Asymmetric Swelling Behaviors of High-Energy-Density Lithium-Ion Batteries with a SiOx /Graphite Composite Anode.

The battery swelling originated from the electrode swelling is a big obstacle for the practical application of high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries (HED-LIBs). Herein, the HED-LIBs are constructed by SiOx /graphite composite anode and LiNi0.8 Co0.1 Mn0.1 O2 (NCM811) cathode and their swelling behaviors are investigated at the cell, electrode, and particle scales. there are three expansion stages during the charging while one expansion followed by two contraction stages during the discharging process. The expansion ratio is in direct proportion to the ratio of SiOx content and about 10 times larger than that of the cathode. A 100 nm thick double-layer solid electrolyte interface, comprises LiF, Li2 O, and Li2 CO3 , forms on the surface of the SiOx particles, and evolves into a 300 nm thick triple-layer after cycling. The performance degradation of HED-LIBs is associated with the expansion of anodes, increase in resistance, and consumption of Li in the anodes during cycling. This study is expected to guide the future selection and design of HED-LIBs and battery packs.

Absorption and plasma disposition of genistin differ from those of genistein in healthy women.

The chemical forms in which isoflavones appear in food or supplements seem to play an important role in their absorption efficiency. However, the influence of the chemical form of isoflavones on their plasma disposition has never been reported, although the metabolites of isoflavones circulating in the blood may have biological activity themselves. The purpose of the study was to investigate the pharmacokinetic profiles of genistein (GEN) and its phase II metabolites in the plasma and urine of healthy young women after multiple doses of pure aglycone and glucoside forms of GEN. Genistein-7-glucuronide (G-7-G), 4'-glucuronide (G-4'-G), 7-sulfate (G-7-S), 4'-sulfate (G-4'-S), 4',7-diglucuronide (G-4',7-diG), and 7-glucuronide-4'-sulfate (G-7-G-4'-S) besides unconjugated GEN were observed in human plasma after ingestion of GEN and its glucoside. Among these metabolites, G-4',7-diG and G-7-G-4'-S were the major ones, comprising both about 30% of the total amount of GEN in plasma. Compared with the aglycone, the amount of total GEN in vivo and those of G-4',7-diG and G-7-G-4'-S were increased after the glucoside intake. No difference was observed in urinary excretion between the aglycone and the glucoside. Overall, the absorption and plasma disposition of GEN were affected by the glucoside form.

Role of metabolism in the effects of genistein and its phase II conjugates on the growth of human breast cell lines.

Genistein has been investigated for several decades for its potential role in breast cancer prevention. Previous researches have shown that glucuronide and sulfate conjugates are the major species circulating in the blood after genistein ingestion. It was hypothesized that enzymes (UDP-glucuronosyltransferases, sulphotransferases, ß-glucuronidases, and sulphatases) present in breast tissues would catalyze the inter-conversion between the aglycone and the conjugates in situ. Therefore, our aim was to investigate how genistein, genistein-7-glucuronide (G-7-G), genistein-7-sulfate (G-7-S), and 4'-sulfate (G-4'-S) were metabolized in mammary cells and to determine the effects of metabolism on their proliferative actions using cultured breast cell lines. As expected, genistein stimulated the cell growth of breast cancer cells (MCF-7 and T47D) concentration-dependently at lower concentrations but inhibited their growth at higher concentration. It showed low activities in a non-tumorigenic cell line (MCF-10A) due to the absence of ERα. Genistein was extensively metabolized to glucuronides by MCF-7 and to sulfates by T47D, while it was poorly metabolized by MCF-10A. G-7-G displayed weak stimulation activity in breast cancer cells. G-7-G underwent extensive metabolism in T47D and MCF-10A but not in MCF-7. The proliferative effects of G-7-G on MCF-7 and T47D were associated with its hydrolysis to genistein in these cells. In contrast, G-7-S and G-4'-S were not metabolized by these three cells and had no effects on their growth. In conclusion, production of phase II metabolites did not affect the proliferation effect of genistein on MCF-7 and T47D. Deconjugation was correlated to the apparent proliferative effects of G-7-G in breast cancer cells.