The novel peptide PFAP1 promotes primordial follicle activation by binding to MCM5.

Premature ovarian failure (POF) is a complication of ovarian dysfunction resulting from the depletion or dysfunction of primordial follicles (PFs) in the ovaries. However, residual follicles that have the potential to be activated are present in POF or aged women. Little is known about the mechanisms by which the remaining dormant PFs in POF patients are activated. Using mass spectrometry, we screened differentially generated peptides extracted from the ovarian cortical tissue biopsies of patients with or without POF, during which we identified PFAP1, a peptide that significantly promoted the activation of PFs in the ovaries of 3 dpp mice in vitro. PFAP1 reversed age-related fertility damage in vivo to a certain extent, promoted estrogen (E2) and anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) production (p < .05), and decreased the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) (p < .05). In newborn mouse ovaries, PFAP1 could bind to the protein minichromosome maintenance protein 5 (MCM5) and inhibit its ubiquitination and degradation. In addition, PFAP1 promoted the proliferation of GCs, probably by regulating the function and production of MCM5. In conclusion, PFAP1 could promote the activation of PFs in the ovaries of newborn mice, partially restore the ovarian function of aged mice, and increase the proliferation of primary granulosa cells (GCs) by regulating the function of MCM5. PFAP1 is a promising novel peptide that may be developed into a new therapeutic agent for POF and other ovarian diseases.

Effectiveness and safety of the ablative fractional 2940-nm Er: YAG laser for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia.

Laser sources have established their potential effect in inducing hair regrowth. No large cohort study has evaluated the effect of ablative fractional 2940-nm erbium yttrium aluminum garnet (Er: YAG) laser in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia (AGA). To investigate the efficacy and safety of the ablative fractional 2940-nm Er: YAG laser in combination with medication therapy for the treatment of AGA. We performed a retrospective study between first July 2021 to 30th December 2021. All included patients received oral finasteride and topical minoxidil, or combined with six sessions of Er: YAG laser at 2-week intervals. Patients were divided into medication or combined therapy groups. The efficacy of the two therapies was evaluated by the investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) scores and the patient's Likert satisfaction scale at week 12 and week 24. Changes in total, terminal and villous hair count, total and terminal hair diameter, and AGA grade were also recorded. Adverse events were evaluated at each follow-up. A total of 192 male patients with AGA were included, including 67 receiving combination treatment, and 125 receiving medication treatment. At week 24, the combination treatment afforded superior outcomes in the IGA score, patient's global assessment, total and terminal hair counts, and diameters (all P<0.05). No severe adverse events were reported in both groups. The combined therapy of ablative fractional Er: YAG laser and medication was superior in treating male AGA than single medication therapy without serious adverse effects.

The simultaneous occurrence of paraganglioma, Takotsubo syndrome, and Markis type I coronary artery ectasia in the same patient is a rare, high-risk clinical syndrome: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Population-wide, paraganglioma (PGL) is uncommon. The incidence of Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) ranges from 0.5% to 0.9% and also is an exceedingly rare manifestation of PGL. Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is also uncommon, with an incidence ranging from 1.2% to 4.9%. Herein, we present a case of PGL, TTS, and Markis type I CAE that occured in the same patient. CASE PRESENTATION: A man in his early 40s was admitted to our hospital with a 16-hour history of abdominal colic. Computed tomography and laboratory examination led to the diagnosis of PGL, coronary angiography led to the diagnosis of Markis type I or Chinese type III CAE, and two echocardiographic examinations led to the diagnosis of TTS. When the patient was treated by phenoxybenzamine instead of surgery for the PGL, his blood pressure and glucose level gradually returned to normal. The CAE was treated by thrombolysis, antiplatelet medications, atorvastatin, and myocardial protection therapies. No symptoms of PGL, CAE, or TTS were seen during a 6-month follow-up, and the patient had an excellent quality of life. We confirmed that phenoxybenzamine was the cause of the TTS because paradoxical systolic motion of the apex, inferior wall, left ventricular anterior wall, and interventricular septum were similarly recovered when the PGL was treated by phenoxybenzamine. CONCLUSIONS: To raise awareness of this illness and prevent misdiagnosis, we have herein presented a case of TTS that was brought on by PGL with Markis type I CAE for clinicians' reference. In addition, in clinical practice, we should consider the possibility of a concomitant coronary artery disease even if the TTS is caused by a PGL-induced catecholamine surge.

