Multistimuli-Responsive Shape-Memory Composites with a Water-Assisted Self-Healing Function Based on Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose/Poly(vinyl alcohol)/MXene.

Recent advancements in artificial intelligence have propelled the development of shape-memory polymers (SMPs) with sophisticated, environment-sensitive capabilities. Despite the progress, most of the existing SMPs are limited to responding to a single stimulus and show poor functionality, which has severely hindered their future applications. Herein, we report a high-performance multistimuli-responsive shape-memory and self-healing composite film fabricated by embedding MXene nanosheets into a conventional shape-memory sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) matrix. The incorporation of photothermal MXene nanosheets not only enhances the composite films' mechanical strength but also provides efficient solar-thermal conversion and robust light-actuated shape-memory properties. The resultant composite films exhibit an exceptional shape-memory response to various stimuli including heat, light, and water. Meanwhile, the interfacial interactions can be modulated by adjusting the MXene content, thereby enabling precise manipulation of the shape-memory performance. Moreover, thanks to the intrinsic hydrophilicity of the components and the unique physically cross-linked network, the composite films also demonstrate an effective water-assisted self-healing capability with an impressive healing efficiency of 85.7%. This work offers insights into the development of multifunctional, multistimuli-responsive shape-memory composites, opening up new possibilities for future applications in smart technologies.

FAM237A, rather than peptide PEN and proCCK56-63, binds to and activates the orphan receptor GPR83.

G protein-coupled receptor 83 (GPR83) is primarily expressed in the brain and is implicated in the regulation of energy metabolism and some anxiety-related behaviours. Recently, the PCSK1N/proSAAS-derived peptide PEN, the procholecystokinin-derived peptide proCCK56-63, and family with sequence similarity 237 member A (FAM237A) were all reported as efficient agonists of GPR83. However, these results have not yet been reproduced by other laboratories and thus GPR83 is still officially an orphan receptor. The peptide PEN and proCCK56-63 share sequence similarity; however, they are completely different from FAM237A. To identify its actual ligand(s), in the present study we developed NanoLuc Binary Technology (NanoBiT)-based ligand-binding assay, fluorescent ligand-based visualization, and NanoBiT-based ß-arrestin recruitment assay for human GPR83. Using these assays, we demonstrated that mature human FAM237A could bind to GPR83 with nanomolar range affinity, and could activate this receptor and induce its internalization with nanomolar range efficiency in transfected human embryonic kidney 293T cells. However, we did not detect any interaction of PEN and proCCK56-63 with GPR83 using these assays. Thus, our results confirmed that FAM237A is an efficient agonist of GPR83, but did not support PEN and proCCK56-63 as ligands of this receptor. Clarification of their pairing paves the way for further functional studies of the brain-specific receptor GPR83 and the so far rarely studied neuropeptide FAM237A in the future.

Down-regulation of CX43 expression by miR-1 inhibits the proliferation and invasion of glioma cells.

Background: Connexin (CX) 43 makes glioblastoma resistant to temozolomide, the first-line chemotherapy drug. However, targeting CX43 is very difficult because the mechanisms underlying CX43-mediated resistance remain unclear. CX43 is highly expressed in glioblastoma, which is closely associated with poor prognosis and chemotherapy resistance. The present study was to analyze the mechanism of microRNA (miR)-1 in regulating the proliferation and invasion of glioma cells. Methods: The effects of knockdown of miR-1 on the growth of glioma cell lines were observed by establishing blank, miR-1 inhibitor, and miR-1 mimic groups. Cell proliferation was detected using a Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry, and protein expression was detected by western blot. We used the Student's t-test to assess continuous data between the two groups and the Kruskal-Wallis test was adopted for multiple group comparisons. Results: Compared with the mimics normal control (NC) group, the apoptosis rate of the miR-1-3p mimics group was decreased, while that of the miR-1-3p inhibitor group was increased compared to the inhibitor NC group. In addition, the miR-1-3p mimics model of U251 cells exerted an inhibitory effect on the invasion ability of cells, whereas the miR-1-3p inhibitor model of U251 cells showed an invasion-promoting effect. The dual-luciferase assay showed that miR-1-3p had a targeted relationship with the CX43 gene. Conclusions: Down-regulation of CX43 expression by miR-1 inhibited the infiltration and growth of glioma cells and further promoted the apoptosis of glioma cells by regulating CX43 expression.

