ABSTRACT
Background: Breast cancer presents significant challenges due to the limited effectiveness of available treatments and the high likelihood of recurrence. iRGD possesses both RGD sequence and C-terminal sequence and has dual functions of targeting and membrane penetration. iRGD-modified nanocarriers can enhance drug targeting of tumor vascular endothelial cells and penetration of new microvessels, increasing drug concentration in tumor tissues. Methods: The amidation reaction was carried out between SiO2/AuNCs and iRGD/PTX, yielding a conjugated drug delivery system (SiO2/AuNCs-iRGD/PTX, SAIP@NPs). The assessment encompassed the characterization of the morphology, particle size distribution, physicochemical properties, in vitro release profile, cytotoxicity, and cellular uptake of SAIP@NPs. The tumor targeting and anti-tumor efficacy of SAIP@NPs were assessed using a small animal in vivo imaging system and a tumor-bearing nude mice model, respectively. The tumor targeting and anti-tumor efficacy of SAIP@NPs were assessed utilizing a small animal in vivo imaging system and an in situ nude mice breast cancer xenograft model, respectively. Results: The prepared SAIP@NPs exhibited decent stability and a certain slow-release effect in phosphate buffer (PBS, pH 7.4). In vitro studies had shown that, due to the dual functions of transmembrane and targeting of iRGD peptide, SAIP@NPs exhibited strong binding to integrin αvß3, which was highly expressed on the membrane of MDA-MB-231 cells, improving the uptake capacity of tumor cells, inhibiting the rapid growth of tumor cells, and promoting tumor cell apoptosis. The results of animal experiments further proved that SAIP@NPs had longer residence time in tumor sites, stronger anti-tumor effect, and no obvious toxicity to major organs of experimental animals. Conclusion: The engineered SAIP@NPs exhibited superior functionalities including efficient membrane permeability, precise tumor targeting, and imaging, thereby significantly augmenting the therapeutic efficacy against breast cancer with a favorable safety profile.
Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms , Gold , Metal Nanoparticles , Mice, Nude , Oligopeptides , Silicon Dioxide , Animals , Silicon Dioxide/chemistry , Female , Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy , Humans , Oligopeptides/chemistry , Oligopeptides/pharmacokinetics , Oligopeptides/pharmacology , Gold/chemistry , Gold/pharmacokinetics , Gold/pharmacology , Mice , Cell Line, Tumor , Metal Nanoparticles/chemistry , Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Paclitaxel/chemistry , Paclitaxel/pharmacology , Paclitaxel/pharmacokinetics , Paclitaxel/administration & dosage , Drug Delivery Systems/methods , Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry , Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology , Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacokinetics , Drug Carriers/chemistry , Drug Carriers/pharmacokinetics , Particle Size , MCF-7 CellsABSTRACT
Depression and anxiety are prominent symptoms of withdrawal syndrome, often caused by the abuse of addictive drugs like morphine. N-palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), a biologically active lipid, is utilized as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic medication. Recent studies have highlighted PEA's role in mitigating cognitive decline and easing depression resulting from chronic pain. However, it remains unknown whether PEA can influence negative emotions triggered by morphine withdrawal. This study seeks to explore the impact of PEA on such emotions and investigate the underlying mechanisms. Mice subjected to morphine treatment underwent a 10-day withdrawal period, followed by assessments of the effect of PEA on anxiety- and depression-like behaviors using various tests. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was conducted to measure levels of monoamine neurotransmitters in specific brain regions. The findings indicate that PEA mitigated anxiety and depression symptoms and reduced 5-hydroxytryptamine, noradrenaline, and dopamine levels in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. In summary, PEA demonstrates a significant positive effect on negative emotions associated with morphine withdrawal, accompanied with the reduction in levels of monoamine neurotransmitters in key brain regions. These insights could be valuable for managing negative emotions arising from morphine withdrawal.
