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In this study, zein and fucoidan-based composite nanoparticles were prepared by the antisolvent precipitation method. The effects of different calcium ion (Ca2+, 0–3.0 mM) concentrations on the stability of the composite nanosystems loaded with quercetin were studied under different conditions (pH, temperature, salt concentration, and ultraviolet light irradiation), and the composite nanoparticles were characterized. Electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding, and hydrophobic interactions are the main forces underlying the formation of composite nanoparticles. The addition of Ca2+ led to improved release of the active substances from the composite nanoparticles in simulated digestive solutions (especially when the Ca2+ concentration was 1.5 mM). The composite nanosystems based on alcohol-soluble proteins and anionic polysaccharides with added Ca2+ can be potentially applied for the delivery of active substances.

Based on the excellent performances of nanocrystalline cellulose, sodium alginate, or K-carrageenan in Pb2+ adsorption, nanocrystalline cellulose/sodium alginate/K-carrageenan composite hydrogel beads were prepared to adsorb Pb(II) from aqueous solutions. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the excellent potential of the composite hydrogel beads for heavy metal ion adsorption. We successfully prepared ecofriendly Fe-modified nanocrystalline cellulose/sodium alginate/K-carrageenan composite hydrogel beads and characterized them. The structure and adsorption mechanism were investigated using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and the optimal adsorption conditions were determined. The tricomponent hydrogel beads were robust and exhibited improved adsorption capacity for Pb2+ and good reusability. The adsorption results could be fitted well with a pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir adsorption model. The maximum adsorption capacity obtained by fitting was 351.04 mg g−1. Recycling experiments revealed that the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent remained high after five cycles of reuse.

Surface modification of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) is essential for improving their reactivity and adsorption capacity. Oxidation, as a conventional modification method of CNC, has strong reaction conditions, which may partially destroy the structure of CNCs. Herein, we propose a mild cellulose modification method, in which diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DPTA) was grafted onto CNC with an aminosilane coupling agent. To facilitate the enrichment and recovery of adsorbents, we prepared magnetic CNC before grafting DPTA, and finally obtained magnetic carboxylic functionalized CNC (MCNC-DPTA). The effects of the reaction parameters on the adsorption process were systematically studied by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Vibration sample magnetometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Additionally, the effects of the solution pH, the initial concentration of Pb, and the adsorption time on the adsorption properties of the materials were evaluated. Furthermore, the structure, morphology, and thermal properties of the solution were systematically studied. After 6 cycle tests, the adsorption amount of Pb(II) by MCNC-DPTA was only reduced by 7%. These results show that MCNC-DPTA is an environment-friendly adsorption material with an excellent Pb(II) removal effect.

A novel meroterpenoid, named meroterpenthiazole A (1), was isolated from the deep-sea-derived Penicillium allii-sativi. Its structure was established by extensive spectroscopic and computational methods. Meroterpenthiazole A bears a rare benzothiazole moiety in nature. Compound 1 significantly inhibited retinoid X receptor (RXR)-α transcriptional effect (KD = 12.3 μmol/L) through a novel binding mechanism.

Chemotherapy plays an irreplaceable role in the treatment of GC, but currently available chemotherapeutic drugs are not ideal. The application of medicinal plants is an important direction for new drug discovery. Through drug screening of GC organoids, we determined that ailanthone has an anticancer effect on GC cells in vitro and in vivo. We also found that AIL can induce DNA damage and apoptosis in GC cells. Further transcriptome sequencing of PDX tissue indicated that AIL inhibited the expression of XRCC1, which plays an important role in DNA damage repair, and the results were also confirmed by western blotting. In addition, we found that AIL inhibited the expression of P23 and that inhibition of P23 decreased the expression of XRCC1, indicating that AIL can regulate XRCC1 via P23. The results of coimmunoprecipitation showed that AIL can inhibit the binding of P23 and XRCC1 to HSP90. These findings indicate that AIL can induce DNA damage and apoptosis in GC cells. Meanwhile, AIL can decrease XRCC1 activity by downregulating P23 expression to inhibit DNA damage repair. The present study sheds light on the potential application of new drugs isolated from natural medicinal plants for GC therapy.

Inverse-sandwich samarium and ytterbium biphenyl complexes were synthesized by the reduction of their trivalent halide precursors with potassium graphite in the presence of biphenyl. While the samarium complex had a similar structure as previously reported rare earth metal biphenyl complexes, with the two samarium ions bound to the same phenyl ring, the ytterbium counterpart adopted a different structure, with the two ytterbium ions bound to different phenyl rings. Upon the addition of crown ether to encapsulate the potassium ions, the inverse-sandwich samarium biphenyl structure remained intact; however, the ytterbium biphenyl structure fell apart with the concomitant formation of a divalent ytterbium crown ether complex and potassium biphenylide. Spectroscopic and computational studies were performed to gain insight into the electronic structures and bonding interactions of these samarium and ytterbium biphenyl complexes. While the ytterbium ions were found to be divalent with a 4f14 electron configuration and form a primarily ionic bonding interaction with biphenyl dianion, the samarium ions were in the trivalent state with a 4f5 electron configuration and mainly utilized the 5d orbitals to form a δ-type bonding interaction with the π* orbitals of the biphenyl tetraanion, showing covalent character., Inverse-sandwich samarium and ytterbium biphenyl complexes were synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography. Combined experimental and computational studies indicated that they have distinct electronic structures and bonding interactions.

A creative combination of chitosan with polyacrylic acid (PAA) improves the acidity resistance of chitosan and increases its potential in the field of adsorption. In order to facilitate recovery, magnetic nanoparticles were incorporated in CS–PAA to obtain a magnetic-CS–PAA (MCS–PAA) nanocomposite. The physical and chemical characteristics of the composite adsorbent MCS–PAA were determined by SEM, TEM, FTIR, EDX, XRD, and XPS. This environmental-friendly, magnetic, composite adsorbent showed significantly better adsorption performance than those of the individual adsorbents alone. The maximal adsorption capacity was 204.89 mg/g according to the Langmuir isotherm model, when the concentration of Pb(II) was 100 mg/L at the equilibrium time of 70 min. The main adsorption mechanism was the complexation between the carboxyl, amino, and hydroxyl groups in MCS–PAA and Pb(II). Further, introduction of PAA also improved the acid resistance of CS. The new adsorbent MCS–PAA is thus expected to facilitate a wider range of applications for chitosan in the adsorption of Pb(II).

