The uncontrolled growth of Li dendrites upon cycling might result in low coulombic efficiency and severe safety hazards. Herein, a lithiophilic binary lithium–aluminum alloy layer, which was ...generated through an in situ electrochemical process, was utilized to guide the uniform metallic Li nucleation and growth, free from the formation of dendrites. Moreover, the formed LiAl alloy layer can function as a Li reservoir to compensate the irreversible Li loss, enabling long‐term stability. The protected Li electrode shows superior cycling over 1700 h in a Li|Li symmetric cell.
Dendrite‐free anodes: An efficient lithium–aluminum alloy medium with increased affinity for Li and generated through an in situ electrochemical process is engineered to guide uniform Li nucleation and suppress the growth of Li dendrites.
Exploring cheap and efficient cocatalysts for enhancing the performance of photocatalysts is a challenge in the energy conversion field. Herein, 2D ultrathin Ti3C2 nanosheets, a kind of MXenes, are ...prepared by etching Ti3AlC2 with subsequent ultrasonic exfoliation. A novel 2D/2D heterojunction of ultrathin Ti3C2/Bi2WO6 nanosheets is then successfully prepared by in situ growth of Bi2WO6 ultrathin nanosheets on the surface of these Ti3C2 ultrathin nanosheets. The resultant Ti3C2/Bi2WO6 hybrids exhibit a short charge transport distance and a large interface contact area, assuring excellent bulk‐to‐surface and interfacial charge transfer abilities. Meanwhile, the improved specific surface area and pore structure endow Ti3C2/Bi2WO6 hybrids with an enhanced CO2 adsorption capability. As a result, the 2D/2D heterojunction of ultrathin Ti3C2/Bi2WO6 nanosheets shows significant improvement on the performance of photocatalytic CO2 reduction under simulated solar irradiation. The total yield of CH4 and CH3OH obtained on the optimized Ti3C2/Bi2WO6 hybrid is 4.6 times that obtained on pristine Bi2WO6 ultrathin nanosheets. This work provides a new protocol for constructing 2D/2D photocatalytic systems and demonstrates Ti3C2 as a promising and cheap cocatalyst.
A 2D/2D heterojunction of ultrathin Ti3C2/Bi2WO6 nanosheets with several atomic layers is constructed, showing remarkably enhanced performance toward photocatalytic CO2 reduction. The Ti3C2/Bi2WO6 2D/2D heterojunction possesses a large interface contact area and a quite short charge transport distance, leading to efficient bulk‐to‐surface and interfacial electron transfer. Moreover, the 2D/2D heterojunction possesses a distinctly enhanced CO2 adsorption capability, which further boosts the photocatalytic reactions.
The vegetative insecticidal proteins (Vip), secreted by many Bacillus thuringiensis strains during their vegetative growth stage, are genetically distinct from known insecticidal crystal proteins ...(ICPs) and represent the second-generation insecticidal toxins. Compared with ICPs, the insecticidal mechanisms of Vip toxins are poorly understood. In particular, there has been no report of a definite receptor of Vip toxins to date. In the present study, we identified the scavenger receptor class C like protein (Sf-SR-C) from the Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cells membrane proteins that bind to the biotin labeled Vip3Aa, via the affinity magnetic bead method coupled with HPLC-MS/MS. We then certified Vip3Aa protoxin could interact with Sf-SR-C in vitro and ex vivo. In addition, downregulation of SR-C expression in Sf9 cells and Spodoptera exigua larvae midgut reduced the toxicity of Vip3Aa to them. Coincidently, heterologous expression of Sf-SR-C in transgenic Drosophila midgut significantly enhanced the virulence of Vip3Aa to the Drosophila larvae. Moreover, the complement control protein domain and MAM domain of Sf-SR-C are involved in the interaction with Vip3Aa protoxin. Furthermore, endocytosis of Vip3Aa mediated by Sf-SR-C correlates with its insecticidal activity. Our results confirmed for the first time that Sf-SR-C acts as a receptor for Vip3Aa protoxin and provides an insight into the mode of action of Vip3Aa that will significantly facilitate the study of its insecticidal mechanism and application.
