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Genetically encoded nonstandard amino acids (NSAAs) facilitate the covalent assembly of enzymes and enable their self-purification, enhanced activity and stability.

Obtaining a detailed understanding of the surface modification of supports is crucial; however, it is a challenging task for the development and large-scale fabrication of supported electrocatalysts that can be used as alternatives to Pt-based catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). In this study, commercial silicon carbide (SiC) was modified through surface oxidization (O-SiC) to support the use of Pd nanoparticles (Pd NPs) as electrocatalysts for ORR. The obtained Pd/O-SiC catalysts exhibited better ORR activity, stronger durability, and higher resistance to methanol poisoning than that exhibited by commercial Pt/C. The role of the support in enhancing the ORR performance, especially the oxidization of SiC surfaces, was discussed in detail based on the experimental characterizations and density functional theory calculations. The underlying mechanism of the superior ORR performance of Pd/O-SiC catalysts was attributed to the charge transfer from SiCxOy to Pd NPs on the surfaces of SiC and the strong metal–support interactions (SMSIs) between Pd and SiCxOy. The charge transfer enhanced the ORR activity by inducing electron-rich Pd, increased the adsorption of the key intermediate OOH, and decreased the Gibbs free energy of the critical ORR step. Furthermore, SMSIs enhanced the ORR stability of the Pd/O-SiC catalyst. This study provided a facile route for designing and developing highly active Pd-based ORR electrocatalysts.

Chromium is a common harmful pollutant with high toxicity and low bearing capacity of soil and water. Excellent salinity resistance, a wide pH range, and high regeneration capacity were essential for qualified adsorbents used in removing hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) from polluted water. Herein, iron oxalate modified weak basic resin (IO@D301) for the removal of Cr(VI) was prepared by the impregnation method. The IO@D301 was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Owing to abundant amine, carboxyl groups and iron ions existing on the surface, IO@D301 possesses high adsorption and salinity resistance capacity for Cr(VI). The maximum adsorption capacity of IO301 towards Cr(VI) reached 201.30 mg·g-1 at 293 K and a pH of 5. The adsorption equilibrium was well fitted by the Freundlich model, and the adsorption process was described by the pseudo-first-order kinetics model as spontaneous and exothermic. The mechanism may be identified as electrostatic attraction, coordination, and reduction, which was confirmed by FT-IR and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) and tungsten incorporated SBA-15 (W-SBA-15) hybrid materials were prepared by a facial thermal polymerization method using dicyandiamide as a precursor and W-SBA-15 as a support. The as-prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV–Vis DRS). The catalytic properties of g-C3N4/W-SBA-15 composites were assessed by degrading tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) under simulated solar light irradiation. Results from characterizations revealed that the addition of g-C3N4 to W-SBA-15 could apparently improve the photocatalytic degradation properties. Among these catalysts, g-C3N4(3.0)/W-SBA-15 exhibited the highest catalytic activity, which was almost 4.3 times greater than that of W-SBA-15. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of g-C3N4/W-SBA-15 may be due to the formation of heterojunction between g-C3N4 and tungsten species, resulting in the effective separation of photo-generated charge carriers and increased absorption of visible light. Moreover, the g-C3N4/W-SBA-15 composite had high cycling reusability and stability, which was an important factor for its potential actual applications.

Graphene has been extensively used in photocatalytic water splitting for enhancing the separation of photogenerated electrons and holes and/or introducing intermediate levels in the band gap to obtain visible-light absorption. However, with a hydrogen uptake, a fundamental understanding of the simultaneous transformation process of oxygen on graphene has always been neglected in most research. To illustrate this important problem, an only 3 layered graphene-exposed photocatalyst (hollow perovskite ZnSnO3-reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanocubes) is skillfully constructed for the first time, in which ∼4 nm ZnSnO3 nanoparticle aggregates are closely wrapped up by rGO with C–O–Zn (Sn) chemical bonds connection. Assisted by this ideal robust model without the effect of externally exposed metal oxides, the transformation process of oxygen in water splitting is performed at the C vacancy defect in graphene, which is clarified through in situ Raman spectroscopy and gas chromatography analysis. It is also found that the oxygen of H2O on rGO undergoes a step-by-step dehydrogenation process from the intermediate OH–C and O–C to the final CO2. This research may pave the way for future photocatalytic overall water splitting technologies based on graphene.

Novel 3D P-doped poly(triazine imide) (PTI) nanotubes were prepared in situ by molten salt method with melamine and hexachlorotriphosphazene as starting precursors. The as-prepared composite showed superior photocatalytic properties under visible-light irradiation due to the integrated merits of 1D tubular structure, 1D nanorods, and P doping. The improved utilization of visible light and the enhanced separation of photo-induced charge carriers resulted in the maximum degradation rate constant of P-doped PTI at 2.86 min−1, which was approximately 6.3 and 2.6 folds those of bulk graphite-like carbon nitride and pristine PTI material, respectively, during tetracycline hydrochloride photodegradation. Moreover, the novel catalyst has an excellent stability and thus is a promising candidate for photocatalysis.

The polymer substrates of flexible solar cell (FSC) electrodes play a crucial role in determining the electrode performance as well as the device performance and reliability. However, most of the F...

In this study, a series of direct Z-scheme bismuth subcarbonate (Bi2O2CO3)/porous graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) composites was prepared by using a simple two-stage template free process. The structure, morphology, textural and optical properties were characterized by X-ray diffraction, N2-physisorption, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectra, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV–vis analysis and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The catalytic properties of Bi2O2CO3/porous g-C3N4 composites were assessed using tetracycline hydrochloride under simulated solar light illumination. When the loading amount of Bi2O2CO3 was 2 wt%, the composite showed the highest catalytic activity, which was 5.1 times that of porous g-C3N4 nanosheets (PCNS). The enhanced photocatalytic properties of Bi2O2CO3/porous g-C3N4 may be attributed to the formation of heterojunction between Bi2O2CO3 and PCNS, resulting in the effective separation of photogenerated carriers and enhanced absorption of visible light. Furthermore, the novel photocatalyst had an excellent catalytic stability and could be recycled for five times without distinct loss of catalytic activity.

