocation, including the area of the Qingxi river basin in each administrative regions, water resources, effect of reservoir engineering constructions, the water demand and water deficit in each administrative regions, input factors, and then puts forward proposals on water allocation. Based on two water allocation proposals, this article puts forward proportion and recommended of water allocation in each administrative region. Each administrative region should own the same right to use water resources and shoulder the same responsibility based on the same proportion, same right, same profit and same responsibility. The water allocation plan can be used as reference for Qingxi Reservoir water allocation.

Ag3PO4 nanoparticles of ∼300 nm were synthesized by an ion-exchange reaction between AgNO3 and (NH4)2HPO4 at ambient condition. X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, UV−Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy were employed to investigate the phase structure, morphology, and optical property of the Ag3PO4 nanoparticles. Nearly 80% of Cr(VI) ions was removed after visible-light irradiation in Ag3PO4 suspension, the excellent photocatalytic reduction performance due to the high separation efficiency of electron and hole pairs. In addition, the possible photoreduction mechanism of Cr(VI) in Ag3PO4 suspension was discussed. The system of Ag3PO4 may provide an alternative way for the efficient removal of Cr(VI) under visible-light irradiation.

A new docetaxel (DTX) delivery system has been prepared based on calcium phosphate nanoparticles (CaP NPs) and obtained DTX-adsorbed CaP NPs. The DTX-adsorbed CaP NPs were nearly spherical with mean diameter about 200 nm and a negative zeta potential of −18.8 ± 0.5 mV. They can be well dispersed and stable in water for a long time. In addition, the DTX-adsorbed CaP NPs showed higher cytotoxicity in human nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines than that of DTX at the same experimental conditions. Thus, it could be concluded that CaP NPs can be a promising DTX delivery vehicle in NSCLC chemotherapy.

A hydrophilic nano-scale porous ceramic material, silica nano-carrier, was prepared using microemulsion method to deliver hypocrellin A (HA), a hydrophobic photosensitive anti-cancer drug, to cancer cells in vitro. The result hypocrellin A encapsulated silica nano-carrier delivery systems (HA-SNDS) are spherical, highly monodispersed, stable in aqueous system and own high drug encapsulation ability. Irradiation of the HA-SNDS with light of suitable wavelength results in efficient generation of singlet oxygen; further more the photo-stability of HA-SNDS is superior to free HA. In aqueous medium, the fluorescence intensity of the entrapped drug is stronger than the free drug, permitting use of fluorescence mediated bioimaging studies. In addition, HA-SNDS was stable at a wide range of pH. In vitro studies have demonstrated the active uptake of HA-SNDS into the cytosol of tumor cells. Comparative studies with free HA and HA-SNDS have demonstrated that the in vitro PDT efficacy of encapsulated HA is obvious superior to free HA. All these properties of HA-SNDS could make it a promising candidate for photodynamic therapy.

The photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B(RhB) on TiO2 nanoparticle modified with porphyrin (Pr) and Fe(III)porphyrin (Fe(III)Pr), which were prepared through the chemisorption method, have been investigated under ultraviolet light and visible light irradiation. The results indicated that the photodegradation of RhB was significantly enhanced in the presence of the Pr/TiO2 or Fe(III)Pr/TiO2 comparing with the nonmodified TiO2 under ultraviolet light, but under visible light, only Pr/TiO2 has remarkable effect.

The doping of titanium dioxide (TiO2) with various metal or nonmetal elements has been considered as an effective strategy to extend the photoactive wavelength region to visible light. In this paper (nitrogen [N] and sulfur [S])-codoped anatase TiO2 nanoparticles were prepared via a sol–gel route, followed by a heat treatment at elevated temperatures. The as-prepared samples were extensively characterized by X-ray diffraction, UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The N, S-codoped TiO2 nanoparticles showed a strong visible light absorption and exhibited an enhanced photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methylene blue as compared with the pure, N- or S-doped TiO2 under either UV light or solar light irradiation.

Experimental results of UV-visible absorption spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy indicate that hypocrellin A, which has been studied in photodynamic therapy, can interact with the surface of myoglobin through hydrophobic forces, and form a complex. Based on the Stern–Volmer equation, the quenching constants of the process can be calculated to be 4.81×1012L mol−1s−1(t=25°C) and 4.54×1012L mol−1s−1(t=42°C) respectively, and the binding constant is 5.53×104M−1(t=25°C), while the binding sites is 0.94 (t=25°C). In addition, Electron paramagnetic resonance and fluorescence spectroscopic analysis suggests that that the quenching mechanism of the interaction process occurs through the electron transfer between hypocrellin A and myoglobin.