Retinal (C20) and the C25 and C30 homologues were compared as radical scavengers together with their C22, C27, and C32 homologues linked with daidzein through a B′3 (isoflavonoid) to oxo-carbon (aldehyde) covalent bond. Oxidation potential in acetonitrile determined by cyclic voltammetry and ionization potential calculated by density functional theory for the aldehydes and dyads (conjugates), of which the two longer are new, decreased linearly with the wavenumber for absorption maximum. The logarithm of the second-order rate constant for scavenging of the ABTS•+ increased linearly with decreasing oxidation potential suggesting that longer conjugation in the antioxidant increases the rate of electron transfer. A similar linear free energy relationship was found for the rate of scavenging DPPH•, including daidzein, which may indicate involvement of hydrogen atom transfer from an isoflavonoid phenol. Prediction of radical scavenging efficiency from visible absorption spectra was demonstrated with the perspective of rational design of bifunctional amphiphilic antioxidants.

We aimed to develop a stable nanosystem with k-carrageenan (Kc), an anionic polysaccharide, combined with tween 80 to stabilize zein nanoparticles. The experimental results showed that the particle size, zeta-potential, and stability of the system depend on the Kc amount when the zein amount was unchanged. We found that the nanosystem with 5.0 and 10.0 mg Kc had a smaller particle size (250.1 ± 0.9 and 287.6 ± 1.4 nm, respectively), low polydispersity index (PDI, ≤ 0.20), and high stability when the external conditions changed. No obvious flocculation or deposition was observed at pH of 3–9, salt ion concentrations of 0–500 mmol/L, temperature of 30 °C and 50 °C–90 °C, and storage at 4 °C for 30 days. When the Kc-ZNP system was loaded with curcumin (Cur), there was a good encapsulation effect (5.0 mg Kc with 1.00 mg Cur (EE (%) = 34.69% ± 2.02%, size = 380.23 ± 5.80 nm, PDI = 0.252 ± 0.018) and 10.0 mg Kc with 2.00 mg Cur (EE (%) = 20.13% ± 1.05%, size = 431.27 ± 0.78 nm, PDI = 0.269 ± 0.020), ensuring that the particle size was not too large. Therefore, Kc–ZNPs could be a potential delivery system for fat-soluble drugs.

Diclofenac sodium (DS) is an emerging contaminant that is toxic and remains at high concentrations in natural aquatic environments. The aim of this study was to fabricate a novel spherical polymeric adsorbent composed of cross-linked chitosan beads grafted by polyethylenimine (PEI) to remove DS from water. The adsorbents were thoroughly characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, elemental analyses, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. A cross-linking step was expected to enhance adsorption. The experimental data obtained from a series of adsorption experiments were fit well by the Langmuir isotherm model and pseudo-second-order model. The epichlorohydrin–PEI adsorbent (EPCS@PEI) showed a maximum adsorption capacity of 253.32 mg/g and removal efficiency of nearly 100% for the DS in the initial 50 mg/L solution. Therefore, EPCS@PEI is proposed as a potential adsorbent for DS removal, where these initial findings are expected to promote further design and fabrication of effective adsorbents for practical applications.

Schwann cell proliferation, migration and remyelination of regenerating axons contribute to regeneration after peripheral nervous system injury. Lithium promotes remyelination by Schwann cells and improves peripheral nerve regeneration. However, whether lithium modulates other phenotypes of Schwann cells, especially their proliferation and migration remains elusive. In the current study, primary Schwann cells from rat sciatic nerve stumps were cultured and exposed to 0, 5, 10, 15, or 30 mM lithium chloride (LiCl) for 24 hours. The effects of LiCl on Schwann cell proliferation and migration were examined using the Cell Counting Kit-8, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine, Transwell and wound healing assays. Cell Counting Kit-8 and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine assays showed that 5, 10, 15, and 30 mM LiCl significantly increased the viability and proliferation rate of Schwann cells. Transwell-based migration assays and wound healing assays showed that 10, 15, and 30 mM LiCl suppressed the migratory ability of Schwann cells. Furthermore, the effects of LiCl on the proliferation and migration phenotypes of Schwann cells were mostly dose-dependent. These data indicate that lithium treatment significantly promotes the proliferation and inhibits the migratory ability of Schwann cells. This conclusion will inform strategies to promote the repair and regeneration of peripheral nerves. All of the animal experiments in this study were ethically approved by the Administration Committee of Experimental Animal Center of Nantong University, China (approval No. 20170320-017) on March 2, 2017.

Background: Bladder cancer is one of the most frequent urologic tumours in the world. MicroRNA- 200c (miR-200c) has been considered a regulator of tumour angiogenesis. Akt2/mTOR was considered a regulator of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α). However, the mechanism by which miR-200c regulates bladder cancer angiogenesis remains unknown. Methods: Western blotting and qRT-PCR were used to detect the expression of protein and mRNA, respectively. Cell proliferation, migration and invasion were detected using MTT, wound-healing and transwell assays, respectively. A dual luciferase reporter assay was used to identify the binding site between miR-200c and Akt2. A tube formation assay was also applied to detect the angiogenesis ability. Results: Significantly higher expression levels of HIF-1α and VEGF and lower levels of miR-200c were observed in three types of bladder cancer cell lines. Transfection with the miR-200c mimic markedly inhibited cell viability, angiogenesis, and the expression of VEGF and HIF-1α. Overexpression of miR-200c remarkably suppressed the expression of Akt2, and the binding site between them was identified. Knockdown of Akt2 remarkably decreased the expression of VEGF and HIF-1α by regulating mTOR. miR-200c influenced the expression of VEGF and HIF-1α through the Akt2/mTOR signalling pathway and further regulated angiogenesis in bladder cancer cells. Conclusions: We proved that miR-200c could suppress HIF-1α/VEGF expression in bladder cancer cells and inhibit angiogenesis, and these regulations were achieved by targeting Akt2/mTOR. This study may provide new insight into the prevention and treatment of bladder cancer.

