A facile cellulose finishing strategy through in-situ growth of sliver-doped manganese dioxide assisted by amine-quinone for improving indoor living quality.

Nowadays, various harmful indoor pollutants especially including bacteria and residual formaldehyde (HCHO) seriously threaten human health and reduce the quality of public life. Herein, a universal substrate-independence finishing approach for efficiently solving these hybrid indoor threats is demonstrated, in which amine-quinone network (AQN) was employed as reduction agent to guide in-situ growth of Ag@MnO2 particles, and also acted as an adhesion interlayer to firmly anchor nanoparticles onto diverse textiles, especially for cotton fabrics. In contrast with traditional hydrothermal or calcine methods, the highly reactive AQN ensures the efficient generation of functional nanoparticles under mild conditions without any additional catalysts. During the AQN-guided reduction, the doping of Ag atoms onto cellulose fiber surface optimized the crystallinity and oxygen vacancy of MnO2, providing cotton efficient antibacterial efficiency over 90 % after 30 min of contact, companying with encouraging UV-shielding and indoor HCHO purification properties. Besides, even after 30 cycles of standard washing, the Ag@MnO2-decorated textiles can effectively degrade HCHO while well-maintaining their inherent properties. In summary, the presented AQN-mediated strategy of efficiently guiding the deposition of functional particles on fibers has broad application prospects in the green and sustainable functionalization of textiles.

Highly elastic photothermal nanofibrillated cellulose aerogels for solar-assisted efficient cleanup of viscous oil spill.

Frequent oil spills and illegal industrial pollutant discharge cause ecological and resource damages, so it is necessary to establish efficient adsorption and recovery strategies for oils in wastewater. Herein, inspired by solar-driven viscosity-breaking, we propose a facile approach to fabricate multifunctional nanofibrillated cellulose-based aerogel with high elasticity, excellent photothermal conversion, efficient selective oil adsorption and antibacterial properties. Firstly, copper sulfide (CuS) nanoparticles were in situ deposited on the template of oxidative nanofibrillated cellulose (ONC), aiming at achieving efficient photothermal effect and antibacterial properties. Ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (EGDE) was employed to establish multiple crosslinking network between CuS@ONC and polyethyleneimine (PEI). A thin hydrophobic PMTS layer deposited on the surface of aerogel via a facile gas-solid reaction ensured stable oil selectivity. The resulting composite aerogel can rapidly adsorb oil under solar self-heating, significantly reducing the adsorption time from 25 to 5 min. Furthermore, it exhibits excellent adsorption capacities for various oils, retaining over 92 % of its initial capacity even after 20 adsorption-desorption cycles, and the antibacterial properties extend its lifespan. This work offers a promising method for constructing multifunctional aerogels for efficient oil-water separation, especially beneficial for high-viscosity and high-melting-point oil cleanup.

Sensitive Micro-Breathing Sensing and Highly-Effective Photothermal Antibacterial Cinnamomum camphora Bark Micro-Structural Cotton Fabric via Electrostatic Self-Assembly of MXene/HACC.

Natural fabrics are gradually becoming the ideal substrate for flexible smart wearable devices due to their excellent moisture absorption, softness, and skin-friendliness. However, the bonding fastness of the conductive layer and the corresponding durability during service have not yet been well satisfied. In this report, we successfully prepared a smart wearable multifunctional protective cotton fabric with microbreathing monitoring and rapid-photothermal antibacterial abilities of Cinnamomum camphora bark microstructure, by combining chitosan quaternary ammonium salt (HACC) with MXene nanosheets through electrostatic self-assembly. Impressively, MXene nanosheets and HACC established a strong interaction using the electrostatic attraction, endowing the fiber surface with ordered nanosheets. Meanwhile, the fabric decorated with MXene/HACC retains its original characteristics of outstanding breathability and softness, and its conductivity exhibits noticeable stability in terms of resistances to oxidation, washing, various solvents, and long-term bending cycles. On the basis of the principle of adsorption and release of water molecules in the MXene multilayer structures, the MXene/HACC fabric could accurately monitor the physiological health activities of users according to their breathing frequency and depth. Benefiting from the local surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect, the MXene/HACC shows encouraging photothermal conversion ability, photothermal stability under long time irradiation, washing resistance, and cycle stability. In addition, the fabric achieved an antibacterial efficiency of nearly 100% against Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus within 5 min under an irradiation intensity of 400 mW/cm2. More importantly, after 10 washes, the antibacterial efficiency against the two bacteria could still reach 99.975% and 99.98%, respectively. This multifunctional protective MXene/HACC cotton fabric is expected to play a unique role in the new generation of smart wearable microbreathing sensing and against to bacterial attack, and shows a broad application prospect.

Green modification of cellulose-based natural materials by HRP-initiated controlled "graft from" polymerization.