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Here we designed enantiomeric lipid-mimetic glutamic acid derivatives (L/D-UG) and investigated their self-assembled chiral nanostructures and performance with the protein adsorption as well as the osteogenesis. It was found that L or D-UG can self-assemble into vesicle bilayers and two-dimensional (2D) nanocrystals via a kinetic and thermodynamic control, respectively. These chiral vesicles and 2D crystals showed differentiated adsorption of proteins by their curvature and chirality. Specifically, fibronectin constituted by L-amino acids adsorbed preferentially on L-UG 2D crystal in a semi-random pattern and L-2D nanocrystal show as the most effective structures to promote bone regeneration. The controlled vesicle and 2D crystal assemblies with different chirality and curvature helps to clarify their determine roles in protein adsorption and osteogenesis.
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Punica granatum L., commonly known as pomegranate, is native to Afghanistan and Iran, and today widely cultivated all over the world. Pomegranate polysaccharides are one of the most important bioactive components of P. granatum, which have a wide range of beneficial biological activities, such as anticancer, immunostimulatory, hepatoprotection, anti-psoriasis and antioxidation. Hot water extraction is currently the most commonly used method to isolate pomegranate polysaccharides. The structural characteristics of pomegranate polysaccharides have been extensively investigated through various advanced modern analytical techniques. This review focuses on the extraction, purification, structural characteristics, biological activities and structure-activity relationships of polysaccharides from Punica granatum. The aim of this article is to comprehensively and systematically summarize recent information of polysaccharides from Punica granatum and to serve as a basis for further research and development as therapeutic agents and functional foods.
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The excitonic effect significantly influences the optoelectronic characteristics of halide perovskites. However, consensus on the temperature modulated exciton binding energy remains elusive, even for extensively studied materials like MAPbBr3 perovskites. In this study, we utilized UV-vis absorption spectra and the Elliott model to extract the exciton binding energies of MAPbBr3 in the range of 170-290 K. Elliott model fitted results reveal a linear increasing trend in bandgap and exciton binding energy for both cubic and tetragonal phases with temperature, with the tetragonal phase exhibiting a higher increasing rate. Additionally, we found that regardless of the temperature, the strongest absorption peaks are always dominated by the exciton absorption, and our fitted exciton absorption peak blue-shifts with the increase of temperature, accounting for the observed blue-shift of the strongest absorption peak for our fabricated MAPbBr3 sample. However, with the increase of temperature, the weight of continuum state absorption increases significantly, which widens the absorption tails to the longer wavelength, leading to the red-shift of Tauc-plotted optical bandgaps. This is the first work considering the temperature-modulated excitonic properties of halide perovskites, which offers valuable insights into the behavior of MAPbBr3 under varying temperature conditions. After a series of theoretical simulations on the temperature modulated electronic properties, including band structures, carrier effective masses, optical dielectric properties and Born effective charges, we provide rational interpretations for the experimentally observed temperature induced variation of the optical properties. These works are helpful to deepen our understanding of the temperature modulated optical properties of MAPbBr3 perovskites.
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OBJECTIVE: Lindqvist-type polyoxometalates (POMs) exhibit potential antitumor activities. This study aimed to examine the effects of Lindqvist-type POMs against breast cancer and the underlying mechanism. METHODS: Using different cancer cell lines, the present study evaluated the antitumor activities of POM analogues that were modified at the body skeleton based on molybdenum-vanadium-centered negative oxygen ion polycondensations with different side strains. Cell colony formation assay, autophagy detection, mitochondrial observation, qRT-PCR, Western blotting, and animal model were used to evaluate the antitumor activities of POMs against breast cancer cells and the related mechanism. RESULTS: MO-4, a Lindqvist-type POM linking a proline at its side strain, was selected for subsequent experiments due to its low half maximal inhibitory concentration in the inhibition of proliferation of breast cancer cells. It was found that MO-4 induced the apoptosis of multiple types of breast cancer cells. Mechanistically, MO-4 activated intracellular mitophagy by elevating mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and resulting in apoptosis. In vivo, breast tumor growth and distant metastasis were significantly reduced following MO-4 treatment. CONCLUSION: Collectively, the results of the present study demonstrated that the novel Lindqvist-type POM MO-4 may exhibit potential in the treatment of breast cancer.