Liquid-liquid phase separation promotes the formation of membraneless condensates that mediate diverse cellular functions, including autophagy of misfolded proteins. However, how phase separation participates in autophagy of dysfunctional mitochondria (mitophagy) remains obscure. We previously discovered that nuclear receptor Nur77 (also called TR3, NGFI-B, or NR4A1) translocates from the nucleus to mitochondria to mediate celastrol-induced mitophagy through interaction with p62/SQSTM1. Here, we show that the ubiquitinated mitochondrial Nur77 forms membraneless condensates capable of sequestrating damaged mitochondria by interacting with the UBA domain of p62/SQSTM1. However, tethering clustered mitochondria to the autophagy machinery requires an additional interaction mediated by the N-terminal intrinsically disordered region (IDR) of Nur77 and the N-terminal PB1 domain of p62/SQSTM1, which confers Nur77-p62/SQSTM1 condensates with the magnitude and liquidity. Our results demonstrate how composite multivalent interaction between Nur77 and p62/SQSTM1 coordinates to sequester damaged mitochondria and to connect targeted cargo mitochondria for autophagy, providing mechanistic insight into mitophagy., How phase separation participates in mitophagy remains unclear. Here the authors show that Nur77 and p62/SQSTM1 through “head-to-head” and “tail-to-tail” interactions form membraneless condensates capable of sequestering dysfunctional mitochondria and tethering them to autolysosome for degradation.

Using microbial enzymes in transgenesis is a powerful means to introduce new functionalities in plants. Glucuronoyl esterase (GCE) is a microbial enzyme hydrolyzing the ester bond between lignin and 4-O-methyl-α-D-glucuronic acid present as a side chain of glucuronoxylan. This bond mediates lignin-carbohydrate complex (LCC) formation, considered as crucial factor of lignocellulose recalcitrance to saccharification. Previous studies showed that hybrid aspen (Populus tremula L. x tremuloides Michx.) constitutively expressing Phanerochaete carnosa Burt GCE (PcGCE) had better efficiency of cellulose-to-glucose conversion but were stunned and had lower cellulose content indicating that more studies are needed to design strategy for deployment of this enzyme in planta. Here we report that the transgenic plants exhibit premature leaf senescence, increased accumulation of calcium oxalate crystals, tyloses and necrotic lesions and have strongly activated immune defense reactions as revealed by their altered profiles of transcriptomes, metabolomes and hormones in the leaves. To elucidate if these effects are triggered by damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) or by PcGCE protein perceived as a pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP), we ectopically expressed in aspen an enzymatically inactive PcGCES217A. The mutated PcGCE induced similar growth retardation, leaf necrosis and premature senescence as the active one, providing evidence that PcGCE protein is recognized as PAMP. Transcriptomics analysis of young expanding leaves of 35S:PcGCE plants identified several candidates for receptors of PcGCE, which were not expressed in developing wood tissues. Grafting experiments showed that PcGCE transcripts are not cell-to-cell mobile and that PcGCE expressing leaves augment systemic responses. In agreement, expressing PcGCE in developing wood by using the wood-specific promoter (WP), avoided all off-target effects. Moreover, WP:PcGCE lines grew better than control plants providing evidence that this strategy can be used in transgenic crops dedicated for biorefinery.

Groundwater contaminated by arsenic endangers our health. Therefore, in this work, a novel composite adsorbent consisting of magnetic chitosan (MCS), zinc oxide (ZnO), and sodium alginate (Alg) was prepared to remove arsenic from groundwater. First, chitosan was coated on the surface of Fe3O4 nanoparticles by coprecipitation. Then, MCS/ZnO@Alg gel beads were fabricated by combining MCS with ZnO and Alg, and crosslinking the composite material in the presence of Ca2+ ions. The MCS/ZnO@Alg beads were characterized by SEM, FTIR spectroscopy, XRD, VSM, and XPS. The adsorption experiments revealed that the MCS/ZnO@Alg magnetic gel beads have high stability and As(V) adsorption capability, and adsorbed As(V) through chemical adsorption. The maximum As(V) adsorption capacity as determined from the Langmuir model was 63.69 mg/g. In addition, MCS/ZnO@Alg exhibited good recyclability and high sustainability. This work proves that the MCS/ZnO@Alg gel beads are an ideal candidate for addressing the grievous environmental threats caused by water pollution.

The performance of Fe3O4/attapulgite (APT) nanoparticles in Pb(II) adsorption from aqueous solutions could be improved by modifying the particles with aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTS) and then combining with chitosan (CS) into beads. After preparing the APTS-Fe3O4/APT@CS beads, their surface morphology and crystal phases were analyzed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The magnetic properties of APTS-Fe3O4/APT@CS were studied by a vibrating sample magnetometer, while their heat resistance and stability were characterized by thermal weight analysis. A recycling test and comparison of adsorption capacities were also carried out. The adsorption capacity of Fe3O4/APT was improved by the modification with APTS and CS. The adsorption process conforms to the pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir adsorption isotherm models. The adsorption of Pb(II) reaches a maximum of 625.34 mg/g, which compares favorably with other reported adsorbents. The results show that APTS-Fe3O4/APT@CS is a promising hybrid adsorbent for effective removal of Pb(II) from water.

By employing the semi-rigid multidentate carboxylic acid ligand 4,4′,4′′-{[(2,4,6-trimethylbenzene-1,3,5-triyl)tris(methylene)]tris(oxy)}tribenzoic acid (denoted H3 L), a new lanthanum coordination polymer, namely poly[[bis(dimethylformamide)(μ6-4,4′,4′′-{[(2,4,6-trimethylbenzene-1,3,5-triyl)tris(methylene)]tris(oxy)}tribenzoato)lanthanum(III)] dimethylformamide tetrasolvate 0.25-hydrate], {[La(C33H27O9)(C3H7NO)2]·4C3H7NO·0.25H2O} n or {[La(L)(DMF)2]·4(DMF)·0.25(H2O)} n (DMF is dimethylformamide) (1), was prepared and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, IR spectroscopy and photoluminescence studies. The asymmetric unit contains one LaIII cation, one anionic L 3− ligand, two coordinated DMF molecules, four free DMF molecules and one-quarter of a free water molecule. Compound 1 possesses (3,6)-connected two-dimensional kgd topology sheets consisting of secondary building units of La2 clusters and L 3− ligands, which further stack into three-dimensional supramolecular networks through π–π interactions. Compound 1 exhibits a photoluminescence emission at room temperature, with a peak at 410 nm, owing to a ligand-centred excited state.

Two asymmetric three-dimensional (3D) hole-transporting materials (HTMs) containing a triphenylethylene core and peripheral diphenylamine/triphenylamine moieties are first synthesized and successfu...