Cobalt-Enhanced Mass Transfer and Catalytic Production of Sulfate Radicals in MOF-Derived CeO2 • Co3 O4 Nanoflowers for Efficient Degradation of Antibiotics.

Antibiotics discharge has been a critical issue as the abuse in clinical disease treatment and aquaculture industry. Advanced oxidation process (AOPs) is regarded as a promising approach to degrade organic pollutants from wastewater, however, the catalysts for AOPs always present low activities, and uncontrollable porosities, thus hindering their further wider applications. In this work, an aliovalent-substitution strategy is employed in metal-organic framework (MOF) precursors assembly, aiming to introduce Co(II/III) into Ce-O clusters which could modify the structure of the clusters, then change the crystallization, enlarge the surface area, and regulate the morphology. The introduction of Co(II/III) also enlarges the pore size for mass transfer and enriches the active sites for the production of sulfate radicals (SO4• - ) in MOF-derived catalysts, leading to excellent performance in antibiotics removal. Significantly, the CeO2 •Co3 O4 nanoflowers could efficiently enhance the generation of sulfate radical SO4• - and promote the norfloxacin removal efficiency to 99% within 20 min. The CeO2 •Co3 O4 nanoflowers also present remarkable universality toward various antibiotics and organic pollutants. The aliovalent-substitution strategy is anticipated to find wide use in the exploration of high-performance MOF-derived catalysts for various applications.

Current mechanisms of primordial follicle activation and new strategies for fertility preservation.

Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is characterized by symptoms caused by ovarian dysfunction in patients aged <40 years. It is associated with a shortened reproductive lifespan. The only effective treatment for patients who are eager to become pregnant is IVF/Embryo Transfer (ET) using oocytes donated by young women. However, the use of the technique is constrained by the limited supply of oocytes and ethical issues. Some patients with POI still have some residual follicles in the ovarian cortex, which are not regulated by gonadotropin. These follicles are dormant. Therefore, activating dormant primordial follicles (PFs) to obtain high-quality oocytes for assisted reproductive technology may bring new hope for patients with POI. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the factors related to PF activation, such as the intercellular signaling network, the internal microenvironment of the ovary and the environment of the organism. In addition, we discussed new strategies for fertility preservation, such as in vitro activation and stem cell transplantation.

Atomically Dispersed Cobalt Sites on Graphene as Efficient Periodate Activators for Selective Organic Pollutant Degradation.

Pollutant degradation via periodate (IO4-)-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) provides an economical, energy-efficient way for sustainable pollution control. Although single-atomic metal activation (SMA) can be exploited to optimize the pollution degradation process and understand the associated mechanisms governing IO4--based AOPs, studies on this topic are rare. Herein, we demonstrated the first instance of using SMA for IO4- analysis by employing atomically dispersed Co active sites supported by N-doped graphene (N-rGO-CoSA) activators. N-rGO-CoSA efficiently activated IO4- for organic pollutant degradation over a wide pH range without producing radical species. The IO4- species underwent stoichiometric decomposition to generate the iodate (IO3-) species. Whereas Co2+ and Co3O4 could not drive IO4- activation; the Co-N coordination sites exhibited high activation efficiency. The conductive graphene matrix reduced the contaminants/electron transport distance/resistance for these oxidation reactions and boosted the activation capacity by working in conjunction with metal centers. The N-rGO-CoSA/IO4- system exhibited a substrate-dependent reactivity that was not caused by iodyl (IO3·) radicals. Electrochemical experiments demonstrated that the N-rGO-CoSA/IO4- system decomposed organic pollutants via electron-transfer-mediated nonradical processes, where N-rGO-CoSA/periodate* metastable complexes were the predominant oxidants, thereby opening a new avenue for designing efficient IO4- activators for the selective oxidation of organic pollutants.

