ABSTRACT
Curcumin (CUR) possesses the capability to inhibit various inflammatory factors, exert anti-inflammatory effects, and alleviate asthma attacks; however, its hydrophobicity and instability significantly impede its clinical application. In this study, we synthesized CUR-loaded nanoparticles (CUR-NPs) and evaluated their impact on the proliferation, migration, and inflammatory infiltration of mouse airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs), while investigating their underlying mechanisms. To achieve this objective, ASMCs were isolated from BALB/c mice and subjected to TGF-ß1-induced cell proliferation and migration. Our findings demonstrate that CUR-NPs effectively regulate the release of CUR within cells with superior intracellular uptake compared to free CUR. The CCK-8 assay results indicate that the blank carrier does not exhibit any cytotoxic effects on cells, thus rendering the impact of the carrier itself negligible. The TGF-ß1 group exhibited a significant increase in cell proliferation, whereas treatment with CUR-NPs significantly suppressed TGF-ß1-induced cell proliferation. The findings from both the cell scratch assay and transwell assay demonstrated that TGF-ß1 substantially enhanced cell migration, while CUR-NPs treatment effectively attenuated TGF-ß1-induced cell migration. The Western blot analysis demonstrated a substantial increase in the expression levels of TGF-ß1, p-STAT3, and CTGF in ASMCs following treatment with TGF-ß1 when compared to the control group. Nevertheless, this effect was effectively counteracted upon administration of CUR-NPs. Furthermore, an asthma mouse model was successfully established and CUR-NPs were administered through tail vein injection. The serum levels of TGF-ß1 and the expression levels of TGF-ß1, p-STAT3, and CTGF proteins in the lung tissue of mice in the model group exhibited significant increases compared to those in the control group. However, CUR-NPs treatment effectively attenuated this change. Our research findings suggest that CUR-NPs possess inhibitory effects on ASMC proliferation, migration, and inflammatory infiltration by suppressing activation of the TGF-ß1/p-STAT3/CTGF signaling pathway, thereby facilitating inhibition of airway remodeling.
ABSTRACT
Nanopore-based detection techniques, with a wide range of transport properties, exhibit impressive selectivity and sensitivity for analytes. To expand the application of nanoporous sensors, real-time and fast detection of targets, all within a portable device, is highly desired for nanopore-based sensors. In addition, to improve the accuracy of the output signal, more appropriate readout methods also need to be explored. In this manuscript, we describe a nanopore-based electrode, regarded as NAC-P6-PC@AuE, prepared by coupling a pillararene-based nanoporous membrane with an electrochemical impedance measurement method. The fabricated device is demonstrated by exposing pillararene-based receptors to trace amounts of pesticide molecules. NAC-P6-PC@AuE devices exhibit distinguished selectivity to quinotrione, as well as the ability to quantify quinotrione with a limit of quantitation (LOQ) of 10 nM. The mechanism that allows sensing was verified using finite-element simulations and may be explained as host-guest-induced surface charge shielding, which influences the electrochemical response of probe molecules. The applications of this nanopore-based electrode may be extended toward other target molecules by decorating the nanopore surfaces with specifically chosen receptors.
ABSTRACT
Chiral-specific assembly is involved in many biochemical processes, such as DNA hybridization, protein adhesion, and sugar recognition. However, the signals of chiral interaction are usually very weak, and it is difficult to investigate the enantioselective behaviors. Therefore, it is necessary to construct the functional materials to regulate the selective behaviors of protein droplets via weak chiral interaction, which is also significant for the biological process of protein adhesive behaviors and proteinic drug delivery. Here, S- and R-amino alcohol derivative of calix[4]arene enantiomers (R/S-AC4) were synthesized and modified onto Au-surfaces to fabricate the enantiomer's materials and investigate the chiral selective adhesion of protein droplets. Through the experiment of fluorescence titration and molecular docking simulation, bovine serum albumin (BSA) showed the stronger interaction with R-amino alcohol-calix[4]arene than S-amino alcohol-calix[4]arene on the molecular level. Notably, the sliding angle showed that the droplet of BSA selectively adhered to the R-amino alcohol-calix[4]arene-modified surface, while it released rapidly from S-amino alcohol-calix[4]arene-modified surface by virtue of chiral selectivity. This result not only provides an easy and convenient model to regulate the selective adhesion and release of protein from chemical view, but also realizes the signal transduction through the weak chiral interaction.
ABSTRACT
Total oxidation of ethyl acetate on supported copper oxide catalysts was investigated. The catalysts have been prepared by wet impregnation method and characterized by XRD, TEM and XPS. Among the catalysts with the supports of TiO2, CeO2/TiO2 and CeO2-ZrO2/TiO2, CeO2-ZrO2 solid solutions doped TiO2 supported catalyst gives the highest catalytic activity. Catalyst with the composition of 5 wt.% CuO/10 wt.% CeO2-ZrO2-TiO2 shows the total oxidation of ethyl acetate at about 270 degrees C with the 100% CO2 selectivity. The characterization studies of supported copper oxide catalysts showed that the highly dispersed CuO is one of the active phase which contacts intimately with the support, the action of the interface between the components was not be ignored.