A new pH-sensitive drug carrier based on alginate (Alg), chitosan (Cs), and kappa-carrageenan (kC) marine biopolymers was developed, comprising a dual-layered polyelectrolyte complexes microbead structure. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to investigate the structures, thermal stability, and morphological changes, respectively, of the microcapsules we developed. In the intestinal environment (pH 7.4), the stability and swelling of Alg microbeads were enhanced after generation of the dual-layered polyelectrolyte complexes. The in vitro release profiles of 5-fluorouracil under simulated GI conditions were also examined. At gastric pH (1.2), the cumulative 5-FU release percentage was decreased by introduction of the additional kC layer from 14% in Alg/Cs microbeads to 7% in the dual-layered Alg/Cs/kC microbeads. Additionally, the release profiles were greatly improved under simulated intestinal and colon conditions. Finally, the microbeads were all biodegradable and showed no cytotoxicity in Chang liver cells. Our results clearly indicate that the dual-layer pH-sensitive Alg/Cs/kC microbeads could be used effectively for the targeted delivery of anticancer drugs to the colon.

In this study, a MT(Al)/calcium alginate [MT(Al)@CA] microsphere structure was prepared using sodium alginate (SA) and MT(Al). In order to achieve [MT(Al)@CA] microspheres with a high stability and chemical resistance, glutaraldehyde was used as the crosslinking agent to graft the microspheres and ethylenediamine (ED) into a new type of ED-functionalized MT(Al)@CA microsphere structure similar to a core–shell-type structure [MT(Al)@CA-ED]. This core–shell/bead-like structure was characterized and analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The adsorption performance of the core–shell/bead-like structure for As(V) in solution was studied. The effects of the initial As(V) concentration, reaction time, pH, and different reaction temperatures on the reaction process were studied. The results indicate that at a pH of 4, the removal rate of As(V) by the core–shell/bead-like MT(Al)@CA-ED could reach 94.85% after 150 min. The adsorption process is highly consistent with the Langmuir isotherm model (R2 = 0.9983) and pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R2 = 0.9973). The maximum adsorption capacity could reach 61.94 mg/g. Regeneration experiments showed that the adsorption efficiency of As(V) after six cycles was >80%.

Electronic modulation of heterogeneous metal catalysts has been considered as an effective means to optimize their catalytic performance. Two-dimensional nanomaterials, typically used as the supporting substrates for anchoring the active metal nanoparticles, are well-known to profoundly influence the electronic structure of metals through interfacial electronic metal–support interaction (EMSI). However, the detailed investigation of EMSI for catalytic enhancement still remains obscure at the microscopic level. Herein, we propose to utilize MoS2 nanosheets to modulate the electronic structure of Pd through EMSI and investigate the influence of “support effect” of MoS2 on the catalytic activity of Pd utilizing degradation of methylene blue (MB) with the electron donor NaBH4 as a simple model reaction. Mechanistic investigations reveal that the electron transfer from Pd to MoS2 makes a highly electron-deficient Pd surface. During the target catalysis, this interfacial electronic structure makes the surface o...

Residual diclofenac sodium (DS) in the environment is harmful to human health. A promising method for DS removal is the use of adsorbents functionalized with amino groups that can form an ionic bond with the carboxyl group of DS at a suitable pH. In this work, a novel composite adsorbent composed of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and chitosan (CS) has been synthesized and functionalized by ethylenediamine (ED) in both layers. Characterization methods, including scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, were used to confirm the morphology and synthetic mechanism of the double- amino-functionalized adsorbent. Based on the optimization of adsorption conditions and modeling of the adsorption mechanism, the DS adsorption process on CNC-ED@CS-ED involves chemical adsorption, and the maximum adsorption capacity obtained from the Langmuir model is 444.44 mg/g. CNC-ED@CS-ED exhibits good adsorption capacity and high sustainability; thus, it is a promising composite material for the removal of DS from wastewater.

As a typical metal–organic framework material, UiO-66 has good potential for removing pharmaceuticals and personal care products from water. However, the application of this powdery adsorbent has been limited by the difficult recovery from the liquid. To overcome this weakness, we prepared composite beads constituted by sodium alginate and UiO-66 by solidification in CaCl2 solution. The material was characterized by SEM, FTIR, XRD, BET, and TGA methods. These composite beads were applied to remove a common antibiotic Levofloxacin (LOFX) from water, and the experimental parameters (i.e., initial LOFX concentration, adsorption time, pH, and adsorbent dose) were optimized. The adsorption data could be satisfactorily fitted to the Langmuir isotherm model (R2 = 0.9871) and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R2 = 0.9990). The regeneration experiment of the composite beads revealed that the adsorption efficiency of levofloxacin was higher than 70% even after 5 cycles.

Climate changes have significant impacts on crop yield, and also on crop quality related to food safety and human health. This study investigated the influences of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) enrichment on cereal metal accumulation in soil-crop system. Field rotation experiments of rice (Oryza sativa) and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) were conducted by simulating elevated CO2 concentrations (e[CO2]) in 12 open-top chambers (OTCs). The treatments included the ambient [CO2] (CK), 80 ppm (T1) and 200 ppm (T2) above ambient condition, respectively. Different parts of above-ground plant samples were analyzed for metal concentrations (Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn; Ca, Mg) at the key growth stages, assisted with analyses of soil pH, metal bioavailability, and transfer factors (TFs). The result patterns were opposite for rice and wheat. After the increased transport from rhizospheric soil solution due to the metal mobilization by declined pH, most metals increased their distributions in rice grain, husk, and stem than leaf. While for winter wheat, though soil metal bioavailability was also increased, their distributions in grain, husk, and stem were decreased owing to possible carbohydrate dilution effect or cation competition, except some macro metals distributed more in leaf. Since results of metals and crops are not always consistent among various reports, the mechanisms of essential/toxic metal transport in soil-crop system affected by climate change and its impacts on human health deserve further studies.

In this study, we prepared pH- and magnetism-responsive Fe3O4@C/carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)/chitosan composite microbeads for controlled release of diclofenac sodium (DS) to (i) prevent complete drug release in gastric area, (ii) maintain blood drug concentration in a specific part of the body, (iii) reduce drug administration time and systemic drug toxicity, and (iv) improve drug efficacy. Through one-step solvent thermal treatment, a polyethylene glycol layer was wrapped into Fe3O4 nanoparticles. Then, Fe3O4@C nanoparticles were incorporated into CMC matrix and coated with chitosan layer via a self-assembly technique to form core–shell polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs). The composite beads were characterized by SEM, TEM, FT-IR spectrometry, and TGA. In addition, the effect of different concentrations of Fe3O4@C, CMC, aluminum chloride (AlCl3), and chitosan on the swelling process of composite beads, DS loading, and controlled release behavior was systematically studied. DS encapsulation efficiency in Fe3O4@C/CMC/chitosan beads reached 70.8 ± 0.65% at concentrations of 0.1% Fe3O4@C, 3% CMC, 3% AlCl3, and 1% chitosan. The beads showed a higher swelling index in phosphate buffer at pH 7.4 and 6.8 than at pH 1.2. The composite beads revealed excellent pH-sensitive in vitro drug release profiles and prevented burst release in the gastrointestinal tract.