Nano-Fe3O4-modified biochar promotes the formation of iron plaque and cadmium immobilization in rice root.

Rice as a paddy field crops, iron-containing materials application could induce its iron plaque formation, thereby affecting cadmium (Cd) transportation in the rhizosphere and its uptake in root. In this study, a hydroponic experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of three exogenous iron materials, namely nano-Fe3O4-modified biochar (BC-Fe), chelated iron (EDTA-Fe), and ferrous sulfate (FeSO4), on the iron plaque formation on the surface of rice root, and to investigate the effects of formed iron plaque on the absorption, migration, and transportation of Cd and Fe in rice plant. The results showed that yellow-brown and brown iron plaque was formed on surface cells of the Fe-treated rice root, and some black particles were embedded in the iron plaque formed by BC-Fe. The proportion of crystallized iron plaque (31.8%-35.9%) formed by BC-Fe was much higher than that formed by EDTA-Fe and FeSO4. The Cd concentrations in the crystallized iron plaque formed by BC-Fe were 7.64-13.0 mg·kg-1, and increased with the increasing of Fe concentrations in the plaque. The Cd translocation factor from root to stem (TFr-s) and the Cd translocation factor from stem to leaf (TFs-l) with BC-Fe treatment decreased by 84.7% and 80.0%, respectively. The results demonstrated that application BC-Fe promoted the formation of iron plaque and enhanced the sequestration of Cd and Fe in roots, thus reduced the transportation and accumulation of Cd in aerial rice tissues.

Effect of three Napier grass varieties on phytoextraction of Cd- and Zn-contaminated cultivated soil under mowing and their safe utilization.

The use of Napier grass to remediate heavy metal-contaminated soil is a new phytoremediation technique. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach.) to remediate Cd- and Zn-contaminated cultivated soil under nonmowing and mowing and the possibility of safe utilization of the stem and leaf after detoxification by liquid extraction. Three Napier grass varieties, P. purpureum cv. Mott (PM), P. purpureum cv. Red (PR), and P. purpureum cv. Guiminyin (PG), were planted in a field with 3.74 mg kg-1 Cd and 321.26 mg kg-1 Zn for 180 days. The maximum amounts of Cd and Zn removed by PG were 197.5 and 5023.9 g ha-1, respectively, almost equaling those of hyperaccumulators. Compared with nonmowing, mowing did not decrease the Cd and Zn contents in various tissues but increased the biomasses of PM, PR, and PG by 86.6%, 18.9%, and 26.1%, respectively. Compared with nonmowing, the amounts of Cd removed by PM, PR, and PG under mowing increased by 110.5%, 40.0%, and 107.9%, respectively, and that of Zn increased by 63.0%, 53.1%, and 71.6%. The dominant Cd and Zn chemical fractions in Napier grass were the pectate- and protein-integrated fractions. After liquid extraction, although the nutrient element (Ca, K, Mg, and Mn) contents in the stem and leaf were reduced significantly, the Cd and Zn contents decreased below the limit of the Chinese Hygienic Standard for Feeds, and the crude protein content was largely retained. Such detoxified stems and leaves can be safely used as feeds or as raw materials for energy production.

Effects of nano-Fe3O4-modified biochar on iron plaque formation and Cd accumulation in rice (Oryza sativa L.).

Nano-Fe3O4-modified biochar (BC-Fe) was prepared by the coprecipitation of nano-Fe3O4 on a rice husk biochar surface. The effects of BC-Fe on cadmium (Cd) bioavailability in soil and on Cd accumulation and translocation in rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. 'H You 518') were investigated in a pot experiment with 7 application rates (0.05-1.6%, w/w). BC-Fe increased the biomass of the rice plants except for the roots and affected the concentration and accumulation of Cd and Fe in the plants. The Cd concentrations of brown rice were significantly decreased by 48.9%, 35.6%, and 46.5% by the 0.05%, 0.2%, and 0.4% BC-Fe treatments, respectively. Soil cation exchange capacity (CEC) increased by 9.4%-164.1% in response to the application of BC-Fe (0.05-1.6%), while the soil Cd availability decreased by 6.81%-25.0%. However, 0.8-1.6% BC-Fe treatments promoted Cd transport to leaves, which could increase the risk of Cd accumulation in brown rice. Furthermore, BC-Fe application promoted the formation of iron plaque and enhanced the root interception of Cd. The formation of iron plaque reduced the toxicity of Cd to rice roots, but this barrier effect was limited and had an interval threshold (DCB-Fe: 22.5-27.3 g·kg-1) under BC-Fe treatments.

