High-Power-Density Rechargeable Hybrid Alkali/Acid Zn-Air Battery Performance Through Value-Added Conversion Charging.

Rechargeable Zn-air batteries (ZABs) are considered highly competitive technologies for meeting the energy demands of the next generation, whether for energy storage or portable power. However, their practical application is hindered by critical challenges such as low voltage, CO2 poisoning at the cathode, low power density, and poor charging efficiency Herein, a rechargeable hybrid alkali/acid Zn-air battery (h-RZAB) that effectively separates the discharge process in an acidic environment from the charging process in an alkaline environment, utilizing oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and glycerol oxidation reaction (GOR) respectively is reported. Compared to previously reported ZABs, this proof-of-concept device demonstrates impressive performance, exhibiting a high power density of 562.7 mW cm-2 and a high operating voltage during discharging. Moreover, the battery requires a significantly reduced charging voltage due to the concurrent utilization of biomass-derived glycerol, resulting in practical and cost-effective advantages. The decoupled system offers great flexibility for intermittently generated renewable power sources and presents cost advantages over traditional ZABs. As a result, this technology holds significant promise in opening avenues for the future development of renewable energy-compatible electrochemical devices.

Development of high-efficiency alkaline OER electrodes for hybrid acid-alkali electrolytic H2 generation.

The development of high-efficiency oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts is of great importance for electrolytic H2 generation. In this work, we report in-situ growth of MnCo2O4 nanoneedles and NiFeRu layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanosheets on nickel foam (NF) (MnCo2O4@NiFeRu-LDH/NF) that can function a highly efficient electrode toward electrocatalysis of OER. Such electrode demands an overpotential of as low as 205 mV to reach 10 mA cm-2 in alkaline electrolyte and can run stably over 120-hours continuous operation. A hybrid flow acid/alkali electrolyzer is set up by using the Pt/C as the acidic cathode coupling with the MnCo2O4@NiFeRu-LDH/NF as the alkaline anode, which only requires an applied voltage of 0.59 V and 0.94 V to attain an electrolytic current density of 10 mA cm-2 and 100 mA cm-2, respectively. The present work could push forward the further development of the electricity-saving electrolytic technique for H2 generation.

CircHIPK3 alleviates inflammatory response and neuronal apoptosis via regulating miR-382-5p/DUSP1 axis in spinal cord injury.

BACKGROUND: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the serious neurological diseases with high morbidity which may be treated with hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplants. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play vital roles in SCI. The study aimed to reveal the function and mechanism of circRNA homeodomain interacting protein kinase 3 (HIPK3) in SCI. METHODS: SCI model in vitro was established by treating neuronal cells AGE1.HN with oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) and CoCl2. The levels of circHIPK3, miR-382-5p and dual specificity phosphatase 1 (DUSP1) were examined using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) or western blot assay. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the levels of inflammatory factors (IL-6 and TNF-α). Cell proliferation and apoptosis were evaluated by 5'-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay and flow cytometry. Caspase-3 Colorimetric Assay Kit was used to detect aaspase-3 activity. The interactions among circHIPK3, miR-382-5p and DUSP1 were confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation assays. RESULTS: CircHIPK3 and DUSP1 were down-regulated, while miR-382-5p was up-regulated in OGD-induced AGE1.HN cells. Overexpression of circHIPK3 suppressed inflammatory response and cell apoptosis and promoted proliferation in OGD-induced AGE1.HN cells by sponging miR-382-5p. CircHIPK3 regulated DUSP1 expression by targeting miR-382-5p. MiR-382-5p inhibition hindered inflammatory response of IL-6 and TNF-α and neuronal apoptosis and promoted apoptosis via targeting DUSP1. CONCLUSION: CircHIPK3 overexpression alleviated OGD-induced AGE1.HN cell inflammatory response and neuronal apoptosis via regulating miR-382-5p/DUSP1 axis, indicating that circHIPK3 might be a promising therapeutic target for SCI.

Lentiviral delivery of biglycan promotes proliferation and increases osteogenic potential of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells in vitro.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent progenitor nonhematopoietic cells that have emerged as an attractive cell source for tissue engineering. Biglycan (BGN), an extracellular matrix component, has been reported to play a crucial role in bone formation. However, the role of BGN in MSCs remains unknown. Using lentiviral gene delivery, we sought to investigate the cellular effects of BGN on proliferation and osteogenic potential of bone marrow-derived MSCs in vitro. We found that MSCs with lentiviral transduction of BGN exhibited an increase in growth ability and the percentage of the S phase, together with significantly reduced mRNA levels of p21 and p27. Furthermore, lentiviral transduction of BGN in MSCs also increased alkaline phosphatase activity, stimulated the mineralization capacity, and enhanced expression of Runx2, Osteocalcin, collagen I, transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß1, p-Smad2 and p-Smad3. Taken together, our data suggest that BGN overexpression positively regulates proliferation and osteogenic potential of MSCs, and TGF-ß signaling pathway may be involved in BGN-induced osteogenic potential of MSCs.

The culture of temporary tumor-like bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (TT-BMSC) and the detection of cell biology property.

BACKGROUND: Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) are common seed cells for transplantation. However, there are some limitations in their use that have not yet been resolved. Our research modified tumor-related genes temporarily on BMSC which simulated tumorigenesis temporarily in vitro. The cells were named temporarily tumor-like bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (TT-BMSC). MATERIAL/METHODS: Cultivation of TT-BMSC: BMSC were cultured and identified, then the BMSC were transfected MMP-2 gene expressive vector and screened for 4 weeks by G418. Finally, the anti-oncogene PTEN of BMSC was knockdown by ribonucleic acid interference (RNAi) using PTEN gene special small interfering ribonucleic acid (SiRNA). The detection cell biology property of TT-BMSC in vitro: Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay and Cell cycle analysis for cell proliferation, Matrigel Invasion Assay for invasion and migration, and the cell model of ischemia and anoxia in vitro for survival. RESULTS: RT-PCR and Western blot results indicated MMP-2 expression increase significantly after transfection of the MMP-2 expressive vector in the BMSC, while PTEN mRNA and protein expression decrease significantly after PTEN RNAi, and the longest duration of the PTEN RNAi is 15 days. MTT assay and Cell cycle analysis indicated TT-BMSC cell growth vigor is reinforced significantly (P<0.001). Matrigel Invasion Assay showed that TT-BMSC can go through the matrigel successfully (P<0.001). The ability of TT-BMSC to tolerate ischemia and anoxia increased significantly in the model of ischemia and anoxia in vitro (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We cultivated TT-BMSC successfully and TT-BMSC possessed a powerful ability to survive, proliferate, invade and migrate in vitro.