Considerable attention has been focused on the application of natural cellulosic materials due to the cost-effectiveness, renewability, and biodegradability of cellulose. However, gaps between cellulose-based and petroleum-based materials still exist. In this study, a green, environmental modification method for cellulose by enzyme-initiated reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) graft polymerization was reported. First, the grafting of acryloyl chloride (AC) provided reaction sites on cellulosic fiber surfaces, followed by the enzymatic RAFT graft polymerization of acrylamide (AM). The grafting of well-controlled polyacrylamide (PAM) chains on the cellulosic material surface was verified by Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and the controlled grafting ratio was also estimated. The transition of wetting behaviors after the modification of AC and PAM also provided evidence for successful grafting on cellulosic materials. In addition, this method can be well applied for the preparation of various functional cellulosic materials.

Graft modification of lignin-based cellulose via enzyme-initiated reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization and free-radical coupling.

In this study, a green approach combining enzyme-initiated reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization and free-radical coupling was developed for the modification of jute fiber, which is a typical lignin-based cellulose. Jute fiber surface was covered by rich amount of lignin, which offered great opportunities for further functional modification. The controlled polymerization of vinyl monomers, acrylamide (AM) or butyl acrylate (BA), was carried out by horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-initiated RAFT to form well-defined polymers with well-controlled molecular weights and structures. Enzymatic grafting by HRP occurred between the free radicals of well-defined polymers and free radicals of lignin on jute. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) analysis indicated the alkyl chain length of polymers prepared via HRP-initiated RAFT polymerization was well-controlled. Other results of flourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) revealed that well-controlled alkyl chains prepared via enzymatic catalysis were grafted on the exposed lignin of jute. The study explores a new and eco-friendly modification method for lignin-based materials with the controlled graft chain structure via two different catalysis with HRP.

MiR-499-5p protects cardiomyocytes against ischaemic injury via anti-apoptosis by targeting PDCD4.

Recent studies have reported that miRNAs might play critical roles in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The objective of this study is to investigate the role of miR-499-5p in AMI and its potential molecular mechanisms. The expression level of MiR-499-5p was remarkably decreased in the infarcted myocardial tissues and in the cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes induced by hypoxia. Overexpression or knockdown of miR-499-5p decreased or increased the apoptotic rates of cultured cardiomyocytes in vitro. In addition, ectopic overexpression of miR-499-5p in the rat AMI models with agomir reduced the myocardial infarct size through decreasing the cardiomyocytes apoptosis in the infarcted area of the rat hearts. PDCD4 (programmed cell death 4) was verified as a direct target of miR-499-5p by luciferase report assay, and ectopic overexpression or inhibition of miR-499-5p could inhibit or increase the PDCD4 expression at both the mRNA and protein levels. Furthermore, we found that ectopic overexpression of PDCD4 without miR-499-5p binding sites reversed miR-499-5p-mediated cardiomyocytes apoptosis. Together, these findings revealed the role of miR-499-5p in protecting the cardiomyocytes against apoptosis induced by AMI via its direct target PDCD4, which providing evidence for the miR-499-5p/PDCD4 pathway as a potential therapeutic target for patients with AMI.

MiR-24 functions as a tumor suppressor in nasopharyngeal carcinoma through targeting FSCN1.

BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence indicates that the dysregulation of miRNAs expression is involved in the tumorigenesis by acting as tumor suppressors or oncogenes. However, no study investigates the function and mechanisms of miR-24 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). METHODS: Quantitative RT-PCR, MTT, colony formation, soft-agar, wound healing, Transwell migration and invasion assays, and xenograft tumor growth and lung metastasis models were performed to test the expression levels and functions of miR-24 in NPC. Luciferase reporter assay, quantitative RT-PCR, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry were used to identify and verify the target of miR-24. RESULTS: The results showed that MiR-24 was obviously downregulated in NPC cell lines and tissue samples (P < 0.05). Ectopic expression of miR-24 inhibited the cell viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro (all P < 0.05), and suppressed the xenograft tumor growth and lung metastasis formation in vivo (all P < 0.05). Fascin homologue 1 (FSCN1) was verified as a direct target of miR-24, and silencing FSCN1 expression with small interfering RNA inhibited NPC cell proliferation and invasion (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, miR-24 acts as a novel tumor suppressor in the development and progression of NPC through targeting FSCN1, which providing new insight into the mechanisms of NPC carcinogenesis and suggesting the possibility of miR-24 as a therapeutic target.

The beneficial effect of Tai Chi on self-concept in adolescents.

Previous research has documented the beneficial effect of Tai Chi, but most of the studies focused on elders and patients with specific health conditions. The aim of the study was to test whether Tai Chi can help to improve self-concept in adolescents with a longitudinal study. The sample comprised 160 students from a Chinese middle school; half of students formed the experimental group and the rest formed the control group. A 1-year Tai Chi intervention was delivered in 60-minute sessions, five times a week. Both groups were instructed to complete the measure of self-concept at the beginning and end of the intervention. Statistical analysis shows the significant reduction of good behaviour, intellectual and school status, popularity and anxiety in the experimental group compared with the control group. The results suggest that the Tai Chi intervention could improve self-concept in adolescents.