Strong interface coupling boosting hierarchical bismuth embedded carbon hybrid for high-performance capacitive deionization.

Capacitive deionization (CDI) is regarded as a promising desalination technology owing to its low cost and environmental friendliness. However, the lack of high-performance electrode materials remains a challenge in CDI. Herein, the hierarchical bismuth-embedded carbon (Bi@C) hybrid with strong interface coupling was prepared through facile solvothermal and annealing strategy. The hierarchical structure with strong interface coupling between the bismuth and carbon matrix afforded abundant active sites for chloridion (Cl-) capture, improved electrons/ions transfer and the stability of the Bi@C hybrid. As a result of these advantages, the Bi@C hybrid showed a high salt adsorption capacity (75.3 mg/g under 1.2 V), salt adsorption rate and good stability, making it a promising electrode material for CDI. Furthermore, the desalination mechanism of the Bi@C hybrid was elucidated through various characterizations. Therefore, this work provides valuable insights for the design of high-performance bismuth-based electrode materials for CDI.

Acidic polysaccharides from Buddleja officinalis inhibit angiogenesis via the Nrf2/ARE pathway to attenuate diabetic retinopathy.

The purpose of this study was to verify that acid polysaccharides from Buddleja officinalis Maxim (APBOM) could relieve diabetic retinopathy (DR) through inhibition of angiogenesis via activation of the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway. Transgenic db/db mice were used to establish a DR model, and it was found that APBOM could improve levels of blood glucose, blood lipids and insulin, and further improve pathological retinal tissue structure as well as vascular network structure. Moreover, APBOM could lessen the amount of angiogenesis by reducing the expression of CD34 and VEGF, and then delay the development process of DR. In in vitro mechanistic experiments, the generation of ROS was inhibited after APBOM intervention, and the expression of CD34, CD31 and VEGF was decreased. Furthermore, the mRNA and protein levels of HO-1, NQO1, SOD and Nrf2 were increased, which indicated that APBOM might promote expression of the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway. Overall, APBOM might alleviate DR by inhibiting angiogenesis and activating the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway.

Enhancing the kinetics of vanadium oxides via conducting polymer and metal ions co-intercalation for high-performance aqueous zinc-ions batteries.

Aqueous zinc-ions batteries with low cost, reliable safety, high theoretical specific capacity and eco-friendliness have captured conspicuous attention in large-scale energy storage. However, the developed cathodes often suffer from low electrical conductivity and sluggish Zn2+ diffusion kinetics, which severely hampers the development of aqueous zinc-ions batteries. Herein, we successfully prepare Mg/PANI/V2O5•nH2O (MPVO) nanosheets through conducting polymers (polyaniline) and metal ions (Mg2+) co-intercalated strategy and systematically explore its electrochemical performance as cathode materials for aqueous zinc-ion batteries. Benefitting from the synergistic effect of polyaniline and Mg2+ co-intercalated, the MPVO exhibits larger interlayer spacing and higher electrical conductivity than the single guest intercalation, which significantly enhances the electrochemical kinetics. As a consequence, the MPVO cathodes deliver superior specific capacity, rate capability and long-term cycling performance. Moreover, multiple characterizations and theoretical calculations are executed to expound the relevant mechanism.Therefore, this work provides a novel thought for the design of high-performance cathode materials for aqueous ZIBs.

Extraction, Purification, Characterization, and Antiangiogenic Activity of Acidic Polysaccharide from Buddleja officinalis.

Firstly, optimal parameters of crude polysaccharide from Buddleja officinalis were obtained as follows: ratio of water to raw material of 26 : 1, ultrasonic power of 240 W, ultrasonic time of 45 min, and ultrasonic temperature of 62°C. Secondly, acidic polysaccharide (APBOM) from Buddleja officinalis was successfully acquired with the yield of 9.57% by using DEAE-52 cellulose and Sephadex G-100 gel column chromatography. Then, we found that total polysaccharide content of APBOM was 94.37% with a sulfuric acid group of 1.68%, uronic acid content of 17.41%, and average molecular weight of 165.4 kDa. Finally, APBOM was confirmed to have significant antiangiogenic effects.

A mild and efficient extraction method for polysaccharides from Sinonovacula constricta and study of their structural characteristic and antioxidant activities.

