Luminescent ZnSe/ZnO Heterostructures for Photocatalytic Degradation of Azophloxine Dye and Bioimaging Applications.

Herein, we demonstrate a simple hydrothermal route to synthesizing ZnSe/ZnO type II heterostructure using L-cysteine as a capping agent. The use of nanomaterials in bioimaging and photocatalysis towards the degradation of Azophloxine dye is of potential interest. The synthesized ZnSe/ZnO nanomaterials were characterized by UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

Selective oxidation of glycerol mediated by surface plasmon of gold nanoparticles deposited on titanium dioxide nanowires.

This paper describes an alternative method for the in situ synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with a particle size of less than 3 nm, using nanoreactors formed by reverse micelles of 1,4-bis-(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate sodium (AOT) and nanoparticle stabilization with l-cysteine, which favor the preparation of nanoparticles with size and shape control, which are homogeneously dispersed (1% by weight) on the support of titanium dioxide nanowires (TNWs). To study the activity and selectivity of the prepared catalyst (AuNPs@TNWs), an aqueous solution of 40 mM glycerol was irradiated with a green laser (λ = 530 nm, power = 100 mW) in the presence of the catalyst and O as an oxidant at 22 °C for 6 h, obtaining a glycerol conversion of 86% with a selectivity towards hydroxypyruvic acid (HA) of more than 90%. From the control and reactions, we concluded that the Ti-OH groups promote the glycerol adsorption on the nanowires surface and the surface plasmon of the gold nanoparticles favors the selectivity of the reaction towards the hydroxypyruvic acid.

Probing Basal and Prismatic Planes of Graphitic Materials for Metal Single Atom and Subnanometer Cluster Stabilization.

Supported metal single atom catalysis is a dynamic research area in catalysis science combining the advantages of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis. Understanding the interactions between metal single atoms and the support constitutes a challenge facing the development of such catalysts, since these interactions are essential in optimizing the catalytic performance. For conventional carbon supports, two types of surfaces can contribute to single atom stabilization: the basal planes and the prismatic surface; both of which can be decorated by defects and surface oxygen groups.

Chlorin e6-Conjugated Mesoporous Titania Nanorods as Potential Nanoplatform for Photo-Chemotherapy.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has developed as an efficient strategy for cancer treatment. PDT involves the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by light irradiation after activating a photosensitizer (PS) in the presence of O. PS-coupled nanomaterials offer additional advantages, as they can merge the effects of PDT with conventional enabling-combined photo-chemotherapeutics effects.

Catalytic Selective Oxidation of β-O-4 Bond in Phenethoxybenzene as a Lignin Model Using (TBA)[PMoVO] Nanocatalyst: Optimization of Operational Conditions.

The catalytic oxidation of phenethoxybenzene as a lignin model compound with a β-O-4 bond was conducted using the Keggin-type polyoxometalate nanocatalyst (TBA)[PMoVO]. The optimization of the process's operational conditions was carried out using response surface methodology. The statistically significant variables in the process were determined using a fractional factorial design.

A Simplified Kinetic Model for the Enantioselective Hydrogenation of 1-Phenyl-1,2-Propanedione over Ir/TiO in the Presence of a Chiral Additive.

This communication proposes a preliminary simplified kinetic model for the hydrogenation of 1-phenyl-1,2-propanedione that can render up to eight compounds, involving regioselectivity and enantioselectivity. The catalytic system comprises two functionalities; the heterogeneous catalyst (Ir/TiO) plays the role for the hydrogenation, whereas the adsorption/binding to the active site is played by a chiral molecule (cinchonidine), added to the reaction mixture. The reaction occurs at room temperature and total pressure of 40 bar.

Gold nanoparticle-decorated earth-abundant clay nanotubes as catalyst for the degradation of phenothiazine dyes and reduction of 4-(4-nitrophenyl)morpholine.

In the present work, halloysite nanotubes modified with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs-HNT) are successfully prepared by wet chemical method for the catalytic degradation of phenothiazine dyes (azure B (AZB) and toluidine blue O (TBO)) and also cleaner reduction of 4-(4-nitrophenyl)morpholine (4NM) in the sodium borohydride (NaBH) media. The catalyst is formulated by modifying the HNT support with a 0.964% metal loading using the HNT supports modified with 3-aminopropyl-trimethoxysilane (APTMS) coupling agent to facilitate the anchoring sites to trap the AuNPs and to prevent their agglomeration/aggregation.

Dataset from analytical pyrolysis assays for converting waste tires into valuable chemicals in the presence of noble-metal catalysts.

About 25.7 million tons of waste tires (WT) are discarded each year worldwide causing important environmental, and health problems. This waste is difficult to manage and dispose due to its huge rate of generation and its extremely slow biodegradation.