Porous phosphorus and bismuth co-doped graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanosheets were prepared via a simple thermal polymerization process from low-price materials, which were characterized by XRD, BET, SEM, TEM, XPS, and UV–Vis technologies. Results from characterizations showed that the co-doping of phosphorus and bismuth would improve the specific surface area and photo-induced charge carrier separation ability, making it a more favorable photocatalyst than its pure g-C3N4 and single-doped g-C3N4 counterpart for the degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride (TC). The photocatalytic activity of P and Bi co-doped g-C3N4 sample was nearly 8.4 times higher than that of individual g-C3N4. Additionally, this composite had a delectable catalytic stability, which was a key element for its potential practical applications. According to radical capturing experiments and theoretical analysis, a possible photocatalytic mechanism was also proposed.

BACKGROUND: The excess use of glyphosate in both agricultural and nonagricultural areas has led to tremendous health (e.g. cardiac and respiratory impacts) and environmental concerns worldwide. There is an urgent need to find efficient ways to remove glyphosate residue from the aqueous environment. RESULTS: Herein, an effective method for the removal of aqueous glyphosate is developed by employing nano‐CuFe₂O₄ modified biochar (BC) as an adsorbent. The CuFe₂O₄@BC adsorbents were prepared through hydrolyzing phragmite powders at 500 °C, followed by a simple coprecipitation method. The influence of initial glyphosate concentration, temperature, pH, time and coexisting species on the adsorption behavior of CuFe₂O₄@BC to glyphosate were fully examined. CONCLUSION: It was found that the adsorption of glyphosate onto CuFe₂O₄@BC is highly dependent on the initial glyphosate concentration, pH and temperature, as well as coexisting species. The Freundlich and Langmuir models fitted the equilibrium isotherm data well, indicating the presence of both physisorption and chemisorption. In addition, the adsorption kinetic is well described by the pseudo‐second‐order kinetic model, which indicated that chemical adsorption may dominate the adsorption process. The CuFe₂O₄@BC adsorption of glyphosate presented a maximum adsorption capacity of 269.4 mg g⁻¹ within 240 min, under 600 mg L⁻¹ of glyphosate solution at 298 K and pH 4; this performance exceeds all other biochar‐derived adsorbents for the removal of aqueous glyphosate encountered in the open literature. Such a cost‐effective, high‐performance adsorbent shows a great potential for the removal of aqueous glyphosate in industry. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry

Bi2O2CO3 modified graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanosheets were prepared by a simple one-pot synthetic strategy. In the presence of ammonium nitrate, different mass ratios of bismuth nitrate/melamine were used to fabricate these catalysts, which were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2-physisorption, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV-vis analysis, and photoluminescence (PL). The catalytic properties of composites were evaluated by photodegrading tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) under visible light irradiation. Among these catalysts, Bi2O2CO3(1.5)/g-C3N4 showed the highest catalytic activity, which was more than 16 times greater than the pristine g-C3N4 material. The improved photocatalytic properties of Bi2O2CO3/g-C3N4 may be due to the formation of a heterojunction between Bi2O2CO3 and g-C3N4, leading to the effective separation of photo-induced carriers and the enhanced absorption of visible light. Furthermore, the Bi2O2CO3/g-C3N4 composites had considerable catalytic stability, which was a key element for their potential applications.

Background: Progressive retinal neuroaxonal damage after acute optic neuritis may occur in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). However, it is unclear if treatments used to prevent attacks influence neurodegeneration.Objectives: We aimed to investigate retinal damage in patients treated with disease-modifying drugs in a longitudinal study.Methods: We retrospectively included 50 patients with aquaporin 4-antibody-seropositive NMOSD. Peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness, macular ganglion cell complex (mGCC) thickness, total macular volume (TMV), and optic disc measures were acquired by spectral domain optical coherence tomography in patients treated with tocilizumab, rituximab, and azathioprine.Results: Longitudinally, in eyes with a history of ON (NMOSDON+), we observed annual thinning of mGCC [tocilizumab: −1.77 (−3.44, −0.09) μm, p = 0.041; rituximab: −2.03 (−3.58, −0.48) μm, p = 0.017; azathioprine: −1.79 (−2.22, −1.37) μm, p < 0.001], and pRNFL [tocilizumab: −2.07 (−0.75, −3.39) μm, p = 0.005; rituximab: −2.18 (−0.36, −4.00) μm, p = 0.023; azathioprine: −2.37 (−0.98, −3.75) μm, p = 0.003], reduced TMV [tocilizumab: −0.12 (−0.22, −0.01) mm3, p = 0.028; rituximab: −0.15 (−0.21, −0.08) mm3, p = 0.001; azathioprine: −0.12 (−0.20, −0.04) mm3, p = 0.006], and increased cup area [tocilizumab: 0.08 (−0.01, 0.16) mm2, p = 0.010; rituximab: 0.07 (0.01, 0.12) mm2, p = 0.019; azathioprine: 0.14 (0.02, 0.26) mm2, p = 0.023]. However, we detected no significant differences in annual changes in mGCC, pRNFL, TMV, and cup area between patients with tocilizumab, rituximab, and azathioprine in NMOSDON+ eyes. NMOSDON− eyes did not display mGCC or pRNFL thinning in patients treated with tocilizumab and rituximab. Intriguingly, we observed significant thinning of mGCC in patients treated with azathioprine compared with tocilizumab [−0.84 (−1.50, −0.18) μm vs. −0.19 (−0.87, 0.48) μm, p = 0.012] and rituximab [−0.84 (−1.50, −0.18) μm vs. −0.07 (−1.25, −2.51) μm, p = 0.015] in NMOSDON− eyes.Conclusions: This study demonstrated that retinal ganglion cell loss is independent of ON attacks in NMOSD. Tocilizumab and rituximab may delay mGCC thinning in NMOSDON− eyes compared with azathioprine.