The interaction of anticancer drug hypocrellin B (HB) and mono-cysteine substituted hypocrellin B (MCHB) with calf thymus deoxyribonucleic acid (CT-DNA) has been investigated using spectral methods. The results of UV–visible spectra showed that the HB and MCHB can intercalate into the base-stacking domain of the CT-DNA double helix. Further studies based on fluorescence spectroscopy and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy also supported the intercalation mechanism.

The surface binding association between a positively charged polymeric complex of hypocrellin A (HA) with La 3+ (La 3+ -HA) and calf thymus DNA (CT DNA) was confirmed by ESR and laser flash photolysis techniques along with UV-Vis absorption and fluorescence emission spectra. This surface binding, in cooperation with the longer triplet excited state lifetime of La 3+ -HA, gave rise to a stronger photodamage of CT DNA both in aerobic and anaerobic conditions by La 3+ -HA compared with HA.

(Copper, Nitrogen)-codoped titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles have been prepared via a sol–gel route, followed by heat treatment at an elevated temperature. Such (Cu, N)-codoped TiO2 nanoparticles showed a strong absorption in the visible region and a red shift in the band gap transition and exhibited an enhanced photocatalytic activity as compared with the pure, N-doped and Cu-doped TiO2 for xylenol orange decomposition.

Introduction of heavy atoms around photosensitizers (PSs) generally facilitates intersystem crossing (ISC) and improves their quantum yield of singlet oxygen ((1)O(2)) generation ability, which is a key species in photodynamic therapy (PDT). Here, we report Pt(IV)- and Au(III)-modified silica nanoparticles (SN) as the drug delivery system of a hypocrellin A (HA) to improve its photodynamic activity through external heavy atom effect. Comparative studies with Pt- and Au-modified and unmodified nanoparticles have demonstrated that the intraparticle external heavy atom effect on the encapsulated HA molecules significantly enhances their efficiency of (1)O(2) generation and, thereby, the in vitro photodynamic efficacy to cancer cells. The results well elucidated the potential of our PSs/heavy metal ions doped nanocarrier for improving the actual efficacy of PDT.

Nanoparticles of a hydrophobic photosensitizer, tetrakis (3-trifluoromethylphenoxy) zinc phthalocyanine (FPcZn) have been synthesized by using a simple reprecipitation technique. The resulting drug nanoparticles (FPcZn-NP) were spherical, highly monodispersed and stable in aqueous system, without an additional stabilizer. Comparative studies with FPcZn-NP and FPcZn indicated that after the formation of nanoparticles, FPcZn-NP maintained the efficiency of (1)O(2) generation. Further more, the in vitro studies demonstrated that such nanoparticles can be efficiently taken up by Hela cells, which might be resulted to cell death by light irradiation. These properties could make the FPcZn-NP to be a promising candidate in clinical photodynamic therapy.

A new hypocrellin A (HA) encapsulated silica nanoparticles was prepared by an improved microemulsion method based on the unique character of cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB). Stable aqueous dispersions of the HA-loaded nanoparticles, with the diameter about 50 nm, owned superior photo-stability and singlet oxygen generation ability to free HA. In vitro studies demonstrated the active uptake of HA-doped nanoparticles into the cytosol of HeLa (human cervix epithelioid carcinoma) cells. Significant morphology change and phototoxicity to such impregnated tumor cells was observed upon irradiation with light. Thus, the potential of using this method to prepare silica nanoparticles as drug carriers for photodynamic therapy has been demonstrated.

Two modified metallophthalocyanines (MPcs) containing sulfonic naphthoxy substituents were synthesized. The measurements of transient absorption and time-resolved photoluminescence were used to study the ultrafast response and excited state dynamics of two MPcs in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solution, which were predominantly in the monomeric form. Under excitation at 400 nm, these molecules experience vibrational relaxation to the bottom of the first excited state and then the excitation rapidly converts to the low-lying charge-transfer (CT) state and finally reaches the triplet states. Under excitation at 800 nm, they show a two-photon absorption character, and their excited state dynamics exhibit strong dependence on the probe wavelength. The main results with 400 nm pumping are similar to the results with 800 nm pumping. For p-HPcZn, weak two-photon photoluminescence was also observed with a lifetime of 52 +/- 2 ps. A four-level model was used to illustrate the excited state dynamics of p-HPcZn, while a five-level model was suggested for p-HPcCo molecule.

Laser Raman spectroscopy was used to detect the nature of the structural change in lysozyme sensitized by hypocrellin A (HA) at the molecular level. The results indicated that the orderly structure of lysozyme has been damaged by the active oxygen (1O2, O2−·and.OH, etc.) generated by HA, and cause the changes in H-bonds system of the main chain and the side chain of lysozyme.