Rational Design of Novel Glycomimetic Peptides for E-Selectin Targeting.

E-selectin is a cell-adhesion receptor with specific recognition capacity toward sialo-fucosylated Lewis carbohydrates present in leukocytes and tumor cells. E-selectin interactions mediate the progress of inflammatory processes and tumor metastasis, which aroused the interest in using this protein as a biomolecular target to design glycomimetic inhibitors for active targeting or therapeutic purposes. In this work, we report the rational discovery of two novel glycomimetic peptides targeting E-selectin based on mutations of the reference selectin-binding peptide IELLQAR.

NanoMIPs Design for Fucose and Mannose Recognition: A Molecular Dynamics Approach.

Nanoscale molecularly imprinted polymers (nanoMIPs) are powerful molecular recognition tools with broad applications in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of complex diseases. In this work, fully atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are used to assist the design of nanoMIPs with recognition capacity toward l-fucose and d-mannose as prototype disease biomarkers. MD simulations were conducted on prepolymerization mixtures containing different molar ratios of the monomers -isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM), methacrylamide (MAM), and (4-acrylamidophenyl)(amino)methaniminium acetate (AB) and fixed molar ratios of the cross-linker ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) in explicit acetonitrile as the porogenic solvent.

High extracellular ATP levels released through pannexin-1 channels mediate inflammation and insulin resistance in skeletal muscle fibres of diet-induced obese mice.

Aims/hypothesis: Skeletal muscle is a key target organ for insulin's actions and is the main regulator of blood glucose. In obese individuals and animal models, there is a chronic low-grade inflammatory state affecting highly metabolic organs, leading to insulin resistance. We have described that adult skeletal muscle fibres can release ATP to the extracellular medium through pannexin-1 (PANX1) channels.

The metabolic dysfunction of white adipose tissue induced in mice by a high-fat diet is abrogated by co-administration of docosahexaenoic acid and hydroxytyrosol.

Background: Nutritional interventions are promising tools for the prevention of obesity. The n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 LCPUFA) docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) modulates immune and metabolic responses while the antioxidant hydroxytyrosol (HT) prevents oxidative stress (OS) in white adipose tissue (WAT).

Objective: The DHA plus HT combined protocol prevents WAT alterations induced by a high-fat diet in mice.

Protective Effects of Eicosapentaenoic Acid Plus Hydroxytyrosol Supplementation Against White Adipose Tissue Abnormalities in Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet.

Objective: Obesity induced by high-fat diet (HFD) elicits white adipose tissue dysfunction. In this study, we have hypothesized that the metabolic modulator eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) combined with the antioxidant hydroxytyrosol (HT) attenuates HFD-induced white adipose tissue (WAT) alterations.

Methods: C57BL/6J mice were administered with a HFD (60% fat, 20% protein, 20% carbohydrates) or control diet (CD; 10% fat, 20% protein, 70% carbohydrates), with or without EPA (50 mg/kg/day), HT (5 mg/kg/day), or both for 12 weeks.

Suppression of high-fat diet-induced obesity-associated liver mitochondrial dysfunction by docosahexaenoic acid and hydroxytyrosol co-administration.

Objective: Obesity-induced by high-fat diet (HFD) is associated with liver steatosis, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction, which can be eluded by the co-administration of the lipid metabolism modulator docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and the antioxidant hydroxytyrosol (HT).

Methods: C57BL/6J mice fed a HFD were orally administered either with vehicle, DHA, HT or DHA+HT for 12 weeks. We measured parameters related to insulin resistance, serum lipid levels, liver fatty acid (FA) content and steatosis score, concomitantly with those associated with mitochondrial energy functions modulated by the transcriptional coactivator PGC-1a.

Colorimetric determination of cysteamine based on the aggregation of polyvinylpyrrolidone-stabilized silver nanoparticles.

A simple, colorimetric and visual method is described for the determination of cysteamine (CA) using polyvinylpyrrolidone-stabilized silver nanoparticles (PVP-AgNPs) as a colorimetric probe. The sensing method was based on the aggregation of PVP-AgNPs that led to the changes in the color and absorption profile of the probe. The aggregation of PVP-AgNPs in the presence of CA was evidenced by using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), zeta and dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements.

Liquid Phase Hydrogenation of Pharmaceutical Interest Nitroarenes over Gold-Supported Alumina Nanowires Catalysts.