A novel human monoclonal Trop2-IgG antibody inhibits ovarian cancer growth in vitro and in vivo.

Trop2 is a tumor-related antigen closely related to the development of a variety of tumors and has been identified as a promising target for cancer immunotherapy. In this study, a Trop2-IgG antibody was constructed by a eukaryotic expression system based on our previously constructed Trop2-Fab antibody. SDS-PAGE, cell ELISA, affinity assays, fluorescence staining and FACS analyses were performed to characterize Trop2-IgG. Then, CCK-8, wound healing, Transwell and annexin V-PI assays were employed to evaluate the tumor inhibitory effects of Trop2-IgG on OC in vitro, while tumor-bearing mice were constructed to examine the tumor inhibitory effects of Trop2-IgG on OC in vivo. Trop2-IgG was successfully constructed by a eukaryotic expression system and maintained recognition characteristics to Trop2 antigen. In vitro, Trop2-IgG could inhibited tumor cell growth, migration, and invasion compared to those of control cells and induced tumor cell apoptosis. In vivo, Trop2-IgG exerted critical tumor inhibitory effects in OC xenografts. Our data suggest that the use of Trop2-IgG provides a potential therapeutic strategy for the immunotherapy of Trop2-expressing OC.

Multifunctional Nanoengineered Hydrogels Consisting of Black Phosphorus Nanosheets Upregulate Bone Formation.

Tissue-engineered hydrogels have received extensive attention as their mechanical properties, chemical compositions, and biological signals can be dynamically modified for mimicking extracellular matrices (ECM). Herein, the synthesis of novel double network (DN) hydrogels with tunable mechanical properties using combinatorial screening methods is reported. Furthermore, nanoengineered (NE) hydrogels are constructed by addition of ultrathin 2D black phosphorus (BP) nanosheets to the DN hydrogels with multiple functions for mimicking the ECM microenvironment to induce tissue regeneration. Notably, it is found that the BP nanosheets exhibit intrinsic properties for induced CaP crystal particle formation and therefore improve the mineralization ability of NE hydrogels. Finally, in vitro and in vivo data demonstrate that the BP nanosheets, mineralized CaP crystal nanoparticles, and excellent mechanical properties provide a favorable ECM microenvironment to mediate greater osteogenic cell differentiation and bone regeneration. Consequently, the combination of bioactive chemical materials and excellent mechanical stimuli of NE hydrogels inspire novel engineering strategies for bone-tissue regeneration.

Inhibition of mTOR Signaling Pathway Delays Follicle Formation in Mice.