The aim of this paper is to develop a mild and efficient extraction method for polysaccharides from Sinonovacula constricta (SCP) using enzyme extraction, and analyze the structural characteristics and antioxidant activities of the two purified polysaccharide fractions (SCP-1 and SCP-2). Firstly, enzyme extraction conditions were optimized, and the conditions were found to be, as follows: enzymolysis time 173.0 min, pH 8.2, enzymolysis temperature 50.0 ℃ and enzyme content 4.0%. Comparison between enzymatic extraction and water extraction was obtained from visual, UV-visible and IR spectrum images. The results clearly indicate that there is no significant difference between them with regard to the composition of the SCP fraction, but the polysaccharide content produced by enzymatic extraction is higher. Then, the physicochemical properties and structural characteristics of SCP-1 and SCP-2 were investigated using FT-TR, UV, GC and HPGPC. The carbohydrate content, sulfuric radicals and uronic acids of the two fractions were detected. Both SCP-1 and SCP-2 were mainly consisted of glucose, but their molecular weights were different. In addition, compared the Fe2+ chelating activity, ABTS+ radical and superoxide radical scavenging activity, and lipid peroxidation inhibition activity of SCP-1 and SCP-2, it turned out that SCP-2 had stronger antioxidant activity than SCP-1.

Triptriolide Alleviates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Liver Injury by Nrf2 and NF-κB Signaling Pathways.

Nrf2 (Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2 Related Factor 2) transcription factor not only regulates oxidative stress response, but also represses inflammation by regulating cytokines production and cross-talking with NF-κB signaling pathways. Nrf2 plays an essential role in liver injury induced by oxidative stress and inflammation. Triptriolide (T11) is a minor component of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F. (TwHF), which can be obtained by hydrolysis reaction of triptolide (T9). The major purpose of this study is to clarify the regulating effects of T11 on oxidative stress and inflammation in vivo and in vitro. LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells were used to verify the regulating effects of T11 on oxidative stress (ROS and Nrf2 signaling pathway) and inflammatory cytokines production (TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1ß). The antioxidant responsive element (ARE) luciferase assay was employed to evaluate Nrf2 activation effect of T11 in HEK-293T cells. Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) induced acute liver injury (ALI) in BALB/c mice were used to study the protective effects (ALT, AST, MDA, SOD, histopathology and neutrophils/macrophages filtration) and the underlying protection mechanisms of ALI amelioration (Nrf2 and NF-κB signaling pathway) of T11. Firstly, the results showed that T11 can not only effectively decrease the productions of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1ß), ROS and NO in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, but also further significantly increase the activity of Nrf2 in HEK-293T cells. Secondly, the results suggested that T11 could dramatically decrease the oxidative stress responses (SOD and MDA) and inflammation (histopathology, neutrophils/macrophages filtration, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1ß production) in LPS-induced ALI in BALB/c mice. Finally, the results implied that T11 could dramatically increase Nrf2 protein expression and decrease p-TAK1, p-IκBα and NF-κB protein expression both in vivo and in vitro. In conclusion, our findings indicated that T11 could alleviate LPS induced oxidative stress and inflammation by regulating Nrf2 and NF-κB signaling pathways in vitro and in vivo, which offers a novel insights for the application of TwHF in clinical.

Comparison of different extraction methods for polysaccharides from Dendrobium officinale stem.

The purpose of this study was to screen the optimum extraction of polysaccharides (DOP) from Dendrobium officinale stem. Firstly, different methods, including hot water extraction (HWE), cold-pressing (CP), freeze-thawing cold-pressing (FTCP), ultrasonic-assisted hot water extraction (UHWE), microwave-assisted hot water extraction (MHWE) and enzyme-assisted hot water extraction (EHWE), were employed to extract DOP under their respective best parameters. Then, the extraction yield, structure and antioxidant activity of the polysaccharides from different extraction methods were compared under the same condition. The data implied that UHWE and FTCP possessed higher extraction yield than the other extraction methods. Besides, DOPCP and DOPFTCP had higher molecular weight than the other polysaccharide samples. More importantly, DOPFTCP had the highest antioxidant activity. Overall, DOPFTCP exhibit high extraction yield, well-preserved molecular chains and best antioxidant activity, all these indicated FTCP was the most suitable method to extract DOP.

Two heteropolysaccharides from Isaria cicadae Miquel differ in composition and potentially immunomodulatory activity.

Two novel heteropolysaccharides (JCH-1 and JCH-2) with molecular weights of 30.9 and 555.3 kDa were first extracted, isolated and purified from Isaria cicadae Miquel (I. Miquel). Monosaccharide analysis showed that JCH-1 and JCH-2 were composed of mannose, glucose and galactose with different monosaccharide ratio. In addition, JCH-1 had higher contents of sulfated and uronic acid compared to JCH-2. Based on MTT assay, JCH-1 and JCH-2 could markedly promote the proliferation of RAW264.7 cells and exhibit no cytotoxicity at a specific concentration range. The immunomodulatory assay exhibited that JCH-1 and JCH-2 could significantly enhance the viability of macrophage cells, and promote the release of NO, IL-6 and TNF-α. Furthermore, the immunomodulatory activity of JCH-1 was significantly better than that of JCH-2. These results proposed that I. Miquel had two polysaccharide fractions with different composition and JCH-1 is better to be developed as a functional food with the better immunomodulator activity.