Tocilizumab, a humanized anti-IL-6 receptor monoclonal antibody, showed its therapeutic efficacy on neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). To assess the immunological effects of this drug on B cells, follicular T helper (Tfh) cells, and peripheral T helper (Tph) cells in patients with NMOSD, peripheral B cell and Tfh cell phenotypes were evaluated in 26 patients with NMOSD before and after tocilizumab treatment by nine-color flow cytometry, as well as the expression of costimulatory and co-inhibitory molecules on B cells. Results showed that the frequency of CD27+IgD− switched memory B cells, CD27-IgD- double-negative B cells, and CD27highCD38high antibody-secreting cells was increased in patients with NMOSD. Tocilizumab treatment led to a significant shift of B cells to naïve B cells from memory B cells after 3 months. Three markers on B cells associated with T-cell activation (i.e., CD86 CD69, and HLA-DR) were downregulated after tocilizumab treatment. The frequencies of total Tfh and Tph cells were decreased, whereas that of follicular regulatory T cells tended to increase. Intrinsic increased PD-L1 and PD-L2 expression was characteristic of B cells in patients with NMOSD. Tocilizumab selectively restored PD-L1 on B-cell subsets. These results provided evidence that tocilizumab enhanced B- and T-cell homoeostasis by regulating B-cell differentiation and inhibiting lymphocyte activation in patients with NMOSD.

BackgroundInterleukin-6 receptor blockade is effective in reducing the risk of relapses in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). However, its efficacy during acute attacks of NMOSD remains elusive.ObjectiveWe investigated the effects of tocilizumab on disability during acute attacks, as well as its maintenance, in patients with moderate-to-severe myelitis.MethodsNineteen patients with NMOSD received tocilizumab treatment as add-on to high-dose methylprednisolone (HDMP) in acute myelitis and twenty-two patients who only received HDMP were compared. Disease disability was assessed using a multi-level scaling system that included the expanded disability status scale (EDSS), Hauser ambulation index (HAI), modified Rankin scale (mRS), pain numerical rating scale (NRS), functional assessment of chronic illness therapy-fatigue scale (FACIT-F), activity of daily living (ADL), EuroQol five-dimensions-three-level questionnaire (EQ-5D-3L), and sensory function score and bowel and bladder function score in Kurtzke functional systems scores (FSS).ResultsImproved EDSS, HAI, and mRS, as well as increased ADL and EQ-5D-3L were significant in patients on tocilizumab compared with those on steroids as monotherapy at 3 months (p < 0.05). Both groups of patients showed improved pain, fatigue, sensory function, and autonomic function at follow-ups, compared with baseline respectively. The changes in NRS, FACIT-F, and sensory and autonomic FSS showed no significant differences between the two groups. Tocilizumab significantly lowered the risk of relapses (HR = 0.21, 95% CI 0.06–0.76, p = 0.017) and reduced the annualized relapse rate compared with those by steroids (0.1 ± 0.2 vs 0.5 ± 0.6, p = 0.013).ConclusionEarly initiation of tocilizumab provided a safe and effective add-on alternative during attacks, and its maintenance contributed to a significant reduction of relapse rate in NMOSD.

To formulate a xanthan gum–containing linezolid ophthalmic solution (LZD-XG) as a new antibiotic treatment against ocular bacterial infection. LZD-XG was prepared and evaluated for its in vitro/in vivo ocular tolerance, in vitro/in vivo antibacterial activity, and in vivo ocular penetration. The optimized LZD-XG exhibited good in vitro/in vivo eye tolerance. A prolonged ocular surface residence time of LZD-XG was observed after topical instillation, and the ocular permeation was significantly better for LZD-XG than fora linezolid (LZD) ophthalmic solution. The in vitro antimicrobial activity was significantly better with LZD-XG than with LZD. In vivo evaluation also confirmed a strong therapeutic treatment effect of LZD-XG, as it significantly improved the clinical symptoms, ameliorated the damage of Staphylococcus aureus to ocular tissues, lowered the colony forming unit counts in the cornea, and decreased the myeloperoxidase activity in the cornea. LZD-XG was deemed a viable ophthalmic solution against ocular bacterial infection due to its excellent in vitro and in vivo characterizations.

Azathioprine is used as a first-line treatment to prevent relapses of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Tocilizumab has been reported to reduce NMOSD disease activity in retrospective case reports. We aimed to compare the safety and efficacy of tocilizumab and azathioprine in patients with highly relapsing NMOSD.We did an open-label, multicentre, randomised, phase 2 trial at six hospitals in China. We recruited adult patients (aged ≥18 years) with highly relapsing NMOSD diagnosed according to 2015 International Panel for Neuromyelitis Optica Diagnosis criteria, who had an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score of 7·5 or lower, and had a history of at least two clinical relapses during the previous 12 months or three relapses during the previous 24 months with at least one relapse within the previous 12 months. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to intravenous tocilizumab (8 mg/kg every 4 weeks) or oral azathioprine (2-3 mg/kg per day) by an independent statistician using computer-generated randomisation software with permuted blocks of four. The central review committee, EDSS raters, laboratory personnel, and radiologists were masked to the treatment assignment, but investigators and patients were aware of treatment allocation. The minimum planned duration of treatment was 60 weeks following randomisation. The primary outcome was time to first relapse in the full analysis set, which included all randomly assigned patients who received at least one dose of study drug, and the per-protocol population, which included all patients who used azathioprine or tocilizumab as monotherapy. For the analyses of the primary outcome, the patients were prespecified into two subgroups according to concomitant autoimmune disease status. Safety was assessed in the full analysis set. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03350633.Between Nov 1, 2017, and Aug 3, 2018, we enrolled 118 patients, of whom 59 were randomly assigned to tocilizumab and 59 were randomly assigned to azathioprine. All 118 patients received one dose of study drug and were included in the full analysis set. 108 participants were included in the per-protocol analysis (56 in the tocilizumab group and 52 in the azathioprine group). In the full analysis set, median time to the first relapse was longer in the tocilizumab group than the azathioprine group (78·9 weeks [IQR 58·3-90·6] vs 56·7 [32·9-81·7] weeks; p=0·0026). Eight (14%) of 59 patients in the tocilizumab group and 28 (47%) of 59 patients in the azathioprine group had a relapse at the end of the study (hazard ratio [HR] 0·236 [95% CI 0·107-0·518]; p0·0001). In the per-protocol analysis, 50 (89%) of 56 patients in the tocilizumab group were relapse-free compared with 29 (56%) of 52 patients in the azathioprine group at the end of the study (HR 0·188 [95% CI 0·076-0·463]; p0·0001); the median time to first relapse was also longer in the tocilizumab group than the azathioprine group (67·2 weeks [IQR 47·9-77·9] vs 38·0 [23·6-64·9]; p0·0001). In the prespecified subgroup analysis of the full analysis set stratified by concomitant autoimmune diseases, among patients without concomitant autoimmune diseases, three (9%) of 34 patients in the tocilizumab group and 13 (35%) of 37 patients in the azathioprine group had relapsed by the end of the study. Among patients with concomitant autoimmune diseases, a lower proportion of patients in the tocilizumab group had a relapse than in the azathioprine group (five [20%] of 25 patients vs 15 [68%] of 22 patients; HR 0·192 [95% CI 0·070-0·531]; p=0·0004). 57 (97%) of 59 patients in the tocilizumab group and 56 (95%) of 59 patients in the azathioprine group had adverse events. Treatment-associated adverse events occurred in 36 (61%) of 59 tocilizumab-treated patients and 49 (83%) of 59 azathioprine-treated patients. One death (2%) occurred in the tocilizumab group and one (2%) in the azathioprine group, but neither of the deaths were treatment-related.Tocilizumab significantly reduced the risk of a subsequent NMOSD relapse compared with azathioprine. Tocilizumab might therefore be another safe and effective treatment to prevent relapses in patients with NMOSD.Tianjin Medical University, Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, National Key Research and Development Program of China, National Science Foundation of China.