Efficiency of layered photocatalysts such as graphitic carbon nitride (g‐CN) is still too low due to the poor utilization of photoexcited‐charge carriers. The major drawback is that the weak van der ...Waals force among g‐CN layers is unfavorable for the charge transfer between the adjacent layers and the intrinsically π‐conjugated planes with inefficient random in‐plane charge migration. Herein, an atomically dispersed Pd layered photocatalyst with both bridged sites of adjacent layers and surface‐sites of g‐CN is demonstrated, providing directional charge‐transfer channels and targeting active sites for photocatalytic water reduction. Both theoretical prediction and empirical characterizations are conducted to achieve the successful synthesis of single‐atom engineered Pd/g‐CN hybrid and the excellent separation of charge transfer as well as the efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution, much better than that of the optimized Pt/g‐CN benchmark. The finding in this work provides a rational way for tailoring the performance and engineering of single‐atomic noble metal.
A single‐atom engineered Pd/g‐CN hybrid with directional charge transfer channels and targeting active sites is constructed by interlayer intercalation and surface anchor of Pd atoms into the framework of graphitic carbon nitride, showing excellent ability of charge transfer/separation and efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution, much better than that of the optimized Pt/g‐CN benchmark.
Manipulating ferroic orders and realizing their coupling in multiferroics at room temperature are promising for designing future multifunctional devices. Single external stimulation has been ...extensively proved to demonstrate the ability of ferroelastic switching in multiferroic oxides, which is crucial to bridge the ferroelectricity and magnetism. However, it is still challenging to directly realize multi‐field‐driven magnetoelectric coupling in multiferroic oxides as potential multifunctional electrical devices. Here, novel magneto–electric–optical coupling in multiferroic BiFeO3‐based thin films at room temperature mediated by deterministic ferroelastic switching using piezoresponse/magnetic force microscopy and aberration‐corrected transmission electron microscopy are shown. Reversible photoinduced ferroelastic switching exhibiting magnetoelectric responses is confirmed in BiFeO3‐based films, which works at flexible strain states. This work directly demonstrates room‐temperature magneto–electric–optical coupling in multiferroic films, which provides a framework for designing potential multi‐field‐driven magnetoelectric devices such as energy conservation memories.
The magneto–electric–optical coupling is realized in multiferroic BiFeO3‐based films at room temperature by engineering ferroelastic switching. The reversible ferroelastic switching is ubiquitous in BiFeO3‐based films with flexible strain states and domain patterns, which is determined by the photoinduced electric field and symmetry mismatch in films. This work provides a framework for multi‐field‐driven magnetoelectric memories with low power consumption.
In recent years, interest in sulfoximine chemistry has been greatly increased. For example, at least three sulfoximine containing drugs BAY 1143572, BAY 1251152 and AZD6738 have entered the clinic. ...Despite the increasing interest in sulfoximines and their chemistry, the routine application of this structure in drug discovery is still hampered due to limited experience in physicochemical and in vitro parameters of sulfoximines. Therefore, we reviewed all relevant articles from 2013 to the present in terms of potency and pharmacokinetic properties in order to support the addition of the sulfoximine component to the toolbox of medicinal chemists.
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•Isosteres of a variety of functional groups.•Show favorable characteristics.•Are synthetically accessible.•Treat multiple diseases potential intellectual property advantages.
Autophagy is required for the maintenance of cardiomyocyte homeostasis. However, excessive autophagy plays a maladaptive role in pressure overload-induced heart failure. To identify mechanisms by ...which Stachydrine inhibits pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy, we determined inhibitory activities against activation of NADPH oxidase, reactive oxygen species(ROS) production and excessive activation of autophagy.
