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Injectable hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogel plays an important role in dermal filling. However, conventional HA dermal fillers mostly lack bio‐functional diversity and frequently cause adverse reactions because of the chemical stiffness of highly modified degree and crosslinker residues. In this study, polylactic acid (PLA) was embedded into HA hydrogel as a bioactive substance and 1,4‐butanediol diglycidyl ether was used as a crosslinker to prepare the HA/PLA composite hydrogel with enhanced biocompatibility and biological performance. We aimed to investigate the properties of HA/PLA composite hydrogels as dermal fillers by assessing the rheological properties, surface microstructure, enzymolysis stability, swelling ratio, degradation rate, cytotoxicity, and anti‐wrinkle effect on photo‐aged skin. The results showed that the stability and stiffness of the composite hydrogel decreased with an increasing amount of PLA, while the in vivo safety of the HA/PLA hydrogel was enhanced, showing no adverse reactions such as edema, redness, or swelling. Moreover, the composite hydrogel with 2 wt% PLA exhibited excellent anti‐wrinkle effects, showing the highest collagen production. Thus, the PLA‐embedded HA composite hydrogel showed potential as a dermal filler with high safety, easy injectability, and excellent anti‐wrinkle effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies on anti-inflammatory drugs with indole groups have been published. This is the first study that demonstrates the anti-inflammatory effects of indole derivative XCR-5a in vitro and in vivo. This study aimed to discover more anti-inflammatory drugs with indole groups and investigate their anti-inflammatory mechanisms. First, a series of indole derivatives was synthesized, then screened for XCR-5a, a compound with anti-inflammatory effects. Second, the in vitro production of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced primary cells of mice pretreated with XCR-5a was determined using qPCR and ELISA. Finally, the effect of XCR-5a on LPS-induced NF-κB signaling activation was determined by Western blotting. An in vivo mouse sepsis model was established. In mouse lung tissue, the production of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α was determined and H&E staining was performed. Our findings showed that XCR-5a could suppress the production of LPS-induced IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, as well as mRNA expression of iNOS and COX-2. Pretreatment with XCR-5a inhibited the LPS-induced inflammatory response in septic mice in vivo by decreasing pro-inflammatory cytokines production in serum and reducing immune cell infiltration. Mechanistically, XCR-5a suppressed LPS-induced activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway. XCR-5a has anti-inflammatory effects in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, XCR-5a could be a potential drug candidate for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pt-free composite counter electrode (CE) composed of La2O3 was successfully synthesized by a simple pyrolysis of Lanthanum acetate hydrate (La(CH3COO)3·xH2O) in a high-temperature solid phase. Furthermore, three proportion composite catalysts of La2O3@MWCNTs based on La2O3 and multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were prepared and characterized as Pt-free catalysts for CE in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The morphology and structure of La2O3@MWCNT composites were determined by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The electrochemical performance of La2O3@MWCNT composite catalysts for CEs was determined by photocurrent-voltage measurements, cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and Tafel polarization. The experimental results showed that the power conversion efficiencies of 5.20, 5.12, and 4.70% were obtained for La2O3: MWCNTs with mass ratios of 5:1, 3:1, and 1:1 as counter electrode towards the reduction of I3−/I− ions respectively in the encapsulation of DSSC batteries, which were higher than that of MWCNTs (3.94%) and La2O3 (0.77%) electrode under the similar conditions. The enhanced electrode performance was attributed to relatively larger surface area and higher conductivity of La2O3@MWCNT composite catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macromolecular crowding and confinement are two factors that potentially affect protein structure and function in a complex cellular environment. The confinement effect on the structure and function of holoCaM [Ca 2+ -loaded calmodulin (CaM)], a two-domain protein involved in many calcium-mediated signaling pathways, has been investigated previously. However, little is known about how macromolecular crowding affects holoCaM structure and function. Here, the structure-function correlations of holoCaM are investigated in macromolecular crowded environments. It was found that macromolecular crowding impacts its structure and function mildly. The major conformational states are still extended conformation with inter-domain separation in crowded environment as well as those in dilute solution, but the population of transiently compact conformation increases compared to dilute solution. Furthermore, macromolecular crowding facilitates the binding of CaM with AcN19 peptide (CaM-bind domain of α-syn). This study provides a direct comparison for macromolecular crowding and confinement effects on protein structure and function, which helps to understand chemistry regulation in living cells., (© 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)