Early predictors of hyperlipidemic acute pancreatitis.

The present study aimed to investigate early risk factors for hyperlipidemic acute pancreatitis (HLAP) in order to open up novel routes for its prevention and treatment. Demographics, laboratory data obtained within 48 h, enhanced computed tomography (CT) imaging data and the modified CT severity index (MCTSI) for 111 patients with HLAP who were assessed at Ordos Central Hospital (Ordos, China) between January 2015 and October 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Of these, 17 patients progressed to infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN) and 14 patients progressed to organ failure (OF), the occurrence of which were the study outcomes. The patients were divided into pairs groups: IPN and non-IPN, as well as OF and non-OF, and differences between the groups were determined regarding various clinicopathological parameters. Furthermore, univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed to identify parameters associated with the risk of progression to IPN or OP. On univariate analysis, the following parameters were deemed as being significantly associated with the risk of IPN: Serum calcium ions, C-reactive protein (CRP), extent of necrosis, procalcitonin (PTC) and the MCTSI. Furthermore, calcium ions, red cell distribution width (RDW), extent of necrosis and the MCTSI were significantly associated with the risk of OF on univariate analysis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis for these parameters then indicated that CRP (P=0.014), RDW (P=0.025) and the extent of necrosis (P=0.022) were significant and independent predictors of progression; thus, these are early risk factors for patients with HLAP. Receiver operating characteristic curves were generated to evaluate the predictive value of these factors, and the area under the curve for the three parameters was 0.863 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.646-0.886], 0.727 (95% CI, 0.651-0.803) and 0.833 (95% CI, 0.739-0.936), respectively. Therefore, CRP, RDW and the extent of necrosis are early predictive indexes for the risk of progression in HLAP.

Intracellular Uptake of Curcumin-Loaded Solid Lipid Nanoparticles Exhibit Anti-Inflammatory Activities Superior to Those of Curcumin Through the NF-κB Signaling Pathway.

Curcumin (Cur) is a naturally derived, novel anti-inflammatory agent, but its poor solubility limits its clinical use. The aim of the present study was to encapsulate Cur into solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) to improve its anti-inflammatory activity. The Cur-loaded SLNs (Cur-SLNs) were prepared using emulsification and low-temperature solidification methods. In contrast to free Cur, the particles were well dispersed in aqueous medium, showing a narrow size distribution with a range of 55 : 1.2 nm, a zeta potential value of -26.2 ± 1.3 mV, and a high drug loading efficiency of 37% ± 2.5%. The sustained release of Cur was observed for up to 6 days. The particles displayed enhanced stability in phosphate-buffered saline by protecting the encapsulated Cur against hydrolysis and biotransformation, as well as increasing biocompatibility. Cur-SLNs were more effective than free Cur at reducing the expression levels of several pro- inflammatory mediators, including inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1ß) and nitric oxide (NO), under in vitro conditions. By Western blotting, we found that Cur-SLNs were more active than free Cur in inhibiting the LPS-induced activation of the inflammatory transcription factor NF-κB through the suppression of IκB kinase activation. Compared to free Cur, Cur-SLNs had an increased intracellular uptake over time (observed after 24 h) in RAW264.7 cells. Moreover, the Cur-SLNs (≥ 20 µM) significantly improved RAW264.7 cell viability by inhibiting apoptosis. Thus, these results demonstrated that SLNs could be used as potential anti-inflammatory drug carriers for the treatment of various chronic diseases.

Intracellular uptake of etoposide-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles induces an enhancing inhibitory effect on gastric cancer through mitochondria-mediated apoptosis pathway.