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents , Apoptosis , Breast Neoplasms , Mitophagy , Reactive Oxygen Species , Tungsten Compounds , Humans , Mitophagy/drug effects , Female , Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy , Breast Neoplasms/pathology , Breast Neoplasms/metabolism , Breast Neoplasms/genetics , Apoptosis/drug effects , Tungsten Compounds/pharmacology , Animals , Mice , Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology , Cell Line, Tumor , Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Mitochondria/drug effects , Mitochondria/metabolism , Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays , Molybdenum/pharmacology , Polyelectrolytes , AnionsABSTRACT
Cellular damage resulting from elevated levels of free radicals can lead to persistent health issues. Pleurotus floridanus, an edible white oyster mushroom, is rich in ß-glucans with potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In this research, we examined the ß-glucan content, total phenolic content, as well as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of hot water extracts with varying particle sizes (< 75, 75-154, 154-300, and 300-600 µm) of both whole and sliced fruiting bodies of P. floridanus. The findings revealed that the в-glucan content increased as the particle size increased, although no significant differences were observed. Conversely, smaller particle sizes (< 75 µm) of whole and sliced fruiting bodies of P. floridanus exhibited higher phenolic content, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hy-drazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) scavenging activity, and reducing ability compared with larger particle size (> 75 µm). Of the four samples (AW2, AW3, AS1, and AS2) with the highest antioxidant activity selected for anti-inflammatory assays, all demonstrated the ability to reduce nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels, but did not enhance interleukin-10 expression in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Interestingly, particle size < 75 to 300 µm did not appear to influence the anti-inflammatory activity, because no significant differences were observed among the particle sizes. Therefore, a particle size < 300 µm in a P. floridanus hot water extract could serve as a valuable source of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds to counteract the harmful effects of free radicals.
Subject(s)
Anti-Inflammatory Agents , Antioxidants , Particle Size , Pleurotus , beta-Glucans , Antioxidants/pharmacology , Antioxidants/chemistry , Pleurotus/chemistry , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/chemistry , Mice , Animals , beta-Glucans/pharmacology , beta-Glucans/chemistry , RAW 264.7 Cells , Fruiting Bodies, Fungal/chemistry , Macrophages/drug effects , Phenols/pharmacology , Phenols/chemistry , Phenols/analysis , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolismABSTRACT
This study aimed to compare the biomechanical performance of an intramedullary nail combined with a reconstruction plate and a single intramedullary nail in the treatment of unstable intertrochanteric femoral fractures with a fracture of the lateral femoral wall (LFW). A three-dimensional finite element (FE) femur model was established from computed tomography images of a healthy male volunteer. A major reverse obliquity fracture line, associated with a lesser trochanteric fragment defect and a free bone fragment of the LFW, was developed to create an AO/OTA type 31-A3.3 unstable intertrochanteric fracture mode. Two fixation styles were simulated: a long InterTAN nail (ITN) with or without a reconstruction plate (RP). A vertical load of 2100 N was applied to the femoral head to simulate normal walking. The construct stiffness, von Mises stress, and model displacement were assessed. The ITN with RP fixation (ITN/RP) provided higher axial stiffness (804 N/mm) than the ITN construct (621 N/mm). The construct stiffness of ITN/RP fixation was 29% higher than that of ITN fixation. The peak von Mises stress of the implants in the ITN/RP and ITN models was 994.46 MPa and 1235.24 MPa, respectively. The peak stress of the implants in the ITN/RP model decreased by 24% compared to that of the ITN model. The peak von Mises stress of the femur in the ITN/RP model was 269.06 MPa, which was lower than that of the ITN model (331.37 MPa). The peak stress of the femur in the ITN/RP model was 23% lower than that of the ITN model. The maximum displacements of the ITN/RP and ITN models were 12.12 mm and 13.53 mm, respectively. The maximum displacement of the ITN/RP model decreased by 12% compared with that of the ITN model. The study suggested that an additional plate fixation could increase the construct stiffness, reduce the stresses in the implant and femur, and decrease displacement after intramedullary nailing. Therefore, the intramedullary nail and reconstruction plate combination may provide biomechanical advantages over the single intramedullary nail in unstable intertrochanteric fractures with a fractured LFW.