In mammalian ovaries, follicle assembly requires proper germ cell cyst breakdown and the invasion of somatic cells to encapsulate individual oocytes. Abnormalities in this process lead to a number of pathologies such as premature ovarian failure and infertility. As a conserved pathway regulating cell growth and metabolism in response to growth factors and nutrients, the roles of mTOR signaling in follicular development have been extensively studied in recent years. However, its functions during follicle formation remain unknown. In this study, the expression of p-rpS6 (phospho-ribosomal proteinS6), a downstream marker of mTORC1, showed dynamic changes in perinatal ovaries. When E18.5 ovaries, which mainly contained germ cell nests, were incubated with the mTOR inhibitors Rapamycin and Torin1 for 24 h, follicle assembly was delayed with differential somatic cell invasion into germ cell cyst among the groups. After transplanting treated or untreated ovaries into kidney capsules of recipient ovariectomized mice, follicular development was blocked in treated ovaries, as shown by fewer antral follicles and a higher proportion of primordial follicles. Further studies showed a significant decrease in somatic cell proliferation and the expression of marker genes related to follicular development (Kitl, Kit, Gdf9, Bmp15, Zp3, and Amhr2) in treated ovaries. Moreover, the addition of KITL, a growth factor that is mainly produced by pregranulosa cells during germ cell nest breakdown, rescued the extension of follicle formation induced by mTOR inhibitors. These results suggest that KITL functions downstream of mTOR in somatic cells to regulate their communication with oocytes during follicle formation. J. Cell. Physiol. 232: 585-595, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Establishment of a Novel Bladder Cancer Xenograft Model in Humanized Immunodeficient Mice.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to develop a novel model by transplanting human bladder cancer xenografts into humanized immunodeficient mice (SCID). METHODS: The animals first underwent sublethal irradiation and then were subjected to simultaneous transplantation of human lymphocytes (5 × 107 cells/mouse i.p.) and human bladder cancer cells (3 × 106 cells/mouse s.c.). RESULTS: The xenografts developed in all 12 mice that had received bladder cancer BIU-87 cells, and the tumor specimens were evaluated histologically. All 6 model mice expressed human CD3 mRNA and/or protein in the peripheral blood, spleens and xenografts. The mean proportion of human CD3+ cells was 19% with a level of human IgG 532.4 µ/ml in the peripheral blood at Week 6 after transplant inoculation. The re-constructed human immune system in these mice was confirmed to be functional by individual in vitro testing of their proliferative, secretory and cytotoxic responses. CONCLUSION: The successful engraftment of the human bladder cancer xenografts and the establishment of the human immune system in our in vivo model described here may provide a useful tool for the development of novel therapeutic strategies targeting at bladder cancer.

The inhibitory effect of a new scFv/tP protein as siRNA delivery system to target hWAPL in cervical carcinoma.

Targeted immunotherapy has become a popular research topic in cancer. The development and metastasis of cervical carcinoma are closely related to epidermal growth factor (EGF) and EGF-1 receptor (EGFR). We successfully constructed a single-chain human anti-EGFR antibody (scFv) and truncated protamine (tP) fusion protein (scFV/tP) expression vector using overlap extension PCR. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and gel shift assay showed that the fusion protein retained the DNA and antigen-binding activity of the original antibody. Using the non-viral scFv/tP vector as a delivery tool, small interfering RNA (siRNA) of the human wings apart-like gene (hWAPL) was effectively transfected into cervical cancer HeLa cells. The hWAPL mRNA expression levels were reduced by 97.23% in contrast with control cells, and the proliferation capability declined by 66.71%, indicating significant inhibition. The present results provide a novel strategy for targeted gene therapy and siRNA therapy of EGFR-positive cervical cancers.

Effect of Exercise Training on Some Anti-Inflammatory Adipokines, High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein, and Clinical Outcomes in Sedentary Adults With Metabolic Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the effects of aerobic interval training and resistance training on anti-inflammatory adipokines, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, and clinical outcomes in sedentary men with metabolic syndrome. METHODS: A total of 33 sedentary men with metabolic syndrome (age: 46.2 ± 4.6 years; body mass index: 35.4 ± 1.9 kg.m2) were randomly assigned to one of 3 groups: aerobic interval training (n = 12), resistance training (n = 10), or control (n = 11). Participants in the exercise groups completed a 12-week training program, 3 sessions per week, while those in the control group maintained their sedentary lifestyle. The levels of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), omentin-1, adiponectin, lipid profiles, blood pressure, glucose metabolism, body composition, and peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) were measured at baseline and after the intervention. RESULTS: Both aerobic interval training and resistance training significantly improved the levels of omentin-1 and adiponectin, as well as reduced inflammation, as indicated by a decrease in hs-CRP levels. Exercise training also led to significant improvements in lipid profiles, blood pressure, glucose metabolism, and body composition. Specifically, the aerobic interval training group had significantly greater increases in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and VO2peak, as well as greater reductions in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and total cholesterol compared to the resistance training group. CONCLUSION: Exercise training, particularly aerobic interval training and resistance training, can be an effective non-pharmacological intervention for managing inflammation and improving cardiovascular health in metabolic syndrome patients.

