The Enhanced Hydrophobic, Photothermal, and Anti-Icing/Ice-Melting Performance of C/TiN/WC/PDMS Composite Coating by Inserting a Thermal Insulation Layer.

Enhancing the hydrophobic and photothermal characteristics of the coating can significantly boost its anti-icing/ice-melting capabilities. In this study, an epoxy resin thermal insulation layer is interposed between the aluminum sheet substrate and the C/TiN/WC/PDMS photothermal composite coating. This method not only equips the coating with exceptional superhydrophobic properties but also markedly elevates its photothermal and anti-icing/ice-melting performance.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease causally affects the brain cortical structure: a Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Reduced brain volume, impaired cognition, and possibly a range of psychoneurological disorders have been reported in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); however, no underlying cause has been specified. Here, Mendelian randomization (MR) was employed to determine the causative NAFLD effects on cortical structure.

Methods: We used pooled-level data from FinnGen's published genome-wide association study (GWAS) of NAFLD (1908 cases and 340,591 healthy controls), as well as published GWAS with NAFLD activity score (NAS) and fibrosis stage-associated SNPs as genetic tools, in addition to the Enigma Consortium data from 51,665 patients, were used to assess genetic susceptibility in relation to changes with cortical thickness (TH) and surface area (SA).

The roles of protocadherin-7 in colorectal cancer cells on cell proliferation and its chemoresistance.

Despite the high mutation frequencies of , , and in colorectal cancer (CRC), there are no effective and reliable inhibitors for these biomarkers. Protocadherin-7 (PCDH7) is regarded as a potentially targetable surface molecule in cancer cells and plays an important role in their proliferation, metastasis, and drug resistance. However, the roles and underlying mechanisms of PCDH7 in CRC remain unclear.

Fabrication and characterization of novel macroporous hydrogels based on the polymerizable surfactant AAc-Span80 and their enhanced drug-delivery capacity.

In this study, macroporous pH-sensitive poly[-isopropylacrylamide--acrylic acid-sorbitan monooleate] hydrogels, termed as PNIPAM--AAc-Span80 hydrogels, with an enhanced hydrophobic property and a rich pore structure were prepared by free-radical polymerization in an ethanol/water mixture. The polymerizable surfactant AAc-Span80 was obtained by the esterification of acrylic acid (AAc) and sorbitan monooleate (Span80), which was used to copolymerize with -isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM). The chemical structure, thermal stability, morphology, and amphipathy of the PNIPAM--AAc-Span80 hydrogels were characterized.

Hierarchical Self-Assembly of Triphilic Main-Chain-Type Semifluorinated Alternating Graft Copolymers in Aqueous Solution.

Fluorinated copolymers can self-assemble in solution and form micelles with rare properties due to the peculiar behavior of fluorinated groups. However, the process description of the self-assembly is still largely phenomenological and difficult to explain due to the tendency of the fluorinated segments to segregate from both the hydrophilic and lipophilic segments, which can result in various morphologies. Herein, the controlled formation of ellipsoidal micelles, disklike micelles, and sheets by hierarchical self-assembly of triphilic main-chain-type semifluorinated alternating graft copolymers (AB) A-g-mOEG is presented (where A represents unit of α,ω-diiodoperfluoroalkane, B represents the unit of α,ω-unconjugated diene, and mOEG represents methoxy oligo(ethylene glycol)), which are synthesized by step transfer-addition and radical-termination (START) polymerization and azide-alkyne click chemistry.

Synthesis and Phase Behavior of (Semifluorinated Alkane)-Based Side-Chain Liquid Crystalline Copolymers.

Side-chain liquid crystalline polymer (SCLCP) usually contains a simple and flexible homopolymer as main chain, while its effect on the self-assembly behavior is often ignored. In this work, in order to increase the structural complexity and investigate the interaction between the main chain and mesogens, perfluorinated segments are introduced into the main chain using a photoinduced Step Transfer-Addition & Radical-Termination polymerization method, producing a novel series of SCLCPs containing 4-methoxyphenyl benzoate mesogens, soft hydrocarbon spacers, and a strictly alternating perfluoroalkyl and alkyl backbone. By adjusting the length of spacers or perfluoroalkyl segments, several mesophases with complex chain packing structures are achieved.

