Melamine-based metal-organic frameworks for high-performance supercapacitor applications.

Melamine-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for high-performance supercapacitor applications are described in this paper. Melamine (Me) is employed as an organic linker, and three metal ions cobalt, nickel, and iron (Co, Ni, Fe) are used ascentral metal ions to manufacture the desired MOF materials (Co-Me, Ni-Me, and Fe-Me). While melamine is an inexpensive organic linker for creating MOF materials, homogenous molecular structures can be difficult to produce. The most effective technique for expanding the molecular structures of MOFs through suitable experimental optimization is used in this work. The MOFs materials are characterized using standard techniques. The kinetics of the materials' reactions are investigated using attenuated total reflectance. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), powder X-ray diffraction (P-XRD), Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FT-IR) spectroscopy, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) studies verified the development of the MOFs structure. The surface morphology of the produced materials is investigated using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The elements found in MOFs are studied via XPS analysis, energy dispersive X-ray diffraction (EDX), mapping, and mapping. The materials' absorption characteristics were examined by the use of UV-visible absorption spectroscopy. The thermal stability of the materials is examined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA); these materials are more stable, according to the findings, even at high temperatures. The electrochemical investigation determines the specific capacitance of the materials. The specific capacitance of Co-Me, Ni-Me, and Fe-Me in 3 M KOH electrolyte is 1267.36, 803.22, and 507.59F/g @ 1 A-1, according to the three-electrode arrangement. The two-electrode device maximizes power and energy density by using an asymmetrical supercapacitor in a 3 M KOH electrolyte. The power and energy densities of Co-Me, Ni-Me, and Fe-Me are 3650.63, 2813.21, and 6210.45 W kg-1, and 68.43, 46.32, and 42.2 Wh kg-1, respectively. According to the materials stability test, the MOFs are highly stable after 10,000 cycles. Preliminary results suggest that the materials are suitable for usage in high-end supercapacitor uses.

HERC5 downregulation in non-small cell lung cancer is associated with altered energy metabolism and metastasis.

BACKGROUND: Metastasis is the leading cause of cancer-related death in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. We previously showed that low HERC5 expression predicts early tumor dissemination and a dismal prognosis in NSCLC patients. Here, we performed functional studies to unravel the mechanism underlying the "metastasis-suppressor" effect of HERC5, with a focus on mitochondrial metabolism pathways. METHODS: We assessed cell proliferation, colony formation potential, anchorage-independent growth, migration, and wound healing in NSCLC cell line models with HERC5 overexpression (OE) or knockout (KO). To study early tumor cell dissemination, we used these cell line models in zebrafish experiments and performed intracardial injections in nude mice. Mass spectrometry (MS) was used to analyze protein changes in whole-cell extracts. Furthermore, electron microscopy (EM) imaging, cellular respiration, glycolytic activity, and lactate production were used to investigate the relationships with mitochondrial energy metabolism pathways. RESULTS: Using different in vitro NSCLC cell line models, we showed that NSCLC cells with low HERC5 expression had increased malignant and invasive properties. Furthermore, two different in vivo models in zebrafish and a xenograft mouse model showed increased dissemination and metastasis formation (in particular in the brain). Functional enrichment clustering of MS data revealed an increase in mitochondrial proteins in vitro when HERC5 levels were high. Loss of HERC5 leads to an increased Warburg effect, leading to improved adaptation and survival under prolonged inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these results indicate that low HERC5 expression increases the metastatic potential of NSCLC in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, HERC5-induced proteomic changes influence mitochondrial pathways, ultimately leading to alterations in energy metabolism and demonstrating its role as a new potential metastasis suppressor gene.

Facile production and rapid purification of functional recombinant Qß replicase heterotetramer complex.

We describe an improved method for the production of recombinant Qß replicase heterotetramer. The successful expression of the soluble Qß RNA polymerase complex depends on the EF-Ts and EF-Tu subunits being co-expressed prior to ß-subunit expression. Efficient co-expression requires two different inducible operons to co-ordinate the expression of the heterotrimer. The complete heterotetramer enzyme complex is achieved by production of the recombinant S1-subunit of Qß replicase in a separate host. This approach represents a facile way for producing and purifying large amounts of soluble and active recombinant Qß replicase tetramer without the necessity of a His-tag for purification.

