Utilizing Proteomic Approaches to Uncover the Neuroprotective Effects of ACE Inhibitors: Implications for Alzheimer's Disease Treatment.

Two types of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, lisinopril and benazepril HCl, were tested in neuroblastoma cells and found to upregulate low-density lipoprotein-receptor-related protein 1B (LRP1B) and 14-3-3 protein zeta/delta. Additionally, benazepril HCl was found to increase the expression of calreticulin. The upregulation of these proteins by ACE inhibitors may contribute to the amelioration of cognitive deficits in Alzheimer's disease/dementia, as well as the clinically observed deceleration of functional decline in Alzheimer's patients. This discovery suggests that the supplementation of ACE inhibitors may promote neuronal cell survival independently of their antihypertensive effect. Overall, these findings indicate that ACE inhibitors may be a promising avenue for developing effective treatments for Alzheimer's disease.

Applications of Three Dithienylpyrroles-Based Electrochromic Polymers in High-Contrast Electrochromic Devices.

Three dithienylpyrroles (1-(4-(methylthio)phenyl)-2,5-di(thiophen-2-yl)-pyrrole (MPS), 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2,5-di(thiophen-2-yl)-pyrrole (MPO), and 4-(2,5-di(thiophen-2-yl)-pyrrol-1-yl)benzonitrile (ANIL)) were synthesized and their corresponding polydithienylpyrroles (PSNS) were electrosynthesized using electrochemical polymerization. Spectroelectrochemical studies indicated that poly(1-(4-(methylthio)phenyl)-2,5-di(thiophen-2-yl)-pyrrole) (PMPS) film was green, dark green, and brown in the neutral, oxidation, and highly oxidized state, respectively. The incorporation of a MPS unit into the PSNS backbone gave rise to a darker color than those of the MPO and ANIL units in the highly oxidized state. The PMPS film showed higher ΔTmax (54.47% at 940 nm) than those of the PMPO (43.87% at 890 nm) and PANIL (44.63% at 950 nm) films in an ionic liquid solution. Electrochromic devices (ECDs) employing PMPS, PMPO, and PANIL as anodic layers and poly(3,4-(2,2-diethypropylenedioxy)thiophene)(PProDOT-Et2) as a cathodic layer were constructed. PMPO/PProDOT-Et2 ECD showed the highest ΔTmax (41.13%) and coloration efficiency (674.67 cm²·C-¹) at 626 nm, whereas PMPS/PProDOT-Et2 ECD displayed satisfactory ΔTmax (32.51%) and coloration efficiency (637.25 cm²·C-¹) at 590 nm. Repeated cyclic voltammograms of PMPS/PProDOT-Et2, PMPO/PProDOT-Et2, and PANIL/PProDOT-Et2 ECDs indicated that ECDs had satisfactory redox stability.

Three Carbazole-Based Polymers as Potential Anodically Coloring Materials for High-Contrast Electrochromic Devices.

Three carbazole-based conjugated polymers (poly(3,6-di(2-thienyl)carbazole) (PDTC), poly(2,7-bis(carbazol-9-yl)-9,9-spirobifluorene) (PS2CBP), and poly(3,6-bis(N-carbazole)-N-ethylcarbazole) (PCEC)) are synthesized using electrochemical polymerization. The spectroelectrochemical studies indicate that the PDTC, PS2CBP, and PCEC films show reversible electrochromic behaviors in their redox states, and the PS2CBP film shows a distinct color transition with four various colors (gray at 0 V, grayish-green at 1.0 V, moss green at 1.2 V, and foliage green at 1.4 V). The maximum optical contrast of the PS2CBP and PCEC films is 39.83% at 428 nm and 32.41% at 420 nm, respectively, in an ionic liquid solution. Dual-type electrochromic devices (ECDs) that employ PDTC, PS2CBP, or PCEC film as an anodic layer, and PProDOT-Et2 film as a cathodic layer, were constructed. The as-prepared PCEC/PProDOT-Et2 ECD shows high optical contrast (38.25% at 586 nm) and high coloration efficiency (369.85 cm² C-1 at 586 nm), and the PS2CBP/PProDOT-Et2 ECD shows high optical contrast (34.45% at 590 nm), good optical memory, and good long-term cycling stability.