The objective of this study was to prepare and characterize etoposide (VP16)-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) and evaluate their antitumor activity in vitro. VP16-SLNs were prepared using emulsification and low-temperature solidification methods. The physicochemical properties of the VP16-SLNs were investigated by particle-size analysis, zeta potential measurement, drug loading, drug entrapment efficiency, stability, and in vitro drug-release behavior. In contrast to free VP16, the VP16-SLNs were well dispersed in aqueous medium, showing a narrow size distribution at 30-50 nm, a zeta potential value of -28.4 mV, high drug loading (36.91%), and an ideal drug entrapment efficiency (75.42%). The drug release of VP16-SLNs could last up to 60 hours and exhibited a sustained profile, which made it a promising vehicle for drug delivery. Furthermore, VP16-SLNs could significantly enhance in vitro cytotoxicity against SGC7901 cells compared to the free drug. Furthermore, VP16-SLNs could induce higher apoptotic rates, more significant cell cycle arrest effects, and greater cellular uptake in SGC7901 cells than free VP16. Moreover, results demonstrated that the mechanisms of VP16-SLNs were similar to those claimed for free VP16, including induction of cellular apoptosis by activation of p53, release of cytochrome c, loss of membrane potential, and activation of caspases. Thus, these results suggested that the SLNs might be a promising nanocarrier for VP16 to treat gastric carcinoma.

Radiolysis and photolysis studies on active transient species of berberine.

In this paper, the photochemical and photobiological characters of the active radicals of berberine (BBR) was investigated for finding an efficient and safe photosensitizer with highly active transient products using in Photodynamic therapy (PDT) study. The active species of BBR was generated and identified by using pulse radiolysis method. In neutral aqueous solution, BBR react with hydrated electron and hydroxyl radical, forming the radical anion and neutral radical of BBR, and the related reaction rates were determined as 3.5×10(10) and 6.7×10(9) M(-1) s(-1), respectively. Further, the capability of BBR to photosensitize DNA cleavage was testified by laser flash photolysis (LFP) method, the results demonstrated that BBR neutral radical could react with guanine mononucleotide (K=1.9×10(9) M(-1) s(-1)) via electron transfer to give the guanine neutral radical. Additionally BBR selective cleavage single and double strand DNA at guanine moiety was observed. Finally, combining with the thermodynamic calculation, the possible photodamage mechanism of dGMP and DNA induced by BBR was clarified.

Characterization of the triplet state of tanshinone IIA and its reactivity by laser flash photolysis.

Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) has the properties of cardiovascular protection, anti-inflammation, antioxidation and anticancer. Its light-induced instability has drawn our interests in its photochemistry. Therefore, laser flash photolysis herein was used to investigate the transient photochemistry of Tan IIA. Our results show that direct photoexcitation by 355 nm laser pulses or photosensitization by energy transfer can lead to the formation of the triplet state of Tan IIA ((3)Tan IIA*). The triplet absorption spectrum and molar absorption coefficient, and ISC quantum yield were determined. Self-quenching of (3)Tan IIA* by its ground state was identified as an autooxidation reaction. (3)Tan IIA* was proved to react quickly with N, N-dimethylaniline, tert-butylhydroquinone and propyl gallate via electron transfer with the diffusion-controlled rate constants. One of the products with maximum absorption around 390 nm was assigned to the radical anion of Tan IIA. Our results indicate that (3)Tan IIA* is a reactive transient species and can be generated by photosensitization or direct photoexcitation. According to our results, the possible role of Tan IIA as a photosensitizer to induce potential phototoxicity via Type-II pathway in the presence of O2 can be predicted.

Effects of TGF-ß1 and IL-1ß on expression of ADAMTS enzymes and TIMP-3 in human intervertebral disc degeneration.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) and interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) on the expression of a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTS) enzymes and their inhibitor, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 3 (TIMP-3), in human intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. Cells from patients with IVD degeneration were cultured with Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium with Ham's F12 nutrient mixture (DMEM/F12) medium at 37°C in a 5% CO2 incubator. Cell proliferation was measured by cell counting kit-8 assays with varying concentrations of TGF-ß1 and IL-1ß in a time-response experiment. The mRNA and protein expression levels of ADAMTS-4, ADAMTS-5 and TIMP-3 were detected with qPCR and western blot analysis, respectively. The present study demonstrated that TGF-ß1 promoted nucleus pulposus (NP) cell proliferation, decreased the expression of ADAMTS-4 and -5 and increased the expression of TIMP-3. By contrast, the IL-1ß treatment inhibited NP cell proliferation and significantly increased the expression of ADAMTS-4 and -5. However, IL-1ß appeared to have no marked effect on the expression of TIMP-3. This study suggests that TGF-ß1 and IL-1ß are involved in the synthesis and degradation of the extracellular matrix and may act as potential therapeutic targets for the prevention or reversal of IVD degeneration.