Great interest has been attracted to enhancing the photoelectrochemical performances of BiVO4. However, there have rarely been reported about addressing their PEC stability. Herein, it is proposed that Fe ions doping could enhance the stability and PEC performances of BiVO4, which may because it could improve the crystalline structure and eliminates the crystal defects of BiVO4. Moreover, it is found that metal–organic framework can play a co-catalyst role during the PEC experiments. We designed and fabricated nanoporous Fe-doped BiVO4 modified with MIL-53(Fe), which exhibits much higher PEC performance and stability than pristine BiVO4 and Fe-doped BiVO4. It is believed that MIL-53(Fe) can capture the photogenerated holes and thus facilitates the charge separation efficiency.

Great efforts have been paid to improve the photoelectrochemical performances of FeVO4 semiconductors. However, there have rarely been reported about the modifying of FeVO4 with metal-free co-catalyst for enhanced photoelectrochemical activities. Herein, we demonstrate a facile and effective immersion method for coupling ultrathin g-C3N4 nanosheets with nanoporous FeVO4 photoelectrodes. The FeVO4/g-C3N4 heterostructures demonstrate more than twice higher photocurrent density than pure nanoporous FeVO4 photoelectrodes, which should be attributed to the metal-free co-catalyst of ultrathin g-C3N4. It is believed that the ultrathin g-C3N4 nanosheets can effectively trap the photo excited holes and facilitates the charge separation efficiency and thus significantly improve the photoelectrochemical performances of FeVO4.

Flexible touch screen panel (f-TSP) has been emerging recently and metallic nanowire transparent conductive electrodes (TCEs) are its key components. However, most metallic nanowire (MNW) TCEs suffer from weak bonding strength between metal nanowire electrode layers and polymer substrates, which causes delamination of TCEs and produces serious declines in durability of f-TSPs. Here, we introduce Ag S bonding and develop tough and strong electrode-substrate bonded MNW TCEs, which can enhance durability of f-TSPs significantly. We used silver nanowires (AgNWs) as metal conductive electrode and thiol-modified nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC-HS) nanopaper as substrates. Because of the existence of Ag from AgNWs and S from NFC-HS, strong Ag S bonding was generated and tough TCEs were obtained. The TCEs exhibit excellent electrical stability, outstanding optical and electrical properties. The f-TSP devices integrated with the TCEs illustrate striking durability. This technique may provide a promising strategy to produce flexible and tough TCEs for next-generation high-durability f-TSPs.

Background Evidence suggests that brain infiltration of lymphocytes contributes to acute neural injury after cerebral ischemia. However, the spatio-temporal dynamics of brain-infiltrating lymphocytes during the late stage after cerebral ischemia remains unclear. Methods C57BL/6 (B6) mice were subjected to sham, photothrombosis, or 60-min transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) procedures. Infarct volume, neurodeficits, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammatory factors, brain-infiltrating lymphocytes, and their activation as well as pro-inflammatory cytokine IFN-γ production were assessed. Brain-infiltrating lymphocytes were also measured in tissue sections from post-mortem patients after ischemic stroke by immunostaining. Results In mice subjected to transient MCAO or photothrombotic stroke, we found that lymphocyte infiltration persists in the ischemic brain until at least day 14 after surgery, during which brain infarct volume significantly diminished. These brain-infiltrating lymphocytes express activation marker CD69 and produce proinflammatory cytokines such as IFN-γ, accompanied with a sustained increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammatory cytokines release in the brain. In addition, brain-infiltrating lymphocytes were observed in post-mortem brain sections from patients during the late stage of ischemic stroke. Conclusion Our results demonstrate that brain-infiltration of lymphocytes persists after the acute stage of cerebral ischemia, facilitating future advanced studies to reveal the precise role of lymphocytes during late stage of stroke. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12974-017-1017-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

To remove glyphosate from water, nanosized copper hydroxide modified resin (D201Cu) was synthesized and characterized. The influence of NaCl concentration, temperature, pH, time, humid acid, and fulvic acid on glyphosate adsorption onto D201Cu resins were fully investigated. Glyphosate uptake on D201Cu was 113.7 mg/g in the presence 18% NaCl. The adsorption isotherms and kinetic data fitted well to the Langmuir model and pseudo-second-order model, respectively. In NaOH and NaCl mixed solution, the D201Cu regeneration efficiency can be 90% after five cycles. On the basis of the adsorption results, the schematic diagrams of adsorption mechanism of glyphosate onto D201Cu resins were proposed.

