Photoelectrochemical determination of malathion by using CuO modified with a metal-organic framework of type Cu-BTC.

A photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensor was constructed for the detection of non-electroactive malathion. It is based on the use of a hierarchical CuO material derived from a Cu-BTC metal-organic framework (where BTC stands for benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid). The modified CuO was obtained by calcination of Cu-BTC at a high temperature (300 °C) and possesses a high photocurrent conversion efficiency. Under irradiation with visible light and in the presence of malathion, the formation of the CuO-malathion complex on the CuO gave rise to an increase in steric hindrance. This results in a decrease in photocurrent. This novel PEC detection method has a lower detection limit of 8.6 × 10-11 mol L-1 and a wide linear range (1.0 × 10-10 ~ 1.0 × 10-5 mol L-1). Graphical abstract Schematic presentation of the Cu-BTC MOF derived photoelectrochemical sensor for non-electroactive malathion detection.

Enhancement of Glucose Utilization by Loesenerine through AMPK Activation in Myotubes.

Type 2 diabetes is characterized by hyperglycemia derived from insulin resistance in periphery tissue. Effects of skeletal muscle on glucose disposal are closely related to insulin resistance. The potential effects on mitochondrial function of loesenerine, a macrocyclic spermidine alkaloid from the aerial part of Euonymus fortunei (TURCZ.) HAND.-MAZZ were observed after a high-throughout screening based on mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) assay. Further pharmacological studies revealed that loesenerine activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway through increasing ADP/ATP ratio by inhibiting mitochondrial respiration. In addition, loesenerine induced 1.07-, 1.14-, and 1.22-fold increment of glucose uptake in C2C12 cells at the concentrations of 20, 40 and 80 µmol/L, respectively. Meanwhile, incubated with loesenerine for 12 h increased glucose consumption in a dose-dependent manner in C2C12 cells. This is the first report that macrocyclic spermidine alkaloid possesses potential hypoglycemic activity in vitro.

Metal/Graphitic Carbon Nitride Composites: Synthesis, Structures, and Applications.

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3 N4 ) has been widely used in fields related to energy and materials science. However, nanostructured g-C3 N4 photocatalysts synthesized by traditional thermal polycondensation methods have the disadvantage of small specific surface areas and wide band gaps; these limit the catalytic activity and application range of g-C3 N4 . Based on the unique nanostructure of g-C3 N4 , it is a feasible method to modify g-C3 N4 with metals to design novel metal-semiconductor composites. Metals alter the photochemical properties of g-C3 N4 , in particular, narrow the band gap and expand photoabsorption into the visible range, which improves the photocatalytic performance. This review covers recent progress in metal/g-C3 N4 nanocomposites for photocatalysts, organic systems, biosensors, and so on. The aim is to summarize the synthetic methods, nanostructures, and applications of metal/g-C3 N4 nanocomposite materials, as well as discuss future research directions in these areas.