Destructive impact of T-lymphocytes, NK and Mast cells on basal cell layers: implications for tumor invasion.

BACKGROUND: Our previous studies have suggested that the primary impact of immune cell infiltration into the normal or pre-invasive tissue component is associated with the physical destruction of epithelial capsules, which may promote tumor progression and invasion. Our current study attempted to further verify our previous observations and determine the primary type(s) of infiltrating immune cells and the possible mechanism associated with physical destructions of the epithelial capsules. METHODS: In total, the study was conducted with 250 primary breast and prostate tumors, the primary immune cell of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL), Natural killer cells (NK) and Mast cells were analyzed by immunohistochemistry, fluorescent labeling and apoptosis assay. qRT-PCR was used for gene expression analysis. Our current study assessed the physical disruption of these immune cells and potential impact on the epithelial capsule of human breast and prostate tumors. RESULTS: Our study yield several clinically-relevant findings that have not been studied before. (1) A vast majority of these infiltrating immune cells are distributed in the normal-appearing or pre-invasive tissue components rather than in invasive cancer tissues. (2) These cells often form rings or semilunar structures that either surround focally-disrupted basal cell layers or physically attach to the basal cells. (3) Basal cells physically associated with these immune cells generally displayed distinct signs of degeneration, including substantially elevated apoptosis, necrosis, and reduced tumor suppressor p63 expression. In contrast, luminal cells overlying focally disrupted basal cell layers had a substantially increased proliferation rate and elevated expression of stem cell markers compared to their adjacent morphologically similar counterparts that overlie a non-disrupted capsule. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that at the early stage of tumor invasion, CTL, NK and Mast cells are the main types of tumor infiltrating immune cells involved in focal degenerative products in the tumor capsules. The primary impact of these infiltrating immune cells is that they are associated with focal disruptions of the tumor capsule, which selectively favor tumor stem cells proliferation and invasion.

Comparison of 1064-nm Nd:YAG picosecond laser using fractional micro-lens array vs. ablative fractional 2940-nm Er:YAG laser for the treatment of atrophic acne scar in Asians: a 20-week prospective, randomized, split-face, controlled pilot study.

Background: The 1064-nm Nd:YAG picosecond lasers using fractional micro-lens array (P-MLA) was a promising therapy for skin resurfacing. However, no studies have compared P-MLA with ablative fractional 2940-nm Er:YAG lasers (AF-Er) in the treatment of atrophic acne scars. Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of P-MLA and AF-Er for the treatment of atrophic acne scars. Methods: We performed a prospective, randomized, split-face, controlled pilot study. Thirty-one Asian patients with mild to moderate atrophic acne scars underwent four consecutive sessions of randomized split-face treatment with P-MLA and AF-Fr at 4-week intervals. The efficacy of the two devices were evaluated by Echelle d'Evaluation Clinique des Cicatrices d'acne (ECCA) grading scale, Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) score and patient's satisfaction. VISIA analysis was also performed to evaluate the pore and skin texture. Adverse events were recorded at each follow-up. Results: The P-MLA afforded comparable clinical responses in scar appearance as AF-Er based on the investigator's assessments (ECCA percent reduction: 39.11% vs. 43.73%; IGA score: 2.97 ± 0.65 vs. 3.16 ± 0.68; P > 0.05 for both). However, the result of patient satisfaction indicated the AF-Er-treated side achieved a slightly greater improvement in scar appearance (3.97 ± 0.78 vs. 3.55 ± 0.71; P < 0.05). Overall, the two devices did not differ largely in terms of efficacy. VISIA analysis revealed similar changing patterns of the pore and skin texture between two devices. For safety profiles, no serious side effects were reported on both sides. The P-MLA showed lower pain level, shortened duration of crust shed and edema, and less occurrence of PIH (P < 0.05 for all). Conclusion: Compared with AF-Er, P-MLA afforded comparable effect and more safety profiles in treating atrophic acne scars in Asian patients. Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT05686603.