Flexible organic light-emitting diode (OLED) devices based on polymer substrates have attracted worldwide attention. However, the current OLED polymer substrates are limited due to weak thermal stability, which is not compatible with the high temperature in OLED fabrication. Here, we developed a novel nanocellulose/polyarylate (PAR) hybrid polymer substrate with both high transparency and excellent thermal properties. Benefiting from the nanometer scale of the cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) and the efficient interfacial interaction with PAR, the substrate exhibited greatly improved thermal stability, with a glass transition temperature of 192 °C, the thermal decomposition temperature of 501 °C, and upper operating temperature up to over 220 °C. Meanwhile, the hybrid substrate exhibits outstanding mechanical properties. Notably, no apparent transparency loss was observed after the CNF addition, and the hybrid substrate maintains a high transmittance of 85% and a low haze of 1.75%@600 nm. Moreover, OLED devices fabricated on the hybrid substrates exhibit a much improved optoelectrical performance than that of the devices fabricated on the conventional poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) substrates. We anticipate this research will open up a new route for fabricating flexible high-performance OLEDs.

Polymer-based thermal insulation films are widely utilized to reduce the influence of solar radiation. However, current thermal insulation films face several challenges from poor thermal insulation performance and severe environmental pollution, which are caused by the non-disintegratability of polymer substrates. Here, cellulose nanofiber (CNF)/antimony tin oxide (ATO) hybrid films with and without polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) are presented and they can be used as window thermal barrier films and personal thermal management textiles. The hybrid films exhibit prominent thermal insulation performance, blocking 91.07% ultraviolet(UV) light, reflecting 95.19% near-infrared(NIR) light, and transmitting 44.89% visible(VIS) light. Meanwhile, the hybrid films demonstrate high thermal stability, high anti-UV aging stability, and robust mechanical properties. Moreover, the used-up hybrid films based on natural cellulose are of high disintegratability and recyclability. Our present work is anticipated to open up a new avenue for the fabrication of next-generation high-performance thermal insulation films with sustainable and environmentally friendly processes.

Quizalofop-p-ethyl (C19H17ClN2O4) is a widely used herbicide for controlling annual and perennial grass weeds in broad-leaved agricultural crops. The solid–liquid phase equilibrium of quizalofop-p-ethyl in binary solvents (methanol + water and ethanol + water) was measured by using a gravimetric method from (293 to 322) K at atmospheric pressure. The results indicated that the solubility of quizalofop-p-ethyl increases with increasing temperature and decreases with increasing mass fraction of water in binary solvents. Solubility of quizalofop-p-ethyl in methanol + water and ethanol + water range from 0.0000158 to 0.0113177 and 0.000285–0.0157060 in rang of 293 to 322 K at mass fraction of water 0.10–0.60, respectively. The modified Apelblat model, λh model and Jouyban-Acree model were applied to correlate the experimental data. The strength of intermolecular hydrogen bonds were calculated by optimizing the complexes between quizalofop-p-ethyl and solvents with the B3LYP theoretic method and the 6–31 + G(d,p) basis set, which showed the bent OH···O and OH···N was −31471.040 and −33892.903 kJ·mol−1, respectively. The calculated dissolution enthalpy and entropy of quizalofop-p-ethyl in the binary solvents were positive, which indicated that the process is endothermic and increased randomness.

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR), which produces ammonia under ambient conditions by combining the merits of electrocatalysis and photocatalysis, represents an attractive prospect for nitrogen fixation. Limited by the choice of suitable p-type semiconductor, PEC nitrogen fixation should be preferentially achieved by cathodic NRR integrated with photoanode rather than direct photocathodic NRR. Even in such an approach, it still remains elusive how to design catalytically active sites on the dark cathode toward high activity and selectivity in PEC NRR. Herein, we report a new strategy for tailoring cathodic bismuth (Bi) sites with boron (B) doping and rolling curvature. The B doping in Bi matrix greatly reduces the energy barrier of the potential-determining step of N2 → *NNH in NRR while the high curvature surface on nanorolls facilitates the adsorption of N2. The integration of B doping and rolling curvature in a single cathodic catalyst boosts PEC NRR performance when combined with TiO2 nanorods array as photoanode to harvest light and provide photo-generated electrons. Such a PEC system offers an ammonia yield rate of 29.2 mgNH3 gcat.−1 h−1 and Faradaic efficiency of 8.3 % at a bias of 0.48 V versus RHE in nitrogen fixation. This work provides a guideline for the rational design of highly active and selective metallic catalyst in PEC NRR.

Hydrous iron oxide and hydrous aluminum oxide were loaded successfully onto a polymeric adsorbent (D301) to modify adsorbing materials (HIOD301 and HAOD301). The adsorptive equilibrium of atrazine was investigated in an aquatic environment using HIOD301 and HAOD301 under different experimental conditions. The results indicated that both HIOD301 and HAOD301 showed good adsorption capacities for atrazine at pH 4. The Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm equations were used to study the interactions between the adsorbate and adsorbent. The adsorption kinetics of atrazine at different concentrations was well described in terms of a pseudo-second-order equation in regard to the correlation coefficients and adsorption capacity. The removal percentages of atrazine for HIOD301 and HAOD301 were still more than 95% in the presence of sodium chloride.

Commercial grade weakly basic resin D301 was impregnated with iron through a simple method using ferric chloride. Experiments for single, bisolute and trinary competitive adsorption were carried out to investigate the adsorption behavior of 2-naphthalenesulfonic acid (NSA), sulfuric acid and sulfurous acid from their solution at 298K onto the novel hybrid iron impregnated D301(Fe-D301). Adsorption affinity of NSA on Fe-D301 was found to be much higher than that of sulfuric acid, while adsorption affinity of sulfuric acid was slightly higher than that of sulfurous acid. The data of single-solute adsorption were fitted to the Langmuir model and the Freundlich adsorption model. The non-ideal competitive adsorbed model coupled with the single-solute adsorption models were used to predict the bisolute and trinary-solute competitive adsorption equilibria. The NICM coupled with the Langmuir model yields the favorable representation of the bisolute and trinary-solute competitive adsorption behavior.