Reduction-Induced Crystallization-Driven Self-Assembly of Main-Chain-Type Alternating Copolymers: Transformation from 1D Lines to 2D Platelets.

In recent years, crystalline-driven self-assembly (CDSA) has received enormous attention, but almost only for block copolymers (BCPs). Herein, we introduced perfluorocarbon chains into main-chain-type liquid crystalline alternating copolymers (ACPs) to obtain perfluoroalkane-containing ACPs with periodic C-I bonds in polymer backbones via step transfer-addition and radical-termination (START) polymerization, followed by an iodine reduction reaction of C-I bonds to induce CDSA of ACPs and put forward a novel concept of "reduction-induced crystallization-driven self-assembly" (RI-CDSA) of main-chain-type ACPs for the first time. Finally, we proposed the folded-chain model and mechanism to explain the novel RI-CDSA behavior, and its rationality has been proved by the corresponding experimental results.

An alternating conduction-insulation "molecular fence" model from fluorinated metallopolymers.

Introducing fluoroalkyl chains into metallopolymers is a prerequisite to studying the self-organization effect of fluoroalkyl chains and their structure-property relationship. In this work, we present a fluorinated metallopolymer to build an alternating conduction-insulation "molecular fence" model synthesized by the coordination of Ru(II) and a bis-terpyridine-end-capped-phenyl (BTP) ligand modified with fluoroalkyl chains. Taking advantage of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), a well-aligned periodic linear layered structure is observed clearly, which provides the most direct visualization of the self-organization effect of fluoroalkyl chains for the first time.

Erratum to: Verticillin A inhibits colon cancer cell migration and invasion by targeting .

The online version of the original article can be found at https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.

Facile photochemical synthesis of main-chain-type semifluorinated alternating copolymers catalyzed by conventional amines or halide salts.

In this work, we report a much simpler and low-cost method to prepare main-chain-type semifluorinated alternating copolymers by the formation of a halogen bond (XB) complex between α,ω-diiodoperfluoroalkanes and amines/halide salts. It is interesting that the terminal iodine functional group of the polymer chains is easily lost in the amine-promoted system, while the loss can be significantly reduced by adding a small amount of water. Importantly, the system promoted by halide salts can ensure complete retention of the iodine functional group.

Verticillin A increases the BIM/MCL-1 ratio to overcome ABT-737-resistance in human colon cancer cells by targeting the MEK/ERK pathway.

ABT-737, a small molecule BH-3 mimetic, is less effective against human colon cancers due to its resistance. Verticillin A is a natural compound, which was previously purified from verticillium-infected mushrooms. Hence, we aimed at overcoming the ABT737 resistance observed in CRC tumors by combining Verticillin A with ABT-737 and figuring out the potential mechanism.

Verticillin A inhibits colon cancer cell migration and invasion by targeting c-Met.

Verticillin A is a diketopiperazine compound which was previously isolated from Amanita flavorubescens Alk (containing parasitic fungi Hypomyces hyalines (Schw.) Tul.).

ALOX12B promotes carcinogenesis in cervical cancer by regulating the PI3K/ERK1 signaling pathway.

Cervical cancer is a malignant disease and a threat to women's health worldwide. Surgical resection followed by radiotherapy or chemotherapy is the main treatment strategy for cervical cancer; however, patients with cervical cancer, especially those with late-stage disease, may not benefit from these traditional therapies, which results in poor clinical outcome. ALOX12B is a gene encoding lipoxygenase, and a mutation in ALOX12B was detected in lung and breast cancer.

Construction of NIR Light Controlled Micelles with Photothermal Conversion Property: Poly(poly(ethylene glycol)methyl ether methacrylate) (PPEGMA) as Hydrophilic Block and Ketocyanine Dye as NIR Photothermal Conversion Agent.

Polymeric nanomaterials made from amphiphilic block copolymers are increasingly used in the treatment of tumor tissues. In this work, we firstly synthesized the amphiphilic block copolymer PBnMA--P(BAPMA--PEGMA) via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization using benzyl methacrylate (BnMA), poly (ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA), and 3-((tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino)propyl methacrylate (BAPMA) as the monomers. Subsequently, PBnMA--P(APMA--PEGMA)@NIR 800 with photothermal conversion property was obtained by deprotection of the -butoxycarbonyl (BOC) groups of PBAPMA chains with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and post-modification with carboxyl functionalized ketocyanine dye (NIR 800), and it could self-assemble into micelles in CHOH/water mixed solvent.

