Cinnamaldehyde and Doxorubicin Co-Loaded Graphene Oxide Wrapped Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Enhanced MCF-7 Cell Apoptosis.

BACKGROUND: Combined chemotherapy is often affected by the different physicochemical properties of chemotherapeutic drugs, which should be improved by the reasonable design of co-loaded preparations. PURPOSE: A kind of simple but practical graphene oxide (GO) wrapped mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) modified with hyaluronic acid (MSN@GO-HA) were developed for the co-delivery of cinnamaldehyde (CA) and doxorubicin (DOX), in order to enhance their combined treatment on tumor cells and reduce their application defects. METHODS: The MSNCA@GODOX-HA was constructed by MSNCA (loading CA via physical diffusion) and GODOX-HA (modified with HA and loading DOX via π-π stacking) through the electrostatic adsorption, followed by the physicochemical characterization, serum stability and in vitro release study. Cytotoxicity on different cells was detected, followed by the tumor cell uptake tests. The intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) changes, mitochondrial functions and activities of caspase-3/-9 in MCF-7 cells were also evaluated, respectively. RESULTS: The MSNCA@GODOX-HA nanoparticles kept stable in FBS solution and achieved pH-responsive release behavior, which was beneficial to increase the accumulation of CA and DOX in tumor cells to enhance the treatment. MSNCA@GODOX-HA exerted higher cytotoxicity to MCF-7 human breast cancer cells than H9c2 cardiac myocyte cells, which were not only attributed to the active targeting to tumor cells by HA, but also related with the activation of intrinsic apoptotic pathway in MCF-7 cells induced by CA, which was mediated by the specific ROS signal amplification and the interference with mitochondrial function. Moreover, the efficacy of DOX was also enhanced by the above process. CONCLUSION: The establishment of the MSNCA@GODOX-HA nanoparticles played a role in promoting strengths and restricting shortcomings of CA and DOX, thereby exerting their function and achieving efficient treatment against cancer.

Cytotoxic compound triacremoniate from Marine Fungus Acremonium citrinum. MMF4.

Two new compounds, triacremoniate (1) and dietziamide C (2) along with known compounds ß-Adenosine (3) and acrepyrone A (4) were obtained from the mangrove-derived fungus Acremonium citrinum. MMF4. Their structures were unambiguously determined by extensive spectroscopic methods, including UV, IR, HRESIMS and NMR. Triacremoniate (1) can promote apoptosis of HeLa cells by increasing the PARP cleavage and the phosphorylation of JNK and p38.

Enantioselective Direct α-Arylation of Pyrazol-5-ones with 2-Indolylmethanols via Organo-Metal Cooperative Catalysis.

The first catalytic asymmetric α-arylation of pyrazol-5-ones has been established by using 2-indolylmethanols as direct electrophilic arylation reagents under the cooperative catalysis of Pd(0) and a chiral phosphoric acid, which afforded the α-arylation products of pyrazol-5-ones in generally high yields and good enantioselectivities (up to 99% yield, >99% ee).

Propagation of SH waves in an infinite/semi-infinite piezoelectric/piezomagnetic periodically layered structure.

In this paper, SH bulk/surface waves propagating in the corresponding infinite/semi-infinite piezoelectric (PE)/piezomagnetic (PM) and PM/PE periodically layered composites are investigated by two methods, the stiffness matrix method and the transfer matrix method. For a semi-infinite PE/PM or PM/PE medium, the free surface is parallel to the layer interface. Both PE and PM materials are assumed to be transversely isotropic solids. Dispersion equations are derived by the stiffness/transfer matrix methods, respectively. The effects of electric-magnetic (ME) boundary conditions at the free surface and the layer thickness ratios on dispersion curves are considered in detail. Numerical examples show that the results calculated by the two methods are the same. The dispersion curves of SH surface waves are below the bulk bands or inside the frequency gaps. The ratio of the layer thickness has an important effect not only on the bulk bands but also on the dispersion curves of SH surface waves. Electric and magnetic boundary conditions, respectively, determine the dispersion curves of SH surface waves for the PE/PM and PM/PE semi-infinite structures. The band structures of SH bulk waves are consistent for the PE/PM and PM/PE structures, however, the dispersive behaviors of SH surface waves are indeed different for the two composites. The realization of the above-mentioned characteristics of SH waves will make it possible to design PE/PM acoustic wave devices with periodical structures and achieve the better performance.

TLR2 Plays a Critical Role in HMGB1-Induced Glomeruli Cell Proliferation Through the FoxO1 Signaling Pathway in Lupus Nephritis.