Although androgen deprivation therapy remains the standard treatment for the initial therapy of advanced prostate cancer (PC), castration does not eliminate persistent intratumoral androgens within the prostate tumor microenvironment, which is capable of activating androgen receptor. Abiraterone effectively target adrenal and tumor androgen production in castration-resistant PC (CRPC). However, abiraterone-resistant CRPC is now common challenge in clinic via multiple mechanisms.In this study, human CRPC cell line PC3 and androgen-sensitive cells LNCaP were used. The authors investigated the role of autophagy during the therapy of abiraterone in CRPC by analysis of transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Western blot and immunofluorescence assay. Cell cycle and apoptosis using flow cytometry analysis.The analysis of TEM showed more autophagic vesicles (AVs) in PC3 cell line than that in LNCaP cell line and indicated the high basic cellular autophagy in CRPC cell line PC3, which was confirmed by the upregulation of autophagy-related protein LC3, Atg5, and Beclin1. Interestingly, the treatment of abiraterone reduced the level of autophagic vesicles in two cell lines and inhibited the expressions of autophagic markers LC3, Atg5 and Beclin1 in parallel with decreased cell vitality and induced G2/M arrest in PC3 cell line and LNCaP cell line. Moreover, the addition of the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine to the treatment of abiraterone inhibited the formation of AVs with downregulated autophagic markers, and inhibition of autophagy promoted the efficiency of cytotoxicity of abiraterone with further impaired cell vitality and G2/M arrest.These data suggested that inhibition of autophagy by its inhibitor benefits the treatment of abiraterone for CRPC patients.

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have received special attention from scientists owing to their excellent adsorption performance. However, the difficulty in separating MOFs from adsorbed metals foll...

Three-dimensional video microscopy, Raman microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy were applied on a Qing dynasty meticulous painting named ‘Guan Gong Reads the Spring and Autumn Annals at Night’. All pigments were identified, including calcite, Paris green, hematite, gypsum, cinnabar, carbon black, quartz crystal, synthetic ultramarine blue and brass powder. Colors on the painting, in most parts, can be explained by a single pigment; while it is also true that some are caused by mixed pigments. The manufacture date of the painting should be no earlier than 1828. In addition, brass powder was used as pigment no later than the Qing dynasty. Finally, the combination of multiple non-destructive methods is an ideal for researching Chinese ancient paintings.

In this study, we prepared a magnetic composite based on amine-functionalized chitosan (aminochitosan; AmCS) and Fe3O4 to remove diclofenac sodium (DS) from water. The fabricated AmCS@Fe3O4 composite was characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry, X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis. Furthermore, we investigated the influence of pH, initial DS concentration, and adsorbent dosage on the adsorption of DS. Through thermodynamic analysis, we found that the data corresponded with the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model. The maximum adsorption capacity reached 469.48 mg g−1, and the adsorption process followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Finally, the AmCS@Fe3O4 composite retained good adsorption characteristics after four consecutive cycles, with removal efficiency exceeding 70%. Therefore, the developed adsorbent could be used for efficient adsorptive removal of trace drugs and personal care products from water bodies.

Through cation substitution in a zirconium based coordination polymer, an isostructural framework 1@NH4+ has been prepared without any apparent structural change. The proton conductivity of 1@NH4+ is successfully improved. It exhibits high proton conductivity (1.39 × 10−2 S cm−1) at 98% relative humidity and 60 °C.

A compounded nanoparticle with multiple double bonds (CC) was prepared by grafting glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) onto the surface of nano-SiO2. Then gel-free long chain branched polyethylene (LCBPE) was prepared by melt branching reaction in a Haake torque rheometer in the presence of initiator peroxide and GMA grafted nano-SiO2 (SiO2-g-GMA). The sampling time corresponded to the summit of the reaction peak in the torque curve. Fourier transform infrared results indicated that SiO2-g-GMA had been grafted onto the HDPE backbone via radical reaction. The reaction mechanism and the topological structure of the PE products are also discussed. Rheological results showed that the relaxation time and molecular weight distribution of modified PE were increased owing to the introduction of LCB structure, and the more SiO2-g-GMA was added, the more apparent variation could be observed. Compared with linear HDPE, both the melt strength and mechanical properties of LCBPE were improved obviously. From the differential scanning calorimetry and polarized optical microscopy results, smaller crystal size and lower growth rate were observed compared with linear HDPE, which are ascribed to the nucleation and restriction of long branching chains in the system. Well distributed nano-SiO2 without any agglomeration in the PE matrix was observed in the scanning electron microscope images when the SiO2-g-GMA content was less than 3 phr.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) is a valuable drug target for diabetic treatment and ligands of PPARγ have shown potent anti-diabetic efficacy. However, to overcome the severe side effects of current PPARγ-targeted drugs, novel PPARγ ligands need to be developed. Sulindac, an identified ligand of PPARγ, is widely used in clinic as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. To explore its potential application for diabetes, we designed and synthesized a series of sulindac derivatives to investigate their structure-activity relationship as PPARγ ligand and potential anti-diabetic effect. We found that meta-substitution in sulindac's benzylidene moiety was beneficial to PPARγ binding and transactivation. Z rather than E configuration of the benzylidene double bond endowed derivatives with the selectivity of PPARγ activation. The indene fluorine is essential for binding and regulating PPARγ. Compared with rosiglitazone, compound 6b with benzyloxyl meta-substitution and Z benzylidene double bond weakly induced adipogenesis and PPARγ-targeted gene expression. However, 6b potently improved glucose tolerance in a diabetic mice model. Unlike rosiglitazone, 6b was devoid of apparent toxicity to osteoblastic formation. Thus, we provided some useful guidelines for PPARγ-based optimization of sulindac and an anti-diabetic lead compound with less side effects.

