Functionalized magnetic particles coupled with LC-MS strategy facilitated discovery of trace thioalkaloids with potent immunosuppressive activity.

Trace natural products (TNPs) are still the vital source of drug development. However, the mining of novel TNPs is becoming increasingly challenging due to their low abundance and complex interference. A comprehensive strategy was proposed in which the functionalized magnetic particles integrated with LC-MS for TNPs discovery. Under the guidance of the approach, fifteen trace Nuphar alkaloids including seven new ones, cyanopumiline A sulfoxide (1), cyanopumiline C sulfoxide (8) and cyanopumilines A-E (4-5, 10, 12-13) featuring an undescribed nitrile-containing 6/6/5/6/6 pentacyclic ring system were isolated from the rhizomes of Nuphar pumila. Their structures and absolute configurations were determined on the basis of detailed spectroscopic data analysis and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Notably, a concise method based on 13C NMR spectroscopy was established to determine the relative configurations of spiroatoms. Biologically, compounds 1-12 exhibited potent immunosuppressive activities with IC50 values ranging from 0.1-12.1 µM against anti-CD3/CD28 induced human peripheral T cell proliferation. Mechanistic studies revealed that 4 could dose-dependently decrease pro-inflammatory cytokines and the expression levels of CD25 and CD71.

Bioactive constituents from the rhizomes of Atractylodes macrocephala.

Twelve undescribed compounds including five sesquiterpenes (1-5), one monoterpene (6), and four lignans (7a/7b and 8a/8b), along with two other types (9 and 10) were isolated from the rhizomes of Atractylodes macrocephala. Among them, two pairs of enantiomers (7a/7b and 8a/8b) were successfully separated by chiral-phase HPLC, while racemate 9 could not be resolved. Their structures and absolute configurations were unambiguously elucidated by spectroscopic data analysis and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. Notably, compounds 1 and 2 are rare sesquiterpene hybrids featuring an eudesmanolactam linked to a resorcinol or methyl 2-methylpentanoat through a CN bond. Compound 3 represents the first example of eudesmanolide sesquiterpene with an oxygen-bridge between C-8 and C-14. Compounds 7a and 7b are a pair of rare enantiomeric benzodioxane norneolignans. Additionally, compound 2 exhibited weak cytotoxicity against SGC-7901 cells. Compound 4 significantly promoted the proliferation of LPS-induced IEC-6 cells with the rate of 117.2%.

Bistability of optical harmonic generation in monolayer graphene plasmonics.

We report the bistability of second- and third-harmonic generation in monolayer graphene plasmonics supported by graphene nanoribbon arrays. The nonlinear optical bistability of harmonic generation at the ultra-low threshold intensity ∼100kW/cm2, along with the traditional linear optical bistability of transmittance, is observed due to the different local fundamental fields at the lower and higher state when the Kerr effect of graphene is considered. Importantly, the working fundamental wavelength can be tuned by the Fermi level of graphene and geometrical structure, which leads to the linear and nonlinear optical bistability available in a broadband for potential applications in advanced all-optical devices.

Giant enhancement of harmonic generation in all-dielectric resonant waveguide gratings of quasi-bound states in the continuum.

We report the giant enhanced optical harmonic generation in all-dielectric silicon nitride (SiN) based resonant waveguide gratings (RWGs) of quasi-bound states in the continuum (BICs) of ultra-high Q factor and localized field. The BICs are realized by tuning the excitation of the guided modes modulated by geometry parameters of four-part grating layer. At a feasible structure of quasi-BIC for nanofabrication, the SHG and THG are enhanced by 103 and 106, compared with those from the RWGs of traditional two-part grating layer, respectively, and even up to 108 and 1010 compared with those from the planar SiN film, respectively. The resonance wavelength of quasi-BICs can be effectively tuned by the angle of incidence, while almost not affect the enhancement of SHG and THG response. Our results show that the efficiency harmonic generation from all-nonlinear-dielectric RWGs of quasi-BICs has potential applications for the integrated nonlinear photonic devices.

Watt-level ultrafast bulk laser with a graphdiyne saturable absorber mirror.

Few-layered graphdiyne (GDY) was successfully fabricated and applied as a saturable absorber to generate a watt-level ultrafast solid-state bulk laser. The maximum output power of up to 1.27 W was obtained with a pulse width of 23 ps and a repetition rate of 92.9 MHz, using Nd:YVO4 crystal as a gain medium. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first application of GDY as a mode locker in all-solid-state bulk lasers. These results indicate the promising potential of GDY for producing high-power ultrafast lasers.