Uranium is a key resource for the development of the nuclear industry, and extracting uranium from the natural seawater is one of the most promising ways to address the shortage of uranium resources. ...Herein, a semiconducting covalent organic framework (named NDA‐TN‐AO) with excellent photocatalytic and photoelectric activities was synthesized. The excellent photocatalytic effect endowed NDA‐TN‐AO with a high anti‐biofouling activity by generating biotoxic reactive oxygen species and promoting photoelectrons to reduce the adsorbed UVI to insoluble UIV, thereby increasing the uranium extraction capacity. Owing to the photoinduced effect, the adsorption capacity of NDA‐TN‐AO to uranium in seawater reaches 6.07 mg g−1, which is 1.33 times of that in dark. The NDA‐TN‐AO with enhanced adsorption capacity is a promising material for extracting uranium from the natural seawater.
Photoelectric and photocatalytic effects endow the covalent organic framework NDA‐TN‐AO with good anti‐biofouling activity. This occurs by generating biotoxic reactive oxygen species and promoting photoelectrons to reduce the adsorbed UVI to insoluble UIV, thereby improving the uranium adsorption capacity.
Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) plays a key role in analysis and sensing because of its high sensitivity and low background. Its wide applications are however limited by a lack of highly tunable ECL ...luminophores. Here we develop a scalable method to design ECL emitters of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) in aqueous medium by simultaneously restricting the donor and acceptor to the COFs' tight electron configurations and constructing high-speed charge transport networks through olefin linkages. This design allows efficient intramolecular charge transfer for strong ECL, and no exogenous poisonous co-reactants are needed. Olefin-linked donor-acceptor conjugated COFs, systematically synthesized by combining non-ECL active monomers with C
or C
symmetry, exhibit strong ECL signals, which can be boosted by increasing the chain length and conjugation of monomers. The present concept demonstrates that the highly efficient COF-based ECL luminophores can be precisely designed, providing a promising direction toward COF-based ECL phosphors.
Uranium recovery is of great significance for managing environmental contamination, improving the utilization rate of uranium resources, reducing the pressure of nuclear fuel supply and building a ...closed-loop nuclear fuel cycle system. However, most of the current adsorbents are limited in practical application due to their poor selectivity in highly acidic environments (pH = 1). Here, we present a powerful uranium recovery strategy with combined ligand complexation, chemical reduction and photoreduction based on metal-free cyclization-modulated conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs). Our well-tailored CMP (CTATP-DHBA) is rich in pyridine and hydroquinone units, forming favorable six-membered chelation motifs to be well suited for selective loading and reduction of UVI, thus exhibiting remarkable uranium removal efficiency (ca. 83.27% removal in 200 ppm solutions, pH = 1). In the dark, CTATP-DHBA can effectively reduce pre-enriched UVI to UIV in situ via hydroquinone units on the skeleton, thus weakening the proton competition and achieving excellent uranium recovery efficiency. Meanwhile, the synergistic effect of the cyclized π-conjugated skeleton and the oxidized benzoquinone units significantly enhances the photocatalytic activity of CTATP-DHBA, and an additional UVI photocatalytic reduction can occur under visible light irradiation, enabling photo-enhanced uranium recovery.
The mineralization of valence-variable radionuclides such as uranium could not only enhance the extraction performance and simplify the subsequent separation procedure, but also effectively weaken the competition of protons for selective sites in the acidic sample matrix. Thus, the construction of robust CMPs with excellent photoreduction activity and affinity may be an ideal material for the selective extraction and in-situ mineralization of strategic nuclide uranium from strongly acidic radioactive wastewater. Herein, a metal-free cyclization-modulated CMP with the favorable six-membered chelation motifs is tailor-made as an efficient platform for efficient extraction and in situ mineralization of valence-variable nuclide uranium.
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•This work employed rationally designed CMPs and achieved uranium recovery through three synergistic mechanisms.•The first example of CMP (CTATP-DHBA) for ligand complexation, chemical and photocatalytic reduction of uranium.•The metal-free cyclization-modulated CTATP-DHBA exhibits excellent selectivity and chemical reduction performance to uranium.•CTATP-DHBA exhibited remarkable uranium removal efficiency under strongly acidic conditions (pH = 1).
Meeting the demand for fresh water and energy is among the major challenges to the development of human civilization. Herein, we report the concept of a covalent organic framework hydrogel (named ...CPP) as a synergistic platform for seawater desalination and uranium extraction. In natural seawater, CPP shows an exceptional evaporation rate (0.744 kg m
−2
h
−1
) and uranium extraction capacity (4.15 mg g
−1
), which benefits from the hydrophilic 3D hydrogel network and capillary microporous channels of CPP providing adequate water transport, improving the mass transfer of uranyl ions, and increasing the binding sites of uranyl ions. In addition, CPP exploits interfacial solar heating to limit heat, increases solar energy utilization, and further accelerates the coordination between uranium and binding sites. The excellent photocatalytic effects endow CPP with high anti-biofouling activity, achieving long-term solar desalination and highly efficient uranium extraction. The connection between freshwater and nuclear energy is realized in a new material providing an opportunity to meet the growing needs of mankind.