Interaction of retinoic acid radical cation with lysozyme and antioxidants: laser flash photolysis study in microemulsion.

All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) plays essential roles in the normal biological processes and the treatment of cancer and skin diseases. Considering its photosensitive property, many studies have been focused on the photochemistry of ATRA. In this study, we investigated the transient phenomena in the laser flash photolysis (LFP) of ATRA in microemulsion to further understand the photochemistry of ATRA. Results show that 355 nm LFP of ATRA in both acidic and alkaline conditions leads to the generation of retinoic acid cation radicals (ATRA(•+)) via biphotonic processes. The employment of microemulsion system allows us to investigate the reaction of hydrophobic ATRA(•+) with molecules of different polarity. Therefore, we studied the reaction activity of ATRA(•+) to many hydrophobic and hydrophilic molecules. Results show that ATRA(•+) can efficiently interact with lysozyme, tyrosine, tryptophan and many antioxidants, such as curcumin (Cur), vitamin C (VC) and gallic acid (GA). The apparent rate constants of these reactions were measured and compared. These findings suggest that ATRA(•+) is a reactive transient product which may pose damage to lysozyme, and antioxidants, such as Cur, VC and GA, may inactivate ATRA(•+) by efficient quenching reactions.

Photoionization of oxidized coenzyme Q in microemulsion: laser flash photolysis study in biomembrane-like system.

Photoexcitation to generate triplet state has been proved to be the main photoreaction in homogeneous system for many benzoquinone derivatives, including oxidized coenzyme Q (CoQ) and its analogs. In the present study, microemulsion of CoQ, a heterogeneous system, is employed to mimic the distribution of CoQ in biomembrane. The photochemistry of CoQ(10) in microemulsion and cyclohexane is investigated and compared using laser flash photolysis and results show that CoQ(10) undergoes photoionization via a monophotonic process to generate radical cation of CoQ(10) in microemulsion and photoexcitation to generate excited triplet state in cyclohexane. Meanwhile, photoreactions of duroquinone (DQ) and CoQ(0) in microemulsion are also investigated to analyze the influence of molecular structure on the photochemistry of benzoquinone derivatives in microemulsion. Results suggest that photoexcitation, which is followed by excited state-involved hydrogen-abstraction reaction, is the main photoreaction for DQ and CoQ(0) in microemulsion. However, photoexcited CoQ(0) also leads to the formation of hydrated electrons. The isoprenoid side chain-involved high resonance stabilization is proposed to explain the difference in photoreactions of CoQ(0) and CoQ(10) in microemulsion. Considering that microemulsion is close to biomembrane system, its photoionization in microemulsion may be helpful to understand the real photochemistry of biological quinones in biomembrane system.

pH-sensitive strontium carbonate nanoparticles as new anticancer vehicles for controlled etoposide release.

Strontium carbonate nanoparticles (SCNs), a novel biodegradable nanosystem for the pH-sensitive release of anticancer drugs, were developed via a facile mixed solvent method aimed at creating smart drug delivery in acidic conditions, particularly in tumor environments. Structural characterization of SCNs revealed that the engineered nanocarriers were uniform in size and presented a dumbbell-shaped morphology with a dense mass of a scale-like spine coating, which could serve as the storage structure for hydrophobic drugs. Chosen as a model anticancer agent, etoposide was effectively loaded into SCNs based on a simultaneous process that allowed for the formation of the nanocarriers and for drug storage to be accomplished in a single step. The etoposide-loaded SCNs (ESCNs) possess both a high loading capacity and efficient encapsulation. It was found that the cumulative release of etoposide from ESCNs is acid-dependent, and that the release rate is slow at a pH of 7.4; this rate increases significantly at low pH levels (5.8, 3.0). Meanwhile, it was also found that the blank SCNs were almost nontoxic to normal cells, and ESCN systems were evidently more potent in antitumor activity compared with free etoposide, as confirmed by a cytotoxicity test using an MTT assay and an apoptosis test with fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis. These findings suggest that SCNs hold tremendous promise in the areas of controlled drug delivery and targeted cancer therapy.

Interaction mechanism between berberine and the enzyme lysozyme.