Background: Chemotherapy plays an irreplaceable role in the treatment of gastric cancer (GC), but currently available chemotherapeutic drugs are not ideal. Medicinal plants are an important direction for new drug discovery. Methods: We combined literature collection, organoid drug screening and PDX verification to search for new, effective drugs. The effect of AIL on the GC cells was investigated by CCK-8 assays, Colony Formation Assay and Cell Viability, Cell migration and invasion assay and PDX mice model. The expression of indicated RNA and proteins were measured by qRT-PCR ,IHC and western blotting. The proteins HSP90 binding to P23 or XRCC1 were identified by Co-IP. Results: Through drug screening of GC organoids, we had determined that ailanthone (AIL) has an anticancer effect on GC cells in vitro and in vivo. We also found that AIL promoted apoptosis of GC cells through flow cytometry analysis and the expression of caspase 3 and H2AX were significantly enhanced by AIL in GC cells and tumor tissues, suggesting that AIL can induce DNA damage and apoptosis of GC cells. Further transcriptome sequencing of the PDX tissue indicated that AIL inhibited the expression of XRCC1 which plays an important role in DNA damage repair, and the results were also confirmed by western blotting. In addition, we found that AIL inhibited the expression of P23 and inhibition of P23 decreased the expression of XRCC1 through western blotting analysis, indicating that AIL can regulate XRCC1 via P23. The results of co-immunoprecipitation showed that AIL can inhibit the binding of P23 and XRCC1 to HSP90 respectively.Conclusion: These findings indicate that AIL can induce DNA damage and apoptosis of GC cells. Meanwhile, AIL can decrease XRCC1 by downregulating P23 to inhibit DNA damage repair. The present study shed light to the new drug isolated from natural medicinal plants for GC therapy.

Background Bismuth has antimicrobial activity and can improve the efficacy of triple Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) therapy. Allicin added to conventional therapy for H. pylori infection also improves H. pylori eradication rates. Thus, this study aims to evaluate and compare the efficacy, safety and tolerability of allicin-containing quadruple therapy and bismuth-containing quadruple therapy and to investigate the factors that affect the eradication rates. Methods Two hundred twenty H. pylori-infected patients were included and randomly (1:1) assigned to 14-day quadruple therapy: ilaprazole (5 mg bid), doxycycline (100 mg bid), and furazolidone (100 mg bid) with an allicin soft capsule (40 mg of DATS tid) (IDFA) or colloidal bismuth tartrate (220 mg of elemental bismuth bid) (IDFB). Eradication was confirmed by urea breath tests. Symptom improvement, adverse events, and adherence were assessed by a questionnaire. Results In the intention-to-treat and per-protocol analysis, the eradication rates for IDFA and IDFB groups were 87.5% (70/80) vs. 86.3% (69/80, P = 0.815) and 91.9% (68/74) vs. 91.8% (67/73, P = 0.980) as first-line therapies; 83.3% (25/30) vs. 83.3% (25/30, P = 1) and 89.3% (25/28) vs. 88.9% (24/27, P = 1) as second-line therapies. Symptom improvement rates were 96.1% and 97.0% for IDFA and IDFB (P = 1). The adverse event rates were 10.9% in IDFA and 14.5% in IDFB groups (P = 0.418). Nausea occurred frequently in IDFB than IDFA (1.8% vs. 8.2%, P = 0.030). Smoking and sharing utensils significantly affected the efficacy. Conclusion Allicin-containing quadruple therapy might be regarded as a promising alternative to bismuth-containing quadruple therapy in H. pylori eradication.

In this study, we developed novel complex nanoparticles as carriers for curcumin (Cur) delivery by using soy protein isolate (SPI) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) as polymer matrices. We found that the SPI-to-CNC mass ratio influenced the stability and physical properties of the SPI-CNC complex nanoparticles. Moreover, SPI-CNC complex nanoparticles had a relatively small size (197.7 ± 0.2 nm) and low polydispersity index (0.14) at a 6:1 mass ratio. The nanosystem was relatively stable at different pH values (3–9), temperatures (30–90 °C), and salt concentrations (0–40 mmol/L). Furthermore, the complex nanoparticles exhibited a high encapsulation efficiency (88.3%) and sustained release during simulated gastrointestinal digestion. Therefore, SPI-CNC complex nanoparticles are a promising delivery system for hydrophobic bioactive compounds.

A novel ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)-functionalized magnetic chitosan oligosaccharide and carboxymethyl cellulose (Fe3O4@CMCCOS-EDTA) nanocomposite adsorbent was successfully fabricated for Pb(II) adsorption. The adsorbent was characterized by Fourier transform infrared, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to confirm successful EDTA modification and Pb(II) adsorption. Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometer, and thermogravimetric analysis were used to study the morphology and properties of magnetic particles. EDTA modification considerably improved the capacity of the adsorbent. The batch adsorption experiment results indicated that the pseudo-second-order (PSO) model and the Langmuir isotherm model reliably described the adsorption behavior. The maximum adsorption capacity (qm) for monolayer chemical adsorption was calculated to be 432.34 mg/g at the pH of 5 and temperature of 308 K. Notably, Fe3O4@CMCCOS-EDTA exhibited a high Pb(II) removal rate of ~100% using an initial metal ion solution of 100 mg/L and 200 mg/L.

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a common food contaminant that seriously threatens the safety and health of consumers. Here, an indirect competitive biotin-streptavidin-amplified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (icBA-ELISA) was developed for the sensitive detection of OTA by employing Fc-specific multi-biotinylated antibodies. An Fc-binding protein (Z-domain) carrying a photo-cross-linker (p-benzoylphenylalanine, Bpa) fused with tandem AviTag repeats, viz. ZBpa-(AviTag)n, was first constructed using the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase/suppressor tRNA technique. Biotin molecules were covalently conjugated to antibodies mediated by the photoreactive biotinylated ZBpa-(AviTag)n, resulting in the Fc-specific multi-biotinylated antibodies (IgG−*Z-Bn conjugates) that were used to establish icBA-ELISA. Among the IgG−*Z-Bn-based icBA-ELISA, the IgG−*Z-B5 conjugates exhibited a half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 0.0519 ng mL−1 and a limit of detection of 0.00944 ng mL−1 for OTA. The sensitivity was improved 4.8 and 4.7 times compared with that of the chemical-coupled IgG−biotin conjugates. Thus, the proposed icBA-ELISA for the sensitive detection of OTA has remarkable potential applications for the detection of various toxins in food.