CPP with capillary microporous channels for rapid diffusion of uranyl ions and adequate water transport, and good photothermal effect can realize synergistic freshwater collection and uranium extraction.
Summary Background MicroRNAs (miRNAs) can be used as prognostic biomarkers in many types of cancer. We aimed to identify miRNAs that were prognostic in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Methods ...We retrospectively analysed miRNA expression profiles in 312 paraffin-embedded specimens of nasopharyngeal carcinoma from Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center (Guangzhou, China) and 18 specimens of non-cancer nasopharyngitis. Using an 873 probe microarray, we assessed associations between miRNA signatures and clinical outcome in a randomly selected 156 samples (training set) and validated findings in the remaining 156 samples (internal validation set). We confirmed the miRNAs signature using quantitative RT-PCR analysis in 156 samples from a second randomisation of the 312 samples, and validated the miRNA signature in 153 samples from the West China Hospital of Sichuan University in Chengdu, China (independent set). We used the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank tests to estimate correlations of the miRNA signature with disease-free survival (DFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), and overall survival. Findings 41 miRNAs were differentially expressed between nasopharyngeal carcinoma and non-cancer nasopharyngitis tissues. A signature of five miRNAs, each significantly associated with DFS, was identified in the training set. We calculated a risk score from the signature and classified patients as high risk or low risk. Compared with patients with low-risk scores, patients with high risk scores in the training set had shorter DFS (hazard ratio HR 2·73, 95% CI 1·46–5·11; p=0·0019), DMFS (3·48, 1·57–7·75; p=0·0020), and overall survival (2·48, 1·24–4·96; p=0·010). We noted equivalent findings in the internal validation set for DFS (2·47, 1·32–4·61; p=0·0052), DMFS (2·28, 1·09–4·80; p=0·030), and overall survival (2·87, 1·38–5·96; p=0·0051) and in the independent set for DFS (3·16, 1·65–6·04; p=0·0011), DMFS (2·39, 1·05–5·42; p=0·037), and overall survival (3·07, 1·34–7·01; p=0·0082). The five-miRNA signature was an independent prognostic factor. A combination of this signature and TNM stage had better prognostic value than did TNM stage alone in the training set (area under receiver operating characteristics 0·68 95% CI 0·60–0·76 vs 0·60 0·52–0·67; p=0·013), the internal validation set (0·70 0·61–0·78 vs 0·61 0·54–0·68; p=0·012), and the independent set (0·70 0·62–0·78 vs 0·63 0·56–0·69; p=0·032). Interpretation Identification of patients with the five-miRNA signature might add prognostic value to the TNM staging system and inform treatment decisions for patients at high risk of progression. Funding Science Foundation of Chinese Ministry of Health, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Pearl River Scholar Funded Scheme, Guangdong Key Scientific and Technological Innovation Program, Guangdong Natural Science Foundation, Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities.
Due to the low efficiency of traditional sewage treatment methods, the effective removal of zwitterionic fluoroquinolone (FQs) antibiotics is of vital significant for environment protection. In this ...work, a SO3H-anchored covalent organic framework (TpPa-SO3H) was deliberately designed by linking phenolic trialdehyde with triamine through Schiff reaction, then low-content Tb3+ ions were loaded onto covalent organic framework according to wet-chemistry immersion dispersion method which benefitting for efficient FQs antibiotics uptaking. Tb@TpPa-SO3H functionalized with regularly distributed sulfonic acid groups and terbium ions which could provide difunctional binding sites. Tb3+ sites could capture carboxylic acid group of FQs molecules according to the complexes coordination effect and sulfonic acid sites play a significant role in the adsorption of FQs molecules through electrostatic interaction with amine group. Tb@TpPa-SO3H with dual complementary function sites exhibited ultra-fast adsorption kinetics (< 2 min, average over 99% removing rate) and high adsorption capacities of 989, 956, and 998 mg g−1 for Norfloxacin (NOR), ciprofloxacin (CIP), enrofloxacin (ENR), respectively. Furthermore, Tb@TpPa-SO3H showed excellent selectivity for the adsorption of FQs in tanglesome system. This work not only explored synergistic adsorption in ion-functionalized 2D covalent organic framework with dual binding sites, but also delineated a promising strategy for the elimination of organic pollutants in environmental remediation.
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•A difunctional Covalent Organic Framework Hybrid Material was prepared for efficient uptake of fluoroquinolone antibiotics.•Difunctional Tb@TpPa-SO3H exhibits outstanding adsorption capacity and short adsorption equilibrium time for FQs.•Tb@TpPa-SO3H shows excellent selectivity for the adsorption of FQs in tanglesome systems.•Plausible FQs adsorbed mechanisms were coordination with metal and electrostatic interaction.