In this work, Au nanoparticles, supported in AlO nanowires (ANW) modified with (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane were synthetized, for their use as catalysts in the hydrogenation reaction of 4-(2-fluoro-4-nitrophenyl)-morpholine and 4-(4-nitrophenyl)morpholin-3-one. ANW was obtained by hydrothermal techniques and the metal was incorporated by the reduction of the precursor with NaBH posterior to superficial modification. The catalysts were prepared at different metal loadings and were characterized by different techniques.

The Effect of the ZrO Loading in SiO@ZrO-CaO Catalysts for Transesterification Reaction.

The effect of the ZrO loading was studied on spherical SiO@ZrO-CaO structures synthetized by a simple route that combines the Stöber and sol-gel methods. The texture of these materials was determined using S by N adsorption, where the increment in SiO spheres' surface areas was reached with the incorporation of ZrO. Combined the characterization techniques of using different alcoholic dissolutions of zirconium (VI) butoxide 0.

Magnetic FeO@SiO-Pt and FeO@SiO-Pt@SiO Structures for HDN of Indole.

The effect of a second porous SiO shell in the activity and selectivity of the FeO@SiO-Pt catalyst in the hydrodenitrogenation of indole is reported. The double FeO@SiO-Pt@SiO structure was prepared by coating FeO nanoparticles with tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) with a further impregnation of 1.0 wt.

Mesoporous Palladium N,N'-Bis(3-Allylsalicylidene)o-Phenylenediamine-Methyl Acrylate Resins as Heterogeneous Catalysts for the Heck Coupling Reaction.

Palladium N,N'-bis(3-allylsalicylidene)o-phenylenediamine complex (PdAS) immobilized onto mesoporous polymeric methyl acrylate (MA) based resins (PdAS(x)-MA, x = 1, 2, 5, or 10 wt.%) were successfully prepared as heterogeneous catalysts for the Heck reaction. The catalysts were synthesized via radical suspension polymerization using PdAS as a metal chelate monomer, divinylbenzene and MA as co-monomers.

Magnetic Fe₂O₃⁻SiO₂⁻MeO₂⁻Pt (Me = Ti, Sn, Ce) as Catalysts for the Selective Hydrogenation of Cinnamaldehyde. Effect of the Nature of the Metal Oxide.

The type of metal oxide affects the activity and selectivity of Fe₂O₃⁻SiO₂⁻MeO₂⁻Pt (Me = Ti, Sn, Ce) catalysts on the hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde. The double shell structure design is thought to protect the magnetic Fe₂O₃ cores, and also act as a platform for depositing a second shell of TiO₂, SnO₂ or CeO₂ metal oxide. To obtain a homogeneous metallic dispersion, the incorporation of 5 wt % of Pt was carried out over Fe₂O₃⁻SiO₂⁻MeO₂ (Me = Ti, Sn, Ce) structures modified with (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane by successive impregnation-reduction cycles.

Role of ABCA1 on membrane cholesterol content, insulin-dependent Akt phosphorylation and glucose uptake in adult skeletal muscle fibers from mice.

The ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) promotes cellular cholesterol efflux, leading to cholesterol binding to the extracellular lipid-free apolipoprotein A-I. ABCA1 regulates lipid content, glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in adipose tissue. In skeletal muscle, most GLUT4-mediated glucose transport occurs in the transverse tubule, a system composed by specialized cholesterol-enriched invaginations of the plasma membrane.

IP receptor blockade restores autophagy and mitochondrial function in skeletal muscle fibers of dystrophic mice.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is characterized by a severe and progressive destruction of muscle fibers associated with altered Ca homeostasis. We have previously shown that the IP receptor (IPR) plays a role in elevating basal cytoplasmic Ca and that pharmacological blockade of IPR restores muscle function. Moreover, we have shown that the IPR pathway negatively regulates autophagy by controlling mitochondrial Ca levels.

Muscle function decline and mitochondria changes in middle age precede sarcopenia in mice.

Sarcopenia is the degenerative loss of muscle mass and strength with aging. Although a role of mitochondrial metabolism in muscle function and in the development of many diseases has been described, the role of mitochondrial topology and dynamics in the process of muscle aging is not fully understood. This work shows a time line of changes in both mitochondrial distribution and skeletal muscle function during mice lifespan.

Effects of Liposomes Contained in Thermosensitive Hydrogels as Biomaterials Useful in Neural Tissue Engineering.

Advances in the generation of suitable thermosensitive hydrogels for the delivery of cells in neural tissue engineering demonstrate a delicate relationship between physical properties and capabilities to promote cell proliferation and differentiation. To improve the properties of these materials, it is possible to add liposomes for the controlled release of bioactive elements, which in turn can affect the physical and biological properties of the hydrogels. In the present investigation, different hydrogels based on Pluronic F127 have been formulated with the incorporation of chitosan and two types of liposomes of two different sizes.