Synthesis of corn bract cellulose-based Au3+ fluorescent probe and its application in composite membranes.

To achieve real-time monitoring of Au3+, a corn bract cellulose-based fluorescent probe MAC-1 for was synthesized. MAC-1 showed good fluorescence properties in DMF-H2O (1:9, v/v, pH = 7.4) solution, showed a fluorescence emission peak at 520 nm with quenching fluorescence properties for Au3+. The structure of MAC-1 was analyzed by SEM (Sample microstructure images), XRD (X-ray diffraction), FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), 1H NMR, Elemental analysis, EDS, Mapping and TG (Thermogravimetry) were analyzed. The fluorescence properties of the probe were also characterized by UV spectrophotometer and fluorescence spectrophotometer. The results showed that the recognition of Au3+ by the probe MAC-1 exhibited high selectivity and high sensitivity. Moreover, it is highly resistant to interference and has a short response time, which can be rapidly responded within 1 min. In addition, to improve the practical application of the probe, the probe was prepared as a fluorescent composite film and the fluorescence effect shown by the fluorescent composite film is consistent with the fluorescence change of the probe MAC-1 itself. The fluorescent composite film also has excellent selectivity and good overall physical and mechanical properties. This study provides a meaningful reference for the detection of Au3+ and further expands the application field of agroforestry waste.

Regioselective intramolecular cyclization of o-alkynyl arylamines with the in situ formation of ArXCl to construct poly-functionalized 3-selenylindoles.

In this article, a practical and metal-free method for the synthesis of poly-functionalized 3-selenyl/sulfenyl/telluriumindoles from o-alkynyl arylamines has been achieved. In this protocol, the in situ formation of selenenyl chloride, sulfenyl chloride or tellurenyl chloride is considered as the key intermediate and the 3-selenyl/sulfenyl/telluriumindoles can be obtained in good to excellent yields. Furthermore, the product 2-phenyl-3-(phenylselanyl)-1-tosyl-1H-indole can be selectively oxidized to compounds 2-phenyl-3-(phenylseleninyl)-1-tosyl-1H-indole and 2-phenyl-3-(phenylselenonyl)-1-tosyl-1H-indole in good yields.

Study on the effects of different pectinase/cellulase ratios and pretreatment times on the preparation of nanocellulose by ultrasound-assisted bio-enzyme heat treatment.

With the development of science and technology, efficient, fast and green methods are increasingly being pursued. The production of nanocellulose by green methods, such as bio-enzymes-assisted ultrasound treatment, has been the focus of many studies. However, the yield of cellulose nanocrystals prepared by this method is very low. In this paper, by pretreatment of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), nanocellulose was prepared by heating and stirring + pectinase/cellulase + ultrasonic treatment (HSt - P/C - Ultr). The effects of the ratios of pectinase and cellulase and the hydrolysis time on the yield of nanocellulose were studied. FTIR, XRD, SEM, TEM and TG were used to determine the structure, crystallinity, morphology and thermal stability of nanocellulose. The results showed that optimal hydrolysis conditions were determined as a pectinase : cellulase ratio of 1 : 1, 90 min and 50 °C. The yield of nanocellulose was about 32.0%. The yield of pectinase cellulase = 1 : 1 was higher than that of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) treated by a single bio-enzyme. This indicated that the synergistic effects of pectinase and cellulase have a certain effect on the formation of nanocellulose. During the preparation, the crystalline form of cellulose did not change. It was still cellulose I with a crystallinity of 73.5%, which is 9.50% higher than that of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), a width of 20-50 nm, a high aspect ratio and a winding network structure. Therefore, nanocellulose prepared by this method is an ideal toughening material for manufacturing composite materials.

Extraction of Corn Bract Cellulose by the Ammonia-Coordinated Bio-Enzymatic Method.

This study explored a green and efficient method for cellulose extraction from corn bract. The cellulose extraction by the CHB (CH3COOH/H2O2/Bio-enzyme) method and the N-CHB (NH3·H2O-CH3COOH/H2O2/Bio-enzyme) method were compared and analyzed. The effect of ammonia pretreatment on cellulose extraction by bio-enzymatic methods was discussed. The results showed that ammonia promoted the subsequent bio-enzymatic reaction and had a positive effect on the extraction of cellulose. Sample microstructure images (SEM) showed that the cellulose extracted by this method was in the form of fibrous bundles with smooth surfaces. The effect of different pretreatment times of ammonia on cellulose was further explored, and cellulose was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric (TG) analysis. The results showed that the N3h-CHB (NH3·H2O 50 °C 3 h, CH3COOH/H2O2 70 °C 11 h, Bio-enzyme 50 °C 4 h) method was the best way to extract cellulose in this study. FTIR showed that most of the lignin and hemicellulose were removed. XRD showed that all the cellulose extracted in this study was type I cellulose. TG analysis showed that the cellulose was significantly more thermally stable, with a maximum degradation temperature of 338.9 °C, close to that of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). This study provides a reference for the utilization of corn bract and offers a new technical route for cellulose extraction.

MiR-192-5p suppresses the growth of bladder cancer cells via targeting Yin Yang 1.

Bladder cancer has been identified as one of the most malignant cancers with high incidence and mortality. The underlying mechanisms by which regulate the tumorigenesis of bladder cancer deserve further investigation. Here, we found that miR-192-5p was downregulated in human bladder cancer cell lines and tissues. Overexpression of miR-192-5p significantly inhibited the growth of bladder cancer cells, while depletion of miR-192-5p exerted opposite effect. Bioinformatics analysis and molecular mechanism study identified that miR-192-5p targeted the transcription factor Yin Yang 1 (YY1) and decreased the expression level of YY1. Highly expressed YY1 attenuated the potential tumor suppressive function of miR-192-5p. The expression of miR-192-5p was negatively correlated with that of YY1 in bladder cancer tissues. These results indicated that miR-192-5p might serve as a promising target in bladder cancer diagnosis and therapy.

c-Jun is involved in interstitial cystitis antiproliferative factor (APF)-induced growth inhibition of human bladder cancer T24 cells.

OBJECTIVE: To uncover the role of c-Jun, a proto-oncogene, in inhibitory effects of antiproliferative factor (APF) on tumor cell growth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Expression of c-Jun was analyzed by Western blotting in 45 clinical specimens (30 tumorous tissues and 15 paired non-tumorous tissues) and 3 bladder cancer cell lines. APF-responsive T24 transitional carcinoma bladder cells were treated with APF or mock control. Cell proliferation was measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Change of c-Jun expression was detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting. The influence of c-Jun on APF treatment was evaluated by transient transfection of c-Jun and MTT assay in T24 cells. RESULTS: c-Jun was significantly higher in invasive bladder cancer tissues and cell lines. T24 cells treated with APF had decreased c-Jun expression and suppressed cell growth. More importantly, ectopic c-Jun attenuated APF inhibitory effects on cell growth. CONCLUSIONS: These observations suggest that c-Jun is involved in APF-mediated inhibition for bladder tumor cell growth, as potential target of APF in patients with aggressive bladder carcinoma.