The objective of the present study was to improve the utilization of scallop (Chlamys farreri) byproducts by using Maillard reaction. Scallop mantle hydrolysates (SMHs) were prepared using neutrase then reacted with ribose. Thirty-four peptides were identified from SMHs by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS, and the abundance of Asp and Lys suggested the strong Maillard reactivity. The formation of Schiff’s base as well as modification of amide I, II and III bands in Maillard reaction products (MRPs) was confirmed by ultraviolet–visible, fluorescence, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Thirty volatile compounds were produced by the reaction of SMHs with ribose. Moreover, MRPs with enhanced radical scavenging and anti-linoleic acid peroxidation activities over SMHs promoted the survival and reduced the DNA damage of HepG2 cells treated with hydrogen peroxide. These results suggest that SMHs-ribose MRPs can be potentially used as food antioxidant for suppressing of lipid oxidation or protecting of cell from oxidative damage.

A new 2D MOF with unique [Co5(μ3-OH)2]8+ subunit, [Co5(μ3-OH)2(bcpt)4(bib)2] (1) (H2bcpt = 3,5-bis(3′-carboxyphenyl)-1,2,4-triazole, bib = 1,4-bis(1-imidazoly)benzene) is prepared, which not only shows weak antiferromagnetic interaction between the adjacent Co(II) ion, but also exhibits efficient electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction by the integration with graphene (Gr).

A silver-based metal-organic framework (Ag-MOFs), [Ag2(H3ddcba)(dpp)2] (1) (H5ddcba = 3,5-(di(2',5'-dicarboxylphenyl)benozoic acid, dpp = 1,3-di(4-pyridyl)propane), was successfully constructed via hydrothermal assembly of a pentacaboxylate ligand, a N-donor ligand and Ag(I) ions, which possesses a pcu topology and exhibits excellent catalytic properties in aqueous solution for the degradation of o-nitrophenol (2-NP), m-nitrophenol (3-NP) and p-nitrophenol (4-NP). Related kinetics of such catalytic reactions, photoluminescent and thermal stability of compound 1 were also investigated.

Carboxylated cellulose nanocrystal-sodium alginate (CCN-Alg) hydrogel beads were easily prepared through a cross-linking method. The structure and properties of the composite beads were characterized by TEM, FTIR, SEM, XPS, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and zeta potential measurement. A high ratio of 76% of the Pb(II) ion was adsorbed within the first 2h, and the adsorption equilibrium was nearly reached after 3h. The experimental isotherm could be fitted by the Langmuir model, yielding an extreme adsorption capacity of 338.98mgg-1. The adsorption process followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model, and thermodynamic analyses confirmed that the adsorption is a spontaneous and endothermic process. Regeneration tests with acid treatment indicated that the CCN-Alg beads performed well in repeated Pb(II) adsorptions, as they could maintain an adsorption capacity of 223.2mgg-1 after five repeated cycles. These results indicate that these CCN-Alg beads are a potentially effective and sustainable adsorbent for application in wastewater treatment.

A novel adsorbent with high selectivity for fluoroquinolone (FQ) compounds was developed, based on the surface functionalization of magnetic carboxylated cellulose nanocrystals (M-CCNs) with molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) comprising amine moieties. The imprinting was achieved by a radical polymerization technique, which uses glycidyl methacrylate, tetraethylenepentamine, ofloxacin, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, and azobisisobutyronitrile as the functional monomer, active groups provider, template molecule, crosslinking agent, and initiator, respectively. The developed material (M-CCNs@MIP) was comprehensively characterized and shown to exhibit high adsorption capacity and selectivity with rapid equilibration time. Moreover, the adsorption isotherms could be well-fitted with the Freundlich model, and the adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second-order model. The maximum adsorption capacities for M-CCNs@MIP after 2 and 20 min were 34.09 and 40.65 mg g −1 , respectively, compared to 9.98 and 15.28 mg g −1 observed for the unimprinted polymer (M-CCNs@NIP). By coupling the M-CCNs@MIP adsorbent with high-performance liquid chromatography, an approach was established to enhance the selective adsorption of seven structurally similar FQ compounds in river water samples. The recoveries of the seven FQs ranged from 81.2 to 93.7%, and the limits of detection were between 5.4 and 12.0 ng mL −1 . The M-CCNs@MIP adsorbent also retained good performance after seven consecutive cycles of reuse.

Cardiac glycosides exhibit significant anticancer effects and the glycosyl substitution at C3 position of digoxigenin is pivotal for their biological activity. In order to study the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of cardiac glycosides toward cancers and explore more potent anticancer agents, a series of C3-O-neoglycosides and C3-MeON-neoglycosides of digoxigenin were synthesized by the Koenigs-Knorr and neoglycosylation method, respectively. In addition, digoxigenin bisdigitoxoside and monodigitoxoside were prepared from digoxin by sodium periodate (NaIO4) oxidation and 6-aminocaproic acid hydrolysis. The SAR analysis revealed that C3-O-neoglycosides of digoxigenin exhibited stronger cytotoxicity and induction of Nur77 expression of tumor cells than C3-MeON-neoglycosides. Also, 3β-O-glycosides exhibited stronger anticancer effects than 3α-O-glycosides. Among them, 3β-O-(β-l-fucopyranosyl)-digoxigenin (3i) showed the highest activity on induction of Nur77 expression and translocation from the nucleus to cytoplasm, leading to cancer cell apoptosis.

Dexmedetomidine (DEX) a type of the anaesthetic that has been widely used in anaesthesia and intensive care. However, whether DEX affects the pharmacokinetics of drugs remains elusive. As hepatic P‑glycoprotein (P‑gp) serves a critical role in the disposition of drugs, the present study aimed to address whether P‑gp function could be affected by DEX in vitro. In the present study, L02 cells (a normal human liver cell line) were exposed to DEX for 24 h and P‑gp function was evaluated by the intracellular accumulation of Rhodamine 123. The results indicated that P‑gp function was significantly impaired by DEX treatment and that the mRNA levels and protein levels of P‑gp were downregulated in a dose‑ and time‑dependent manner. Importantly, DEX‑induced downregulation of P‑gp was associated with adenosine 5'‑monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation, as it was significantly attenuated by AMPK inhibition using dorsomorphin. Furthermore, the results revealed that changes in the subcellular localisation of nuclear factor (NF)‑κB following AMPK activation were involved in the P‑gp regulation in response to DEX treatment. Collectively, these results suggested that DEX impairs P-glycoprotein‑mediated efflux function in L02 cells via the AMPK/NF‑κB pathway, which provided direct evidence that the hepatic disposition of drugs may be affected by DEX through the downregulation of P‑gp.