Background: Neurofilament light chain (NfL) and glial fibrilliary acidic protein (GFAP) have been suggested to be biomarkers of the pathophysiological process of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD), but the relationship between the plasma levels of these molecules with disease activity and treatment is incompletely understood. Objective: To investigate the treatment effects of disease-modifying drugs on plasma neurofilament light chain (pNfL) and plasma glial fibrillary acidic protein (pGFAP) and explore the predictive value of pNfL and pGFAP in the activity of NMOSD. Methods: pNfL and pGFAP levels were measured using single-molecule arrays in 72 patients with NMOSD and 38 healthy controls (HCs). Patients with NMOSD received tocilizumab ( n = 29), rituximab ( n = 23), oral prednisone ( n = 16), and oral azathioprine or mycophenolate mofetil ( n = 4). Results: NMOSD patients had significantly higher pNfL and pGFAP levels than HCs (pNfL, 18.3 (11.2–39.3) versus 11.5 (7.0–23.3) pg/mL; p = 0.001; pGFAP, 149.7 (88.6–406.5) versus 68.7 (59.4–80.8) pg/mL; p Conclusion: pNfL and pGFAP may serve as biomarkers for NMOSD disease activity and treatment effects.

Flexible electronics require its substrate to have adequate thermal stability, but current thermally stable polymer substrates are difficult to be disintegrated and recycled; hence, generate enormous electronic solid waste. Here, a thermally stable and green solvent-disintegrable polymer substrate is developed for flexible electronics to promote their recyclability and reduce solid waste generation. Thanks to the proper design of rigid backbones and rational adjustments of polar and bulky side groups, the polymer substrate exhibits excellent thermal and mechanical properties with thermal decomposition temperature (Td,5% ) of 430 °C, upper operating temperature of over 300 °C, coefficient of thermal expansion of 48 ppm K-1 , tensile strength of 103 MPa, and elastic modulus of 2.49 GPa. Furthermore, the substrate illustrates outstanding optical and dielectric properties with high transmittance of 91% and a low dielectric constant of 2.30. Additionally, it demonstrates remarkable chemical and flame resistance. A proof-of-concept flexible printed circuit device is fabricated with this substrate, which demonstrates outstanding mechanical-electrical stability. Most importantly, the substrate can be quickly disintegrated and recycled with alcohol. With outstanding thermally stable properties, accompanied by excellent recyclability, the substrate is particularly attractive for a wide range of electronics to reduce solid waste generation, and head toward flexible and "green" electronics.

A series of magnetic activated carbon nanospheres (MACSs) were synthesized via a simple one-step hydrothermal and pyrolysis method. The characterization results confirm that the shell-core structured MACSs were formed because of Fe3O4 nanoparticles (Fe3O4NPs) mostly dispersed on the surface of activated carbon nanospheres. This structure can not only effectively prevent the agglomeration of activated carbon, but can provide a sufficient magnetism for recycle via the magnetic assisted separation technology. Batch tests for methylene blue (MB) removal show that an excellent adsorption capacity of 192.64 mg g−1 at 298 K can be obtained on MACS-700, which can be kept up to 156.4 mg g−1 even after five cycles. The adsorption isotherm and kinetics results show that the adsorption behavior can be well described by Langmuir isotherm model and the experimental data fit better for the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. It demonstrate that the adsorption rate of MB mainly controlled by chemical-adsorption, meanwhile, effects of external mass transfer and intra particle diffusion also can be found.

A superhydrophobic (SH) surface is usually constituted by a combination of low surface energy substances and micro- and nanometer scale roughness structures. The latter, however, always have poor mechanical strength and require complicated fabrication procedures, seriously hindering the large-scale preparation and industrial application of SH surfaces. In this study, by introducing fluoroalkyl silane modified silica nanoparticles into hydroxyl acrylic resin using a simple spray-coating method, an SH acrylic polyurethane (SAPU) coating with good abrasion resistance and stable adhesion was obtained after cross-linking with polyisocyanate at room temperature. By virtue of the reaction between the silanol groups in silica NPs and the isocyanate groups in the curing agent, the hydrophobic silica NPs were stably anchored into the SAPU resin matrix while constructing hierarchical micro- and nanometer scale roughness structures on the coating surface. The dual characters ensure that the SAPU coating has a static water contact angle (CA) of >160°, a sliding angle of ∼10° and good mechanical properties, which exhibits CAs of >150° after wearing with sandpaper and maintains strong adhesion even after cross-cutting or impacting tests. Moreover, the SAPU coating retains an excellent water-repellent property after 12 h of immersion in hydrochloric acid with pH = 1, and can recover its water-repellent property after 12 h of immersion in sodium hydroxide solution with pH = 14 through hot air blowing. The facile spray-coating method as well as a mild room temperature curing process make this kind of SH coating especially suitable for non-wetting protection or modification of large-scale parts, providing a novel pathway for the development of a high performance SH surface.

The monodisperse micrometer hollow zirconia sphere was prepared in mixed solvents. It was fabricated by using the preformed poly(styrene-acrylic acid) (PSA) as template spheres which was mixed with zirconyl chloride octahydrate in ethanol solvent under steam treatment. The hollow zirconia spheres obtained by the calcination of PSA/ZrO 2 composite spheres had a narrow particle size distribution and commendable surface topography characterized by SEM. The calcined hollow zirconia spheres displayed monoclinic crystalline reflection peaks characterized by XRD. Besides, the micro-morphology, composition and molecular composition of sample were analyzed by FESEM, TG–DSC and FTIR, respectively.

Many studies have shown that LPS mainly activates four signal transduction pathways to induce inflammation, namely the p38, ERK1/2, JNK and IKK/NF-κB pathways. Studies have demonstrated that 5'-AMP-induced hypothermia (AIH) exhibits high anti-inflammatory capabilities. In this study, we explore that how AIH inhibits the inflammatory response. Wistar rats were divided into five groups: a control group, an LPS group, a 5'-AMP pre-treatment group, a 5'-AMP post-treatment group and a 5'-AMP group. For each group, plasma and lung were collected from the rats at 6h and 12h after LPS injection. ELISA assays were used to detect plasma levels of CD14, CRP and MCP-1. Inflammatory pathway activation and TLR4 expression were assayed separately by Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. Our results showed that rats treated with AIH either before or after an LPS-challenge had a significant decrease in plasma levels of CD14, CRP and TLR4 compared with rats that received LPS only. Western blot analysis showed that AIH inhibited the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) 1/2, p38, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and NF-κB in inflammatory rats. Our study concluded that AIH attenuated LPS-induced inflammation mainly by inhibiting activation on the ERK1/2, p38, JNK and NF-κB signaling pathways.