The objective of this study was to examine the role and possible mechanisms of toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) in high-mobility group box chromosomal protein 1 (HMGB1)-induced mouse mesangial cell (MMC) proliferation and glomeruli proliferation of MRL/Fas(lpr) mice. First, the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), TLR2 and Forkhead box protein O1 (FoxO1) messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein in the glomeruli of MRL/Fas(lpr) mice was quantified, and the correlation with cell proliferation of glomeruli was analyzed. Then, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), TLR2 neutralization antibody, and small hairpin TLR2 (shTLR2) were used to confirm the role of TLR2 in HMGB1-induced MMC proliferation. Furthermore, wild-type FoxO1 (WT-FoxO1) vector was used to investigate the effect of FoxO1 pathway on HMGB1-induced MMC proliferation. Finally, electroporation was used to knockdown TLR2 in the glomeruli of MRL/Fas(lpr) mice, and renal function, FoxO1, and PCNA expression were detected. The results showed that the TLR2 expression was upregulated and FoxO1 expression was decreased in the glomeruli of MRL/Fas(lpr) mice, and these effects were significantly correlated with cell proliferation of the glomeruli. In vitro, the TLR2 neutralization antibody and the WT-FoxO1 vector, both reduced the MMC proliferation levels induced by HMGB1. The TLR2 neutralization antibody also blocked the HMGB1-dependent activation of the FoxO1 pathway and cell proliferation. In addition, transfection with shTLR2 decreased the proliferation levels and PCNA expression induced by HMGB1. In vivo, treatment with shTLR2 significantly reduced the PCNA expression in the glomeruli of MRL/Fas(lpr) mice and improved renal function. In addition, treatment with shTLR2 or blocking of TLR2 also reduced the translocation of FoxO1. Thus, TLR2 plays a critical role in HMGB1-induced glomeruli cell proliferation through the FoxO1 signaling pathway in lupus nephritis.

Interface energy effect on the dispersion relation of nano-sized cylindrical piezoelectric/piezomagnetic composites.

Interface between the constituents plays an important role in the non-destructive detection of smart piezoelectric/piezomagnetic devices. The propagation of SH waves in nano-sized cylindrically multiferroic composites consisting of a piezoelectric layer and a piezomagnetic central cylinder is investigated, and the size-dependent dispersion relation with interface effect is derived. The general solutions of decoupled governing equation in different regions are expressed by using Bessel functions, and the unknown coefficients are determined by satisfying the boundary conditions at the inner interface with negligible thickness and the outer surface of the structure. Through the numerical examples of dispersion relation, it is found that the interface around the nano-cylinder may remarkably reduce the phase velocity, depending on the combination of the value of thickness ratio and the surface condition. The interface shows different effect on the first and second modes of dispersion relation.

SH wave propagation in magnetic-electric periodically layered plates.

In this paper, dispersive behavior and band structure of SH waves in magnetic-electric (ME) periodically layered plate are investigated by the transfer matrix method. Two kinds of unit cell form, one is piezoelectric (PE)/piezomagnetic (PM)/PE, and the other is PM/PE/PM, are considered in detailed. A peculiar case of the generalized single-celled plate is first presented and then the multi-celled periodical layered plates for discussion on the propagation behaviors and the band characteristics of SH waves, respectively. The effects on dispersive curves of four kinds of ME boundary conditions at the free surface of plates are discussed. Numerical examples for phase velocities or frequencies all show that the zero-order mode is non-dispersive both for single-celled and multi-celled periodically layered plates. The high modes of dispersive curves tend to the shear wave velocity of the slower sub-layer as frequencies increase both for these two structures. The frequency pass-band and frequency band gaps appear in multi-layered ME periodically layered plates. Electrical and magnetic boundary conditions, respectively, determine the dispersive curves for SH waves in the PE/PM/PE and PM/PE/PM periodically layered plates.

Fundamental formulations and recent achievements in piezoelectric nano-structures: a review.

Piezoelectric nano-structures have been regarded as the next-generation piezoelectric material due to their inherent nano-sized piezoelectricity. This review summarizes the recent theoretical and experimental findings in piezoelectric nano-structures, including piezoelectric nanowires, nanoplates, nanobeams, nanofilms, nanoparticles, and piezoelectric heterogeneous materials containing piezoelectric nano-inhomogeneities. To begin, the types of piezoelectric nano-structured materials and the wide application of piezoelectric nano-structures in recent years are delineated. Next, the theoretical foundations including the definition of surface stress and electric displacement, the surface constitutive relations, the surface equilibrium equations, and nonlocal piezoelectricity, and their applications, are illustrated. Then, the effective mechanical and piezoelectric properties are depicted. Furthermore, the experimental investigations are classified, and some important observations are discussed. Finally, the perspectives and challenges for the future development of piezoelectric nano-structures are pointed out.