Polyurethane Elastomer Layered Nanocomposite Material for Sports Grounds and the Preparation Method Thereof.

Polyurethane, as a rubber material, can relieve the load on the ground and provide seismic design for the venue, which is of great significance for sports venues. In order to improve the seismic resistance and abrasion resistance of materials for sports fields and reduce accidents in sports, this article has carried out research on the polyurethane elastomer layered nanocomposites for sports fields and their preparation. Today's world is a challenging era of science and technology. The fields of biotechnology, information, medicine, energy, environment, and national defense and security are closely related to the development of high tech, and the requirements for materials are becoming increasingly diversified. Polymer nanocomposite coating has the dual characteristics of organic and inorganic components. It not only retains the advantages of a polymer but also endows it with versatility. It meets the current application needs. It is a hot spot in today's research. Among them, there are two major problems in the composite process of nanomaterials and polymers: dispersion and compatibility. How to improve the dispersion of nanoparticles and enhance the compatibility between nanoparticles and polymers is an urgent problem to be solved. In the method part, this article introduces a small amount of polyurethane and polyurethane elastomers formed after polyurethane modification and introduces layered compounds and nanocomposites and introduces several models involved in nanomaterials in terms of algorithms. In the analysis part, this paper conducts a comprehensive analysis of the hard segment mass fraction, mechanical properties, thermal decomposition behavior, degradation mechanism, and dynamic mechanical properties. With the increase of GO content, the tensile strength increases significantly and the elongation at break becomes smaller and smaller. When the GO content increases from 0% to 2%, the tensile properties of the WPU film increase from 2.6 MPa to 7.9 MPa and the fracture of the elongation decreased from 201.7% to 62.8%. This shows that the increase in GO content will make the composite material harder and brittle. It can be seen from the experimental results that the preparation of the polyurethane elastomer layered nanocomposite material designed in this paper has a good application effect on sports venues.

Regulation of electronic structures of MOF-derived carbon via ligand adjustment for enhanced Fenton-like reactions.

Peroxymonosulfate (PMS)-based Fenton-like reactions are widely used for wastewater remediation. Metal-free carbonaceous activators can avoid the secondary pollution caused by metal leaching but often suffer from insufficient activity due to limited active centers and mass transfer barriers. Here, we prepared a series of heteroatom (N, S, F)-doped, highly porous carbonaceous materials (UC-X, X = N, S, F) by pyrolyzing UiO-66 precursors assembled by various organic ligands. Density functional theory calculations showed that the heteroatoms modulated the electronic structures of the carbon plane. UC-X exhibited significantly enhanced PMS activation capability compared with the undoped counterpart, in the efficiency order of UC-N > UC-S > UC-F > UC. UC-N (calcined at 1000°C) showed the best PMS activation, exceeding that of commonly used carbocatalysts. The prominent performance of UC-N originated from its unique porous structure and homogeneously dispersed graphitic N moieties. Trapping experiments and electron spin resonance showed a nonradical degradation pathway in the UC-N/PMS system, through which organics were oxidized by donating electrons to UC-N/PMS* metastable complexes. This work not only reports a universal way to access high-performance, metal-free PMS activators but also provides insight into the underlying mechanism of the carbon-activated PMS process.

Synergic removal of tetracycline using hydrophilic three-dimensional nitrogen-doped porous carbon embedded with copper oxide nanoparticles by coupling adsorption and photocatalytic oxidation processes.