We report the first example of vinylene-linked covalent organic framework (Tp-TMT) with enhanced uranium adsorption through combined selective ligand binding, chemical reduction and photocatalytic ...reduction. The dense hydroxyl functional groups on the Tp-TMT framework had good selectivity and excellent chemical reduction performance for U(VI). Meanwhile, the synergistic effect of hydroxyl groups and triazine unit significantly enhanced the photocatalytic reduction activity. Thus Tp-TMT exhibited incredible adsorption kinetics and capacity for uranium.
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•COFs effectively capture uranium through three coordinated mechanisms.•Tp-TMT has excellent visible light conversion efficiency and low band gap.•Tp-TMT enhances uranium adsorption through selective ligand binding and reduction.•Tp-TMT exhibits incredible adsorption kinetics and capacity for uranium.
So far, it remains a challenge to synthesize uranium adsorbents with robust stability, high adsorption capacity, excellent photocatalytic activity and easy regeneration. Herein, we report the first example of vinylene-linked covalent organic framework (Tp-TMT) with enhanced uranium adsorption through combined selective ligand binding, chemical reduction and photocatalytic reduction. The unique structure and excellent photocatalytic activity of Tp-TMT make it very suitable for photo-enhanced uranium adsorption through three synergistic mechanisms, thus exhibiting an outstanding uranium adsorption capacity (2362.4 mg g−1). In the dark, a large number of hydroxyl groups in the Tp-TMT framework serve as selective binding sites for uranium, and reduce part of U(VI) to U(IV), thereby greatly improving the adsorption capacity. Meanwhile, the synergistic effect of the triazine units and hydroxyl groups in the highly conjugated framework greatly decreases the optical band gap of Tp-TMT, and an additional U(VI) photocatalytic reduction process can occur under light irradiation, further increasing the adsorption kinetics and capacity. This work explored the structural and functional design of covalent organic frameworks for the adsorption and reduction of uranium in nuclear industry wastewater.
Uranium is one of the most important strategic resources for the development of the nuclear industry, but its unintended release has created potential environmental and health risks. It is highly ...desired to explore new methods that enable concurrent uranium monitoring and recovery for environmental protection and sustainable development of the nuclear industry. Here, for the first time, an imidazole fluorescent covalent organic framework (named PyTT-Tp) with ultrastable skeleton and open nanopore channel is synthesized by condensing ammonium acetate, 1,3,5-triformylphloroglucinol and pyrene-4,5,9,10-tetrone. By precisely tailoring complexing ligands, PyTT-Tp shows an excellent uranium recovery capacity of 941.27 mg g−1 and reached equilibrium within 60 min, which can be attributed to dense selective uranium binding sites on the highly accessible open skeleton. In addition, due to the signal amplification of the pyrene-imidazole skeleton, it has an ultra-low detection limit of 4.92 nM UO22+ and an ultra-fast response time (2 s) suitable for on-site monitoring the uranium content of the extracted water. By modulating target complexing ligands, this approach can be extended to the monitoring and recovery of other strategic nuclides.
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•Ultrastable imidazole fluorescent covalent organic framework (PyTT-Tp) for concurrent uranium detection and recovery.•The synthesized PyTT-Tp has strong fluorescence, ultrastable skeleton and open nanopore channel.•PyTT-Tp is suitable for sensitive and on-site monitoring the radioactive uranium contamination of the extracted water.•PyTT-Tp exhibits an exceptional uranium extraction capacity as well as fast kinetics.
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been regarded as critical regulators of human diseases and biological markers in some types of malignancies, including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Recently, ...circ_0007534 has been identified as a novel cancer‐related circRNA. Nevertheless, its clinical relevance, functional roles, and mechanism have not been studied in PDAC. In the current study, real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR) was used to detect the expression of circ_0007534 in 60‐paired PDAC tissue samples and different cell lines. Loss‐of‐function and gain‐of‐function assays were performed to detect cell proliferation, apoptosis, and metastatic properties affected by circ_0007534. An animal study was also carried out. The luciferase reporter assay was performed to uncover the underlying mechanism of circ_0007534. As a result, circ_0007534 was overexpressed not only in PDAC tissues but also in a panel of PDAC cell lines, and this overexpression is closely associated with advanced tumor stage and positive lymph node invasion. In addition, circ_0007534 may be regarded as an independent prognostic factor for patients with PDAC. For the part of functional assays, circ_0007534 significantly increased cell proliferation, migratory, and invasive potential of PDAC cells. Circ_0007534 could inhibit cell apoptosis partly via a Bcl‐2/caspase‐3 pathway. The xenograft study further confirmed the cell growth promoting the role of circ_0007534. Mechanistically, miR‐625 and miR‐892b were sponged by circ_0007534. The oncogenic functions of circ_0007534 is partly dependent on its regulation of miR‐625 and miR‐892b. In conclusion, our study illuminates a novel circRNA that confers an oncogenic function in PDAC.
Circ_0007534 is upregulated in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) both in tissues and cells.
Circ_0007534 is associated with patients’ adverse phenotypes and poor survival.
The circ_0007534/miR‐625/miR‐892 regulatory axis may contribute to the carcinogenesis and development of PDAC.
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