Subject(s)
Bone Nails , Bone Plates , Finite Element Analysis , Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary , Hip Fractures , Humans , Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary/methods , Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary/instrumentation , Male , Biomechanical Phenomena , Hip Fractures/surgery , Femoral Fractures/surgery , Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods , Femur/surgeryABSTRACT
Artificial photosynthesis is an effective way of converting CO2 into fuel and high value-added chemicals. However, the sluggish interfacial electron transfer and adsorption of CO2 at the catalyst surface strongly hamper the activity and selectivity of CO2 reduction. Here, we report a photocathode attaching zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) onto a ZnTe surface to mimic an aquatic leaf featuring stoma and chlorophyll for efficient photoelectrochemical conversion of CO2 into CO. ZIF-8 possessing high CO2 adsorption capacity and diffusivity has been selected to enrich CO2 into nanocages and provide a large number of catalytic active sites. ZnTe with high light-absorption capacity serves as a light-absorbing layer. CO2 molecules are collected in large nanocages of ZIF-8 and delivered to the ZnTe surface. As evidenced by scanning electrochemical microscopy, the interface can effectively boost interfacial electron transfer kinetics. The ZIF-8/ZnTe photocathode with unsaturated Zn-Nx sites exhibits a high Faradaic efficiency for CO production of 92.9% and a large photocurrent of 6.67 mA·cm-2 at -2.48 V (vs Fc/Fc+) in a nonaqueous electrolyte at AM 1.5G solar irradiation (100 mW·cm-2).
ABSTRACT
Skeletal muscle aging in rats is a reduction in skeletal muscle mass caused by a decrease in the number or volume of skeletal muscle myofibers. Apoptosis has been recognized to play a key role in accelerating the process of skeletal muscle aging in rats. The thioredoxin (Trx) system is a widely expressed oxidoreductase system that controls the cellular reduction/oxidation state and has both potent anti-free radical damage and important pro-growth and apoptosis inhibitory functions. Previous studies have shown that exercise delays skeletal muscle aging. However, it is unclear whether exercise attenuates skeletal muscle aging via the Trx system. Therefore, the present study used the Trx system as an entry point to explore the effect of aerobic exercise to improve skeletal muscle aging in rats and its possible mechanisms, and to provide a theoretical basis for exercise to delay skeletal muscle aging in rats. It was shown that aerobic exercise in senescent rats resulted in increased gastrocnemius index, decreased body weight, increased endurance, decreased skeletal muscle cell apoptosis, increased activity and protein expression of the Trx system, and decreased expression of p38 and ASK1. Based on these findings, we conclude that 10 weeks of aerobic exercise may enhance the anti-apoptotic effect of Trx by up-regulating Trx and Trx reductase (TR) protein expression, which in turn increases Trx activity in rat skeletal muscle, and ultimately alleviates apoptosis in senescent skeletal muscle cells.
Subject(s)
Aging , Apoptosis , Muscle, Skeletal , Physical Conditioning, Animal , Thioredoxins , Animals , Muscle, Skeletal/physiology , Muscle, Skeletal/metabolism , Male , Thioredoxins/metabolism , Physical Conditioning, Animal/physiology , Aging/physiology , Rats , MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 5/metabolism , p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Thioredoxin-Disulfide Reductase/metabolism , Physical Endurance/physiologyABSTRACT
Here, we present a protocol for the quantitative assessment of rat and mouse cardiomyocyte proliferation both in vitro and in vivo. For the in vivo approach, we describe steps for the isolation of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes and the employment of various indicators to quantify cell proliferation. We then detail in vivo procedures that incorporate comprehensive assays and a genetic lineage tracing strategy to evaluate endogenous cardiomyocyte proliferation. This protocol can be modified to investigate other mammalian cardiomyocyte proliferation. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Ji et al.1.