Conjugation of siRNA with comb-type PEG enhances serum stability and gene silencing efficiency.

A thiol-modified siRNA targeting the enhanced green fluorescence protein (eGFP) gene was conjugated with RAFT-synthesized, pyridyl disulfide-functional poly(PEG methyl ether acrylate)s (p(PEGA)s). siRNA-p(PEGA) conjugates demonstrated significantly enhanced in vitro serum stability and nuclease resistance compared to the unmodified and thiol-modified siRNA. The complexes of siRNA-p(PEGA) conjugates with a fusogenic peptide, KALA ((+)/(-) = 2) inhibited the protein expression approximately 28-fold more than the KALA complex of the unmodified siRNA. The protein inhibition caused by siRNA-p(PEGA)-KALA complexes (56 ± 5%-58 ± 3% of the fluorescence expressed in non-treated cells) was comparable to the effect of the unmodified siRNA-lipofectamine complex (77 ± 7%).

Antinociceptive, cytotoxic and antibacterial activities of Cleome viscosa leaves

The methanol extract of the dried leaves of Cleome viscosa L., Cleomaceae, was investigated for its possible antinociceptive, cytotoxic and antibacterial activities in animal models. The extract produced significant writhing inhibition in acetic acid-induced writhing in mice at the oral doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight (p<0.001) comparable to the standard drug diclofenac sodium at the dose of 25 mg/kg of body weight (p<0.001). The crude extract produced the most prominent cytotoxic activity against brine shrimp Artemia salina (LC50 28.18 μg/mL and LC90 112.20 μg/mL). The extract of C. viscosa L. exhibited significant in vitro antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Shigella sonnie, Salmonella typhi, Vibrio cholera, Streptococcus epidermidis, Shigella flexneri and Staphylococcus aureus with the zones of inhibition ranging from 10.76 to 16.34 mm. The obtained results provide a support for the use of this plant in traditional medicine and its further investigation.

In vitro cytotoxicity of RAFT polymers.

The RAFT technique has been increasingly used to generate polymers for potential biological applications. However, to-date, the toxicity of the RAFT-polymers has received limited attention. In this study, the in vitro cytotoxicity of three different, RAFT-synthesized, water-soluble polymers was investigated using three different adherent cell lines via CellTiter-Blue cell viability and the cytosolic enzyme lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) cytotoxicity assays. In brief, P(OEG-A) and P(OEG-MA) samples bearing omega-dithiobenzoate or omega-trithiocarbonate end groups and varying P(HPMA) samples bearing omega-dithiobenzoate, omega-trithiocarbonate, or non-RAFT end groups, were investigated using Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO-K1), mouse macrophage cells (Raw264.7), and mouse fibroblast cells (NIH3T3). Any changes in the morphology of the cells after treatment with polymers were monitored via microscopy. The cytotoxicity of the polymers after treatment with metabolic liver enzymes was also evaluated. The average viability of CHO-K1 and NIH3T3 cells treated with dithiobenzoate- and trithiocarbonate-ended OEG-based polymers (1000 microM) for 24 h was close to 100%. The RAW264.7 cells were slightly more sensitive when incubated with dithiobenzoate-ended polymers (cell viability above 73%) for 24 h. The viability of the cells after 3 days of incubation with the polymers either slightly decreased or showed no change with respect to the viabilities obtained after 1 day of incubation. Analyses of cell morphology and cell membrane integrity via microscopy and a LDH assay confirmed the cell viability results obtained via CellTiter-Blue Assay. Unexpectedly, dithiobenzoate-ended P(HPMA) (at 1000 microM) exhibited high cytotoxicity after 24 h with all three cells lines. Further investigation of various P(HPMA) samples revealed that trithiocarbonate-ended and HPMA-capped P(HPMA)s at the same concentration were nontoxic over the same period of time. Also, dithiobenzoate-ended P(HPMA) at low concentrations (< or = 200 microM) can be tolerated by the cells tested.