Stachydrine was administered intragastrically to Wistar rats after Transverse aortic constriction(TAC) and H9c2 cells were treated with Stachydrine after Angiotension II stimulation. The activation of NADPH oxidase2 required the membrane translocation of p47phox and p67phox. Cell membrane fraction was isolated by ultracentrifuge in sucrose. The expression of p67phox, p47phox, gp91phox subunit in the cell membrane were determined by western blot. The combination of p67phox and gp91 phox subunit was detected by immunofluorescence staining. The expression of phosphorylated p47phox subunit was determined by western blot. The intracellular ROS were measured with DCF-DA fluoresence. The autophagic flux was measured by recording the fluorescence emission of the fusion protein mRFP-GFP-LC3 by dynamic live-cell imaging. Reuslts: We report here that stachydrine, a major constituent of Leonurus heterophyllus Sweet, inhibited AngII-induced excessive autophagy within H9c2 cells. Stachydrine blocked the over phosphorylation of the p47phox subunit, decreased the translocation of p47phox and p67phox to the membrane, inhibited the activity of NOX2, and reduced the generation of ROS. We also demonstrated that stachydrine ameliorated TAC-induced cardiac hypertrophy, dysfunction and excessive autophagy in vivo.
Our study highlights the importance of regulating NOX2 when autophagy is obviously activated. By inhibiting NOX2, Stachydrine inhibits ROS production, thus exerting a remarkable activity of inhibiting hypertrophy, which could have considerable effect on clinical practice.
Smart nanoscale drug delivery systems that target acidic tumor microenvironments (TME) could offer controlled release of drugs and modulate the hypoxic TME to enhance cancer therapy. The majority of ...previously reported MnO.sub.2 nanostructures are nanoparticles, nanosheets, or nanocomposites incorporated with other types of nanoparticles, which may not offer the most effective method for drug loading or for the controlled release of therapeutic payloads. Previous studies have designed MnO.sub.2 nanoshells that achieve tumor-specific and enhanced combination therapy for localized advanced cancer. However, the therapeutic effect of MnO.sub.2 nanoshells on metastatic cancer is still uncertain. Here, intelligent "theranostic" platforms were synthesized based on hollow mesoporous MnO.sub.2 (H-MnO.sub.2) nanoshells that were loaded with chemotherapy agents docetaxel and cisplatin (TP) to form H-MnO.sub.2-PEG/TP nanoshells, which were designed to alleviate tumor hypoxia, attenuate angiogenesis, trigger the dissolution of Mn.sup.2+, and synergize the efficacy of first-class anticancer chemotherapy. The obtained H-MnO.sub.2-PEG/TP nanoshells decomposed in the acidic TME, releasing the loaded drugs (TP) and simultaneously attenuated tumor hypoxia and hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) expression by inducing endogenous tumor hydrogen peroxide (H.sub.2O.sub.2) decomposition. In vitro experiments showed that compared with the control group, the proliferation, colony formation and migration ability of CAL27 and SCC7 cells were significantly reduced in H-MnO.sub.2-PEG/TP group, while cell apoptosis was enhanced, and the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha(HIF-1alpha) was down-regulated. In vivo experiments showed that tumor to normal organ uptake ratio (T/N ratio) of mice in H-MnO.sub.2-PEG/TP group was significantly higher than that in TP group alone (without the nanoparticle), and tumor growth was partially delayed. In the H-MnO.sub.2-PEG/TP treatment group, HE staining showed that most of the tumor cells were severely damaged, and TUNEL assay showed cell apoptosis was up-regulated. He staining of renal and liver sections showed no obvious fibrosis, necrosis or hypertrophy, indicating good biosafety. Fluorescence staining showed that HIF-1alpha expression was decreased, suggesting that the accumulation of MnO.sub.2 in the tumor caused the decomposition of H.sub.2O.sub.2 into O.sub.2 and alleviated the hypoxia of the tumor. In conclusion, a remarkable in vivo and in vitro synergistic therapeutic effect is achieved through the combination of TP chemotherapy, which simultaneously triggered a series of antiangiogenic and oxidative antitumor reactions.