The solubility of N-(phosphonomethyl) iminodiacetic acid (PMIDA) in methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, 1-butanol, 1-pentanol, 1-hexanol, acetone, methylbenzene and ethyl acetate were measured over a temperature range from 293.15 to 343.15 K under atmospheric pressure. The hypothetical enthalpy of fusion and melting temperature of PMIDA were estimated. The Scatchard–Hildebrand (SH) model, the Wilson model, the nonrandom two-liquid (NRTL) model and the universal quasi-chemical (UNIQUAC) model were applied to correlate the solid–liquid equilibrium. It is shown that the Wilson model can give better results than NRTL and UNIQUAC model. The solubility parameter of PMIDA was obtained based on the SH model.

Polyfluorene derivative with amine side groups, namely, P1 was synthesized by the palladium-catalyzed coupling reaction of 2,5-dibromoaniline with 2,7-bis(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)-9,9′-dioctylfluorene. Cross-linked polyazomethine P1-TPD (cross-linked polymer, P1/ terephthalic aldehyde) was obtained by the reaction of P1 with terephthalic aldehyde. Given that replacement of the phenylene ring by a thiophene ring can improve π-electron delocalization, we also synthesized P1-TPCD (cross-linked polymer, P1/ 2,5-thiophenedicarboxaldehyde) whose cross-linking bridge was a thiophene ring. The ultraviolet–visible spectra of P1-TPD showed that there was a little hypsochromic shift to its pristine polymer P1, however, the maximum emission wavelength was changed to the second peak in the photoluminescence spectra. Besides, the band gap energy ( Eg) of P1-TPD was a little narrower than that of P1. The maximum absorption wavelength and the maximum emission wavelength of P1-TPCD was almost the same with P1, but its Eg was narrower than P1 and P1-TPD. Most notably, azomethine-linked P1-TPD and P1-TPCD were fluorescent with measured fluorescent quantum yields of 22% and 44%.

Large amounts of wastewater containing heavy metals are discharged from electroplating, metal finishing, textile, and other industrial plants, bringing health risks to humans and animals. There is, therefore, a growing concern to find low cost and effective ways to remove heavy metals from wastewater. In the present study, untreated corn straw was used as an adsorbent, and basic parameters for lead Pb(II) adsorption were studied. The Pb(II) adsorption was found to be dependent on contact time, pH, adsorbent dosage, initial concentration of Pb(II), and temperature. The kinetics were studied using pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order, Elovich, and Weber–Morris models, and the kinetic parameters were determined. The untreated corn straw particles showed the maximum adsorption capacity (15.0269 mg/g) for Pb(II). The adsorption isotherms indicated that the heat of adsorption linearly increased as the thickness of the Pb(II) layer on the adsorbent gradually increased. The studies showed that corn str...

The ZmRXO1 gene is a nucleotide-binding site leucine-rich repeat (NBS–LRR) type of R gene in maize (Zea mays). To understand the regulatory mechanism of ZmRXO1 gene expression, we isolated and characterized the ZmRXO1 promoter (PZmRXO1)—the 5′ flanking region of ZmRXO1. A series of PZmRXO1 deletion derivatives, R1–R4, from the translation start code (−1,576, −934, −829, and −582) were fused to the GUS reporter gene, and each deletion construct was analyzed by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation into tobacco. Sequence analysis showed that several cis-acting elements (MBS, Box-I, TGA-element and CCAAT-box) were located within the promoter. Deletion analysis of the promoter suggested that the 1,576-bp fragment upstream of ZmRXO1 gene showed a high level of GUS expression in tobacco. The promoter sequence (−582 to −1) was sufficient to improve transcription of GUS gene under hormones (MeJA, GA, ABA), drought and low temperature. Moreover, there might be repressor elements in the region (−1,576 to −934 bp) to repress ZmRXO1 gene expression under treatment with salicylic acid.

The solubility of 2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-1,3,5-triazine (atrazine) in methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, 1-butanol, and ethyl acetate was measured at the temperature range from (283 to 343) K under atmospheric pressure. The solubilities of atrazine in these organic solvent increased with temperature and decreased with solvent polarity. A semiempirical equation was found to provide an accurate mathematical representation of the experimental data. Several models, including the Scatchard–Hildebrand, UNIQUAC, and NRTL models were applied to correlate the experimental solubility data. These models can successfully describe the solubility of atrazine in the selected organic solvents. Moreover, the dissolution enthalpy and entropy of atrazine were determined with van’t Hoff plots.

The solubility of atrazine (solid) was measured in water + ethanol and water + propanol from 283.15 to 343.15 K. The experimental results showed that in ethanol + water and 1-propanol + water the solubility of atrazine increased slowly with temperature below 308.15 K but increased significantly above 308.15 K. It was also found that the slope of the solubility–temperature curve increases significantly with an increase in the mole fraction of organic solvent in the mixtures. The modified Apelblat and NRTL equations were applied to describe the measured systems. The model parameters of the NRTL equation were expressed as a function of temperature.

The propanoic acid 3-(hydroxyphenylphosphinyl)-monosodium salt (HPPS) and disodium salt (SHPPS) particles as most important flame retardants were synthesized by 3-(hydroxyphenylphosphinyl)-propanoic acid with sodium hydrogen carbonate at room-temperature and characterized. The solubility of HPPS and SHPPS in pure water, methanol, ethanol, acetone, acetic acid and ethyl acetate were measured over a temperature range from 293.15 to 343.15 K under atmospheric pressure. Furthermore, the solubility of HPPS in mixed waters (ethanol + water) was determined and found to exhibit a synergistic effect. The two models, including the modified Apelblat model and the Scatchard–Hildebrand model were applied to correlate the experimental solubility data. The calculated solubilities are in good agreement with the experimental results.