Adsorption and photocatalytic oxidation are promising technologies for eliminating antibiotics (e.g. tetracycline) in aquatic environments. However, traditional powdery nanomaterials are limited by drawbacks of difficult separation and lack of synergistic function, which do not conform to the practical demand. Herein, we developed a simple one-step gelation-pyrolysis route to fabricate hydrophilic three-dimensional (3D) porous photocatalytic adsorbent, in which CuO nanoparticles are uniformly and firmly embedded in nitrogen-doped (N-doped) porous carbon frameworks. The obtained N-doped carbon/CuO bulky composites exhibited excellent ability to adsorb tetracycline hydrochloride (TC), which was subsequently photo-oxidized under visible light. Their hydrophilic nature favors the adsorption processes toward TC, with a maximum adsorption capacity reaching 25.03 mg∙g-1. In addition, >94.4% of TC molecules could be photo-degraded in 4 h with good cycling efficiency after three consecutive tests. Finally, a reaction scheme for removal process of TC was proposed. The obtained 3D porous N-doped carbon/CuO nanocomposites show great promise for efficient removal of antibiotics in aqueous solution by synergistically utilizing adsorption and photocatalytic oxidation processes.

An all-in-one strategy for the adsorption of heavy metal ions and photodegradation of organic pollutants using steel slag-derived calcium silicate hydrate.

Low-cost and high-performance materials or techniques that could synergistically remove inorganic heavy metals and organic pollutants in a simple manner are highly desired. Herein, we report a simple and facile strategy by converting poisonous heavy metals into photocatalyst for the in-situ photodegradation of organic pollutants employing steel slag-derived calcium silicate hydrate (CSH). The CSH was synthesized by alkali activation method and showed hierarchical structure and amorphous phase. And, the material exhibited excellent adsorption performance towards all selected heavy metals. After adsorption, the heavy metals were converted into the corresponding amorphous metal hydroxides on the surface of CSH. The resulting CSH-supported amorphous metal hydroxides can act as visible-light photocatalysts for the photodegradation of organic pollutants. The optimal results for the whole water purification route using CSH are > 100 mg/g adsorption capacity for Cu2+ and ˜63% / 8 h photodegradation efficiency for methylene blue under visible light. The total cost for the whole route is < 0.1 $/g pollutants, much lower than traditional technologies. The strategy using steel slag derived-CSH not only meets the requirements for high-performance and low-cost materials, but also resolves the challenging issues of developing an all-in-one treatment for heavy metal ions and organic pollutants, which will be of great significance to wastewater purification.

Microwave-assisted hydrothermal assembly of 2D copper-porphyrin metal-organic frameworks for the removal of dyes and antibiotics from water.

Adsorption and photocatalysis are promising strategies to remove pollutants of dyes and antibiotics from wastewater. In this study, we demonstrate a rapid microwave-assisted hydrothermal route for the assembly of 2D copper-porphyrin Metal-Organic Frameworks (Cu-TCPP MOFs) within 1 h. The resulting 2D Cu-TCPP nanosheets with excellent crystallinity and a large surface area (342.72 m2/g) exhibited outstanding adsorption performance for typical dyes with adsorption capacities of about 185 mg/g for rhodamine B, 625 mg/g for methylene blue, and 290 mg/g for Congo red, respectively, as well as for representative antibiotics with adsorption capacities of about 130 mg/g for oxytocin, 150 mg/g for tetracycline, and 50 mg/g for norfloxacin, respectively. Meanwhile, the as-prepared 2D Cu-TCPP showed good photocatalytic degradation activity of pollutants after adsorption under irradiation by visible light, reaching removal efficiencies of 81.2 and 86.3% toward rhodamine B and norfloxacin, respectively. These results demonstrate the promising potential of 2D Cu-TCPP for use in the removal of contaminants from wastewater.