Impossible voltage plateau regulation for the cathode materials with fixed active elemental center is a pressing issue hindering the development of Na‐superionic‐conductor (NASICON)‐type ...Na3V2(PO4)2F3 (NVPF) cathodes in sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs). Herein, a high‐entropy substitution strategy, to alter the detailed crystal structure of NVPF without changing the central active V atom, is pioneeringly utilized, achieving simultaneous electronic conductivity enhancement and diffusion barrier reduction for Na+, according to theoretical calculations. The as‐prepared carbon‐free high‐entropy Na3V1.9(Ca,Mg,Al,Cr,Mn)0.1(PO4)2F3 (HE‐NVPF) cathode can deliver higher mean voltage of 3.81 V and more advantageous energy density up to 445.5 Wh kg−1, which is attributed by the diverse transition‐metal elemental substitution in high‐entropy crystalline. More importantly, high‐entropy introduction can help realize disordered rearrangement of Na+ at Na(2) active sites, thereby to refrain from unfavorable discharging behaviors at low‐voltage region, further lifting up the mean working voltage to realize a full Na‐ion storage at the high voltage plateau. Coupling with a hard carbon (HC) anode, HE‐NVPF//HC SIB full cells can deliver high specific energy density of 326.8 Wh kg−1 at 5 C with the power density of 2178.9 W kg−1. This route means the unlikely potential regulation in NASICON‐type crystal with unchangeable active center becomes possible, inspiring new ideas on elevating the mean working voltage for SIB cathodes.
A high‐entropy effect is delicately introduced into fluorophosphate cathode for sodium‐ion batteries by in situ partial substitution of active V central atom, preparing a high‐entropy carbon‐free Na3V1.9(Ca,Mg,Al,Cr,Mn)0.1(PO4)2F3 cathode, suppressing the occurrence of detrimental phase transition process in the low‐voltage region, and further lifting up the mean working voltage of pristine Na3V2(PO4)2F3, enhancing sodium storage behavior, rate capability, and cycle performance.
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•Gegen Qinlian Decoction abated nonalcoholic steatohepatitis associated liver injuries.•Gegen Qinlian Decoction could improve lipid metabolism.•Gegen Qinlian Decoction had ...anti-oxidative stress effect.•Gegen Qinlian Decoction had anti-inflammatory effect.•Anti-inflammatory effect involved inhibition of TLR4 signaling pathways.
Gegen Qilian Decoction (GGQLD) is a well-established classic Chinese medicine prescription in treating nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). However, the molecular mechanism of GGQLD action on NASH is still not clear. This study aimed to assess the anti-NASH effect of GGQLD, and to explore its molecular mechanisms in vivo and in vitro. In HFD-fed rats, GGQLD decreased significantly serum triglyceride (TG), cholesterol (CHO), total bile acid (TBA), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), free fatty acid (FFA) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels, increased levels of differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) Ahcy, Gpx1, Mat1a, GNMT, and reduced the expression of ALDOB. In RAW264.7 macrophages, GGQLD reduced the expression levels of inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA, and diminished NASH by increasing differentially expressed genes (DEGs) CBS, Mat1a, Hnf4α and Pparα to reduce oxidative stress or lipid metabolism. The results of DEGs verification also showed that GGQLD up-regulated expressions of Hnf4α, Pparα and Cbs genes. In HepG2 cells, GGQLD decreased IL-6 levels and intracellular TG content, and inhibited FFA-induced expression of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). In summary, GGQLD abates NASH associated liver injuries via anti-oxidative stress and anti-inflammatory response involved inhibition of TLR4 signal pathways. These findings provide new insights into the anti-NASH therapy by GGQLD.
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