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BACKGROUND: Eradicating Helicobacter pylori infection by bismuth quadruple therapy (BQT) is effective. However, the effect of BQT and subsequent fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) on the gut microbiota is less known. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted at a tertiary hospital in China from January 2019 to October 2020, with the primary endpoints the effect of BQT on the gut microbiota and the effect of FMT on the gut microbiota after bismuth quadruple therapy eradication therapy. A 14-day BQT with amoxicillin and clarithromycin was administered to H. pylori-positive subjects, and after eradication therapy, patients received a one-time FMT or placebo treatment. We then collected stool samples to assess the effects of 14-day BQT and FMT on the gut microbiota. 16 s rDNA and metagenomic sequencing were used to analyze the structure and function of intestinal flora. We also used Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) to evaluate gastrointestinal symptom during treatment. RESULTS: A total of 30 patients were recruited and 15 were assigned to either FMT or placebo groups. After eradication therapy, alpha-diversity was decreased in both groups. At the phylum level, the abundance of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes decreased, while Proteobacteria increased. At the genus level, the abundance of beneficial bacteria decreased, while pathogenic bacteria increased. Eradication therapy reduced some resistance genes abundance while increased the resistance genes abundance linked to Escherichia coli. While they all returned to baseline by Week 10. Besides, the difference was observed in Week 10 by the diarrhea score between two groups. Compared to Week 2, the GSRS total score and diarrhea score decreased in Week 3 only in FMT group. CONCLUSIONS: The balance of intestinal flora in patients can be considerably impacted by BQT in the short term, but it has reverted back to baseline by Week 10. FMT can alleviate gastrointestinal symptoms even if there was no evidence it promoted restoration of intestinal flora.
Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents , Bismuth , Fecal Microbiota Transplantation , Gastrointestinal Microbiome , Helicobacter Infections , Helicobacter pylori , Humans , Helicobacter Infections/therapy , Helicobacter Infections/microbiology , Helicobacter Infections/drug therapy , Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects , Fecal Microbiota Transplantation/methods , Male , Female , Middle Aged , Helicobacter pylori/drug effects , Adult , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Prospective Studies , Bismuth/therapeutic use , Drug Therapy, Combination , China , Amoxicillin/therapeutic use , Clarithromycin/therapeutic use , Treatment Outcome , Aged , Feces/microbiologyABSTRACT
Ethnopharmacological relevance: Pulsatilla decoction (PD) is a classical prescription for the treatment of ulcerative colitis. Previous studies have demonstrated that the therapeutic efficacy of PD is closely associated with the activation of Farnesoid X receptor (FXR). The activity of FXR is regulated by apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter (ASBT), and the FXR-ASBT cascade reaction, centered around bile acid receptor FXR, plays a pivotal role in maintaining bile acid metabolic homeostasis to prevent the occurrence and progression of ulcerative colitis (UC). Aim of the study: To elucidate the underlying mechanism by which PD exerts its proteactive effects against Dextran Sulfate Sodium Salt (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis, focusing on the modulation of FXR and ASBT. Materials and methods: To establish a model of acute ulcerative colitis, BALB/C mice were administered 3.5% DSS in their drinking water for consecutive 7 days. The disease activity index (DAI) was employed to evaluate the clinical symptoms exhibited by each group of mice. Goblet cell expression in colon tissue was assessed using glycogen schiff periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and alcian blue staining techniques. Inflammatory cytokine expression in serum and colonic tissues was examined through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A PCR Array chip was utilized to screen 88 differential genes associated with the FXR-ASBT pathway in UC treatment with PD. Western blotting (WB) analysis was performed to detect protein expression levels of differentially expressed genes in mouse colon tissue. Results: The PD treatment effectively reduced the Disease Activity Index (DAI) score and mitigated colon histopathological damage, while also restoring weight and colon length. Furthermore, it significantly alleviated the severity of ulcerative colitis (UC), regulated inflammation, modulated goblet cell numbers, and restored bile acid balance. Additionally, a PCR Array analysis identified 21 differentially expressed genes involved in the FXR-ASBT pathway. Western blot results demonstrated significant restoration of FXR, GPBAR1, CYP7A1, and FGF15 protein expression levels following PD treatment; moreover, there was an observed tendency towards increased expression levels of ABCB11 and RXRα. Conclusion: The therapeutic efficacy of PD in UC mice is notable, potentially attributed to its modulation of bile acid homeostasis, enhancement of gut barrier function, and attenuation of intestinal inflammation.