A pH-stable positively charged composite nanofiltration membrane with excellent rejection performance.

A novel kind of pH-stable positively charged composite nanofiltration (NF) membrane with excellent rejection performance was developed interfacial polymerization on the surface of a polysulfone (PSF) ultrafiltration (UF) membrane, using a mixture of polyethyleneimine (PEI) and piperazine (PIP) as the monomers of the aqueous phase, and cyanuric chloride (CC) as the monomer of the organic phase. The strong electron withdrawing and steric hindrance effects of the chloride group in the molecules of CC could protect the amido bond from the attack of hydrogen ions (H) or hydroxyl ions (OH) under acidic or alkaline conditions, thus the resultant polyamide composite membranes could be stable in acidic or alkali aqueous solution. A more compact PA active layer could be developed mixing PIP into the PEI aqueous solution, where the PIP molecules could fill the pores of the polymer networks.

Improving the anti-fouling property and permeate flux of hollow fiber composite nanofiltration membrane using β-cyclodextrin.

Hollow fiber composite NF membranes with improved anti-fouling property and water flux were prepared via interfacial polymerizationand layer-by-layer method using polyethylenimine (PEI), isophthaloyl dichloride (IPC), and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD). The chemical structures and the morphologies of the resultant NF membranes were characterized by attenuated total reflectance-fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effects of β-CD concentration on membrane morphologies, nanofiltration performances, surface hydrophilicities and anti-fouling properties were investigated.

Verticillin A suppresses HGF-induced migration and invasion via repression of the c-Met/FAK/Src pathway in human gastric and cervical cancer cells.

 Verticillin A is a fungal epipolythiodioxopiperazine (ETP) metabolite that was isolated from Alk infected by . It was previously proven to possess potent anti-tumor cell growth activity, and we have recently determined that verticillin A is a selective inhibitor of H3K9me3-specific histone methyltransferase. The objective of this study was to find out whether verticillin A is an effective agent for suppression of gastric and cervical tumor progression.

A novel positively charged composite nanofiltration membrane based on polyethyleneimine with a tunable active layer structure developed interfacial polymerization.

A novel positively charged composite nanofiltration (NF) membrane with tunable active layer structure was successfully developed interfacial polymerization on a polysulfone (PSF) ultrafiltration (UF) membrane surface, using polyethyleneimine (PEI) as the monomer of the aqueous phase, and a mixture of isophthaloyl dichloride (IPC) and tri-mesoyl chloride (TMC) as the monomer of the organic phase. Interestingly, a synergetic effect of the mass ratio of IPC and TMC was observed on the pore size and the structure of the active layer of the resultant polyamide (PA)/polysulfone (PSF) composite NF membrane. The rejection () to the inorganic electrolytes increased with the mass ratio of IPC to TMC, while the permeate flux () escalated up to a 1 : 1 mixing ratio of IPC to TMC and dropped at higher mixing ratios.

Organocatalytic Approach to Functional Semifluorinated Polymers Driven by Visible Light.

Through the construction of an organic photocatalysis system, photoredox catalyst (PC)/additive, where PC stands for photoredox catalyst, an organocatalyzed step transfer-addition and radical-termination (O-START) polymerization irradiated by blue LED light at room temperature is realized. Different types of α,ω-diiodoperfluoroalkane A and α,ω-unconjugated diene B are copolymerized through O-START efficiently, and generate various kinds of functional semifluorinated polymers, including polyolefins and polyesters. The process is affected by several factors; solvents, additives, and feed ratio of A to B.

Bioactive supramolecular hydrogel with controlled dual drug release characteristics.

Heparin, a powerful anticoagulant used for the prophylaxis of both surgical and medical thrombosis, was covalently incorporated into a supramolecular hydrogel network. For this attempt, heparin was first conjugated with amino-terminated poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether by carbodiimide chemistry and then used to interact with α-cyclodextrin in aqueous solution. The rheological measurements and X-ray diffraction analyses were used to characterize the hydrogel formation.