Cuscuta chinensis Lam. Flavonoids (CCLF) alleviate the symptoms of sepsis-associated encephalopathy via PI3K/Nrf2 pathway.

Sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) frequently encounters patients who are in intensive care units and ∼70% of patients with severe systemic infection. However, due to the unclear pathological mechanisms of SAE, the desease-modifying drug is still lack. Here, we aimed to explore whether the flavonoid components extracted from CCL (CCLF) seeds possess protective effects on SAE animals, and systematically evaluate the transcriptomic alteration (in the hippocampus) after CCLF treatment on SAE animals employing RNA sequencing. We observed that CCLF improved the brain's learning and memory abilities and the structural integrity of BBB using cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced SAE animal models, evaluated by behavioral test and tissue examination of animals respectively. RNA sequencing results showed that CCLF treatment reverses SAE-induced transcriptomic alteration in the hippocampus. Moreover, CCLF also dramatically relieved inflammatory (such as TNF-α, IL-2, and IL-6) and oxidative (MDA and SOD activity) stresses, and inhibited SAE-induced neuron apoptosis in brain tissues. More importantly, CCLF restored the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and then induced the Nrf2 nuclear translocation to drive HO-1 expression both in vitro and in vivo. LY294002, an inhibitor of PI3K, obviously blocked CCLF's functions on anti-apoptosis, anti-inflammation, and anti-oxidation in vivo, demonstrating that CCLF achieves its bioactivities in a PI3K/AKT signaling dependent manner. Altogether, CCLF exhibits remarkable neuro-protective function and may be a promising candidate for further clinical trials for SAE treatment.

A highly robust, concrete-inspired superhydrophobic nanocomposite coating.

Durability is still the main issue hindering the practical applications of superhydrophobic surfaces. In the case of superhydrophobic coatings, employing nanoparticles for constructing and retaining superhydrophobic surfaces without lowering the robustness is still a conundrum. Herein, inspired by concrete, which has a high filler portion and high robustness, we fabricated a superhydrophobic coating using a synthesized hydrophobic organic/inorganic hybrid resin and categorized micro/nano fillers with varying sizes. The hybrid resin improved the hydrophobicity and robustness of the coating. Also, by optimizing the content of categorized wearable (silica sand with varying sizes)/functional (aluminum nanoparticles)/low-surface-energy (PTFE) phases, the prepared superhydrophobic surfaces could achieve long abrasion distance coupled with a high retention rate. Also, the prepared sample retained its superhydrophobicity after abrasion by sandpaper (180 grit) for 10 m under a pressure as high as 22.5 kPa or 600 grit sandpaper for 12.8 m under the same pressure or when impacted by 1400 g sand particles from 30 cm. Also, the coating had a strong adhesion of 5B with the substrate. Thus, the designed attractive materials have the potential for self-cleaning, anti-icing, and anti-fouling applications in industries.

A combined-modification method of carboxymethyl ß-cyclodextrin and lignin for nano-hydroxyapatite to reinforce poly(lactide-co-glycolide) for bone materials.

Lignin is the second most abundant natural biomacromolecule. A new surface-modification for nano-hydroxyapatite (n-HA) by carboxymethyl ß-cyclodextrin (CM-ß-CD) and lignin and its reinforce effect for poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) were investigated by Fourier transformation infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), dispersion images, the tensile tests, scanning electron microscope (SEM), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and polarized optical microscopy (POM), compared to the singled-modification of CM-ß-CD or lignin. The results showed that the appropriate combined-modified n-HA displayed excellent synergistic effects for increasing the dispersion, yielding good interfacial bonding between n-HA with PLGA matrix. The tensile strength of the composite was still 14.53% higher than that of PLGA, for a n-HA addition amount of 15 wt%, which was significantly better than that for the singled-modified n-HA. Additionally, in vitro degradation behavior was evaluated by soaking in simulated body fluid (SBF), and their cell response was carried out by interaction tests with bone mesenchymal stem cells. The results indicated that the combined-modification method promoted good degradation behavior and apatite deposition, as well as excellent cell biocompatibility. This study may offer an important guidance to obtain PLGA-based composites reinforced by surface-modified n-HA as bone materials.