ABSTRACT
Hydrogen produced by electrochemical water splitting offers a hopeful and renewable solution for addressing the global energy crisis; however, development of highly efficient non-noble-metal electrocatalysts remains a big challenge. Herein, we report a facile strategy to fabricate oxygen deficiencies-rich nickel/nickel (oxy)hydroxide hybrid films as efficient electrocatalysts for water splitting by in situ oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activation. Under OER conditions, the originally deposited Ni films from the ethaline-based deep eutectic solvent (DES) undergo a structural rearrangement with a phase transformation in the oxidation state from Ni(ii) to Ni(iii) at the surface. The change is coupled with an increase in oxygen deficiencies and a pronounced defective precursor is induced by the addition of nitrate ions, providing structural disordering and boosting the intrinsic activity of the catalyst, which strongly enhances the water splitting performance.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: In this study, we investigated whether insulin and selenium in combination (In/Se) suppresses cardiomyocyte apoptosis and whether this protection is mediated by Cbl-b regulating p38MAPK/CBP/Ku70 pathway. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Firstly, H9c2 cardiomyocytes were treatment with high glucose (25 mmol/L) and palmitate (600 µmol/L) (HG/Pal). Next, H9c2 cardiomyocytes were treatment with HG/Pal+In/Se (10 nmol/L Insulin in combination with 10 nmol/L selenium). Finally, cells were treated with siRNA against Cbl-b, followed by HG/Pal and HG/Pal+In/Se treatment. Then, Cell apoptosis was observed by flow cytometry (FCM). The levels of Cbl-b, p-p38MAPK, CBP and Bax were examined by Western blotting. The acetylated Ku70 was detected by immunoprecipitation. RESULTS: Insulin and selenium in combination reduced cell apoptosis, up-regulated Cbl-b expression, down-regulated p38MAPK, CBP and acetylated Ku70 expressions and prevented Bax translocation, whereas Cbl-b knockdown strongly suppressed In/Se-induced these effects in HG/Pal-treated cardiomyocytes. CONCLUSIONS: Insulin and selenium synergistically suppressed cardiomyocyte apoptosis by Cbl-b regulating p38MAPK/CBP/Ku70 pathway.