In the present paper, the interaction between model protein lysozyme (Lys) and antitumorigenic berberine (BBR) was investigated by spectroscopic methods, for finding an efficient and safe photosensitizer with highly active transient products using in photodynamic therapy study. The fluorescence data shows that the binding of BBR could change the environment of the tryptophan (Trp) residues of Lys, and form a new complex. Static quenching is the main fluorescence quenching mechanism between Lys and BBR, and there is one binding site in Lys for BBR and the type of binding force between them was determined to be hydrophobic interaction. Furthermore, the possible interaction mechanism between BBR and Lys under the photoexcitation was studied by laser flash photolysis method, the results demonstrated that BBR neutral radicals (BBR(-H)) react with Trp (K=3.4×10(9)M(-1)s(-1)) via electron transfer to give the radical cation (Trp/NH(+)) and neutral radical of Trp (TrpN). Additionally BBR selectively oxidize the Trp residues of Lys was also observed by comparing the transient absorption spectra of their reaction products. Through thermodynamic calculation, the reaction mechanisms between (3)BBR and Trp or Lys were determined to be electron transfer process.

Enhanced thermotolerance and ethanol tolerance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutated by high-energy pulse electron beam and protoplast fusion.

To increase thermotolerance and ethanol tolerance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain YZ1, the strategies of high-energy pulse electron beam (HEPE) and three rounds of protoplast fusion were explored. The YF31 strain had the characteristics of resistant to high-temperature, high-ethanol tolerance, rapid growth and high yield. The YF31 could grow on plate cultures up to 47 °C, containing 237.5 g L(-1) of ethanol. In particular, the mutant strain YF31 generated 94.2 ± 4.8 g L(-1) ethanol from 200 g glucose L(-1) at 42 °C, which was 2.48 times the production of the wild strain YZ1. Results demonstrated that the variant phenotypes from the strains screening by HEPE irradiation could be used as parent stock for yeast regeneration and the protoplast fusion technology is sufficiently powerful in combining suitable characteristics in a single strain for ethanol fermentation.

One-step bulk preparation of calcium carbonate nanotubes and its application in anticancer drug delivery.

Bulk fabrication of ordered hollow structural particles (HSPs) with large surface area and high biocompatibility simultaneously is critical for the practical application of HSPs in biosensing and drug delivery. In this article, we describe a smart approach for batch synthesis of calcium carbonate nanotubes (CCNTs) based on supported liquid membrane (SLM) with large surface area, excellent structural stability, prominent biocompatibility, and acid degradability. The products were characterized by transmission electron micrograph, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectra, UV-vis spectroscopy, zeta potential, and particle size distribution. The results showed that the tube-like structure facilitated podophyllotoxin (PPT) diffusion into the cavity of hollow structure, and the drug loading and encapsulation efficiency of CCNTs for PPT are as high as 38.5 and 64.4 wt.%, respectively. In vitro drug release study showed that PPT was released from the CCNTs in a pH-controlled and time-dependent manner. The treatment of HEK 293T and SGC 7901 cells demonstrated that PPT-loaded CCNTs were less toxic to normal cells and more effective in antitumor potency compared with free drugs. In addition, PPT-loaded CCNTs also enhanced the apoptotic process on tumor cells compared with the free drugs. This study not only provides a new kind of biocompatible and pH-sensitive nanomaterial as the feasible drug container and carrier but more importantly establishes a facile approach to synthesize novel hollow structural particles on a large scale based on SLM technology.

The protective function of hydrogen sulfide for lysozyme against riboflavin-sensitized photo-oxidation.

Hydrogen sulfide is the third endogenous signaling gasotransmitter, following nitric oxide and carbon monoxide. Recent studies showed that hydrogen sulfide could alleviate many diseases which were related to the oxidative damage of tissues. It reminded us that hydrogen sulfide might serve as an antioxidant to reduce oxidative pressure. This study showed that hydrogen sulfide protected lysozyme from photo-oxidation induced by riboflavin (RF). Laser flash photolysis was used to explore the mechanisms of antioxidant activity of hydrogen sulfide. The scavenging effects of hydrogen sulfide on the triplet state of riboflavin (³RF(*)) and radicals of tryptophan and tyrosine (TyrO· and TrpN·) were attributed to the protection of lysozyme from photo-oxidation. The results suggested that hydrogen sulfide could serve as an antioxidant in alleviation of oxidative pressure.