The hydrous zirconium oxide was loaded successfully onto the polymeric adsorbent (D401) to obtain a new adsorbing material (D401-Zr). The adsorptive behavior of arsenic from an aquatic environment by using D401-Zr under different experimental conditions was investigated. The results indicated that D401-Zr had a good adsorption capacity to As(V) at pH < 5.2, whereas As(III) was well adsorbed in the pH range from 6.3 to 9.2. The static experiment data showed that the adsorption isotherm presented a good fitting to the Langmuir model. Adsorption kinetics of arsenic at different concentrations was well described in terms of a pseudo-second-order equation with regard to correlation coefficients and adsorption capacity. The removal percentage of D401-Zr to As(V) still reached more than 90 % in the presence of the coexisting ions such as SO42– and Cl–, but PO43– and F– had a strong inhibition on As(V), which would cause the removal percentage decreasing obviously.

Solid–liquid equilibrium (SLE) data for the glyphosate in methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, 2-propanol, acetone, benzene and ethyl acetate, and aqueous sodium chloride solutions were measured with a temperature range from (283 to 352) K. The hypothetical enthalpy of fusion and melting temperature of glyphosate were estimated. The Wilson model, the nonrandom two-liquid (NRTL) model, the universal quasi-chemical (UNIQUAC) model, and the Scatchard–Hildebrand (SH) model were applied to correlate the solid–liquid equilibrium. It is shown that the Wilson model can give better results than NRTL and UNIQUAC model. The solubility parameter of glyphosate was obtained based on the SH model. In aqueous sodium chloride solutions, the solubility of glyphosate increases with the molality of sodium chloride increasing. The system of glyphosate + sodium chloride + water is found to exhibit a synergistic effect.

To identify the genetic determinants of colon tumorigenesis, 268 male mice from 33 inbred strains derived from different genealogies were treated with azoxymethane (AOM; 10 mg/kg) once a week for six weeks to induce colon tumors. Tumors were localized exclusively within the distal colon in each of the strains examined. Inbred mouse strains exhibit a large variability in genetic susceptibility to AOM-induced colon tumorigenesis. The mean colon tumor multiplicity ranged from 0 to 38.6 (mean = 6.5 ± 8.6) and tumor volume ranged from 0 to 706.5 mm3 (mean = 87.4 ± 181.9) at 24 weeks after the first dose of AOM. AOM-induced colon tumor phenotypes are highly heritable in inbred mice, and 68.8% and 71.3% of total phenotypic variation in colon tumor multiplicity and tumor volume, respectively, are attributable to strain-dependent genetic background. Using 97,854 single-nucleotide polymorphisms, we carried out a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of AOM-induced colon tumorigenesis and identified a novel susceptibility locus on chromosome 15 (rs32359607, P = 6.31 × 10–6). Subsequent fine mapping confirmed five (Scc3, Scc2, Scc12, Scc8, and Ccs1) of 16 linkage regions previously found to be associated with colon tumor susceptibility. These five loci were refined to less than 1 Mb genomic regions of interest. Major candidates in these loci are Sema5a, Fmn2, Grem2, Fap, Gsg1l, Xpo6, Rabep2, Eif3c, Unc5d, and Gpr65. In particular, the refined Scc3 locus shows high concordance with the human GWAS locus that underlies hereditary mixed polyposis syndrome. These findings increase our understanding of the complex genetics of colon tumorigenesis, and provide important insights into the pathways of colorectal cancer development and might ultimately lead to more effective individually targeted cancer prevention strategies. Mol Cancer Res; 10(1); 66–74. ©2011 AACR.

Hydrated iron oxide supported on resin (D301) was prepared as a new sorbent for the removal of glyphosate from wastewater. Batch adsorption studies were performed on glyphosate aqueous solutions with different initial glyphosate concentrations and temperatures. Experimental data were analyzed using the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms, and the adsorption data were best fit to the Langmuir isotherm model. The thermodynamic parameters ΔG, ΔH, and ΔS also were calculated for the adsorption processes. Adsorption rate constants were determined using the pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order rate equations and Kannan-Sundaram intraparticle diffusion models. Adsorption of glyphosate clearly followed the pseudo-second-order model and was controlled by both film diffusion and intraparticle diffusion. Water Environ. Res., 83, 784 (2011).

Commercial grade weakly basic resin D301 was impregnated with iron through a simple method using ferric chloride as the precursor for removing of 2-naphthalenesulfonic acid (2-NSA) from aqueous sol...

The adsorption reaction of 2-naphthalenesulfonic acid with the strong basic resin N201 was investigated experimentally with varying parameters (viz., the effects of pH, temperature, contact time, sodium sulfate, and fixed-bed column runs) and compared with the weakly basic resin D301. Results showed that the optimum initial pH for 2-naphthalenesulfonic acid adsorption by N201 was 2.4, and the equilibration time required was 2.5 h. The three single-component isotherms were analyzed with the Langmuir, Freundlich, and Redlich−Peterson equations. The Redlich−Peterson equation gave the lowest errors by use of the sum of the squares of the errors. The thermodynamic parameters (ΔG, ΔH, and ΔS) were also determined, and the adsorption process is more favored at low temperatures. The kinetics followed a pseudo-second-order rate equation very well. However, a dramatic decrease in adsorption capacity was observed for both resins upon addition of Na2SO4 into the 2-naphthalenesulfonic acid solution. The adsorption and...

This paper introduces a versatile approach for the modification of terylene microporous membrane by PVA-MS layer-by-layer self-assembling to improve its filterability. The preparation conditions including filtration time of the first HTAB layer, reaction time and bilayer number were investigated. The results suggested that suitable filtration time of the first HTAB layer was 8 min and the reaction time was 10 min with suitable HTAB/PVA-MS bilayer numbers. Membrane chemistry, morphological changes and hydrophilicity of the composite membrane were characterized in details by FTIR-ATR spectroscopy, scanning electron micrograph and water dynamic contact angle measurements. Results revealed that PVA-MS could be adsorbed mainly on the surface of the terylene microporous membrane and dynamic contact angle on the terylene microporous membrane surface decreased with the increase of bilayer numbers indicating an enhanced hydrophilicity for the modified terylene microporous membrane. Backwash experiments of composite membranes exhibited much higher stability of the HTAB/PVA-MS active layer. The permeation flux of activated sludge was measured to evaluate the anti-fouling property of composite membranes, and the results showed an enhancement of anti-fouling property of modified composite membranes.