In the present study, new composite beads based on carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)/k-carrageenan (kC)/activated montmorillonite (AMMT) were prepared for adsorptive removal of cationic methylene blue (MB) as a dye model. The structure and morphology of the composite beads were investigated by FT-IR and SEM, while the thermal properties were tested using TGA. Factors affecting the removal percent of MB such as CMC/kC/AMMT ratios, initial MB concentration, pH medium, adsorbent dosage, solution temperature, and agitation speed were also explored. Results demonstrated that MB removal (%) exceeded 92% after 120 min using CMC/kC/AMMT (1:1:0.4 ratio) compared to 69% in case of free AMMT beads. Moreover, data obtained from isotherm studies were fitted well to Langmuir model (R 2 = 0.999), and the kinetics of adsorption followed pseudo-second order model. Finally, the composite beads showed good reusability for MB dye removal with high efficiency. Results obtained from this study suggest that the prepared composite beads could be applied effectively for removing cationic dyes from aqueous solutions.

In this study, zein was stabilized using alginate oligosaccharides (AOS) for the delivery of curcumin (Cur) through antisolvent precipitation. Zein-AOS2:1 nanoparticles were uniform and stable (size 116.5 nm, polydispersity index (PDI) 0.16, charge −30 mV). The complex nanoparticle system was relatively stable under different conditions, including pH 4–9 and temperature 30–90 °C. In addition, the encapsulation efficiency of the Cur/zein-AOS2:1 complex nanoparticles was 89.7%. Zein was protected during gastrointestinal digestion. Only 32.9% Cur was released in the stomach after 90 min and 83.8% was released in the intestinal tract after 240 min proving that zein-AOS complex nanoparticles showed a good sustained-release effect. Thus, the zein-AOS complex nanoparticle system is suitable for delivering encapsulated lipophilic bioactive compounds.

Six new α-pyrone polyketides, penipyrols C–G (1–5) and methyl-penipyrol A (6), together with one biogenetically related known compound, penipyrol A (7), were isolated from the extract of fungus Penicillium sp. HDN-11-131. Their structures including the absolute configurations were established by extensive spectroscopic analysis, Mosher’s method, and ECD calculations as well as biogenic considerations. Compounds 1–4 possess a rare skeleton featuring γ-butyrolactone linked to α-pyrone ring through double bond. Compound 1 can induce pancreatic β-cell regeneration in zebrafish at 10 μM, which demonstrated promising anti-diabetes potential.

Porous surface-modified microspheres can have widespread applications in the removal of wastewater pollutants. In this study, using a nonionic surfactant (Span80) as the pore-forming agent and Zr4+ as the cross-linking agent, polyethyleneimine (PEI)-modified porous CYCTS/Span80 microspheres ((CYCTS/Span80)-@-PEI) were successfully prepared for the adsorptive removal of diclofenac sodium (DS) from wastewater. The adsorbent was characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffractometry. The activity of the porous (CYCTS/Span80)-@-PEI microspheres as adsorbents of DS was investigated by varying the experimental parameters (i.e., adsorbent dosage, adsorbent ratio, pH, contact time, temperature, and pollutant concentration). A possible adsorption mechanism was also discussed. The experimental results showed that the adsorption process followed a pseudo-second order kinetic model and the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model, in addition to the Freundlich isotherm model, indicating that the porous structure allowed multi-layer adsorption. Adsorption equilibrium was reached after 240 min at pH 5 and 303 K, yielding a maximum adsorption capacity of 572.67 mg/g. After five adsorption cycles, the removal rate of DS remained >80%, and the recovery rate was high. Therefore, we concluded that the porous (CYCTS/Span80)-@-PEI microspheres are efficient and inexpensive candidates for the removal of DS from wastewater.

A novel composite material (MCNC@Zn-BTC) is synthesized from magnetic cellulose nanocrystals (MCNC) and a metal–organic framework (MOF), based on Zn(II) and benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid (Zn-BTC), using a simple mechanical agitation method at room temperature. The developed MCNC@Zn-BTC was characterized by SEM, TEM, FTIR, XRD, XPS, and VSM instruments. The impact of MCNC@Zn-BTC dose, initial Pb(II) concentration, contact time, pH, and adsorption temperature have been explored. Results demonstrated that only 30 min was needed to achieve the adsorption equilibrium; the maximum adsorption capacity was 558.66 mg/g at 298.2 K. Besides, data obtained were fitted to a Langmuir isotherm model (R2 = 0.9890), and the adsorption kinetics followed a pseudo-second-order model. In addition, the removal (%) of Pb(II) remained greater than 80% after five recycled times. Therefore, the novel MCNC@Zn-BTC adsorbent displays great potential to improve the quality of environmental water contaminated with heavy metals.

The carbon monoxide (CO) catalytic oxidation reaction is a model reaction which is important in serials of technical and industrial applications. In this study, density functional theory (DFT) is employed to explore the catalytic oxidation of CO on Pd-doped boron nitride nanotube (BNNT). The electronic structures and thermodynamic parameters of CO and O2, which are adsorbed on BNNT substrate with Pd embedded at the N- and B- vacancy, are examined in detail. It is revealed that the BNNT substrate with vacancy strongly stabilizes the Pd adatom. Benefit from the B vacancy defect, the Pd atom binds strongly with BNNT. The interaction energy of 3.74 eV is strong enough to prevent the aggregation of Pd atom. With B vacancy, Pd atom accepts extra electron from the substrate, causing O2 to bind stronger than CO molecule. An additional charge is transferred to O2 when CO and O2 are co-adsorbed on the substrate. This additional charge thus strengthens the O2 and CO adsorption and changes the electronic structure properties of the tube. Four proposed CO oxidation mechanisms (Eley–Rideal (ER), Langmuir–Hinshelwood (LH), termolecular Eley–Rideal (TER), and termolecular Langmuir–Hinshelwood (TLH)) are studied by calculating the reaction energy barriers along the minimum-energy pathway. It is found that a large reaction barrier exists in the rate-limiting step of the ER mechanism. It is then suggested that the most probable mechanisms for CO oxidation on Pd doped boron vacancy BNNT (Pd-Bv/BNNT) could be the LH mechanism and the new TER and TLH mechanisms under experimental circumstances.