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Neuroinflammation has been proven to drive cognitive impairment associated with neurodegenerative diseases. It has been demonstrated that mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with cognitive impairment caused by neuroinflammation. We hypothesized that the transfer of exogenous mitochondria may be beneficial to the therapy of cognitive impairment induced by neuroinflammation. In the study, the effect of exogenous mitochondria on cognitive impairment induced by neuroinflammation was investigated. The results showed that mitochondrial treatment ameliorated the cognitive performance of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated mice. Additionally, mitochondrial therapy attenuated neuronal injury and down-regulated the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α and pro- and cleaved IL-1ß, and the expression of Iba-1 and GFAP in the hippocampus and cortex of LPS-treated mice. Additionally, mitochondrial treatment increased mitochondrial ΔΨm, ATP level, and SOD activity and attenuated MDA level and ROS production in the brains of LPS-treated mice. The study reports the beneficial effect of mitochondrial treatment against cognitive impairment of LPS-treated mice, thereby providing a potential strategy for the treatment of cognitive impairment caused by neuroinflammation.
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Bone malunion or nonunion leads to functional and esthetic problems and is a major healthcare burden. Activation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and subsequent induction of osteogenic differentiation by local metabolites are crucial steps for bone healing, which has not yet been completely investigated. Here, we found that lactate levels are rapidly increased at the local injury site during the early phase of bone defect healing, which facilitates the healing process by enhancing BMSCs regenerative capacity. Mechanistically, lactate serves as a ligand for the Olfr1440 olfactory receptor, to trigger an intracellular calcium influx that in turn activates osteogenic phenotype transition of BMSCs. Conversely, ablation of Olfr1440 delays skeletal repair and remodelling, as evidenced by thinner cortical bone and less woven bone formation in vivo. Administration of lactate in the defect area enhanced bone regeneration. These findings thus revealed the key roles of lactate in the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs, which deepened our understanding of the bone healing process, as well as provided cues for a potential therapeutic option that might greatly improve bone defect treatment.
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Biological photoresponsive ion transport systems consistently attract researchers' attention owing to their remarkable functions of harvesting energy from nature and participating in visual perception systems. Designing and constructing artificial light-driven ion transport devices to mimic biological counterparts remains a challenge owing to fabrication limitations in nanoconfined spaces. Herein, a typical conjugated polyelectrolyte (PFN-Br) was assembled onto a laminated MoS2M using simple solution-processing vacuum filtration, resulting in a heterogeneous three- and two-dimensional nanoporous membrane. The designed band alignment between PFN-Br and MoS2 enables effective directional ion transport under irradiation in an equilibrium solution, even against a 30-fold concentration gradient. The staggered energy structure of PFN-Br and MoS2 enhances charge separation and establishes a photogenerated potential as the driving force for ion transport. Additionally, the activation energy barrier for ion transport across the heterogeneous membrane decreased by 60% after light irradiation, considerably improving ion transport flux. The easy fabrication and high performance of the membrane in light-powered ion transport provide promising approaches for designing nanofluidic devices with possible applications in energy conversion, light-enhanced biosensing, and photoresponsive ionic devices.
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Myocardial infarction (MI) and depression are leading causes of mortality and morbidity globally, and these conditions are increasing recognized as being fundamentally interconnected. The recently recognized gut-heart-brain axis offers insights into depression following MI, but effective treatments for this comorbidity remain lacking. To address this medical need, we employed an animal model of MI to investigate the potential repurposing of sotagliflozin (SOTA), an approved sodium-glucose cotransporter 1 and 2 (SGLT1/2) inhibitor for diabetes, for managing depression following MI and identifying potential SOTA-associated microbial mechanisms. SOTA treatment improved cardiac dysfunction and alleviated depression-like behaviors induced by MI, accompanied by alterations in gut microbiota composition, such as changes in the Prevotellaceae NK3B31 group, Alloprevotella, and Prevotellaceae UCG-001. Moreover, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) using fecal samples from SOTA-treated MI mice demonstrated that gut microbiota contributed to the beneficial effects of SOTA on cardiac dysfunction and depression-like behaviors in MI mice. Intriguingly, FMT-based intervention and concordance analysis of gut microbiota before and after FMT suggested that Prevotellaceae NK3B31 group, Alloprevotella, and Prevotellaceae UCG-001 were associated with the beneficial effects of SOTA. Furthermore, functional prediction of gut microbiota and correlation analysis support the significance of these dynamic microbial communities. In conclusion, these findings suggest that SOTA could serve as a potential drug to ameliorate cardiac dysfunction and depressive symptoms in MI patients via through the gut-heart-brain axis.