"Turn-on" fluorescent sensor for glycerol based on hydrazine-bridged bis-tetraphenylimidazole.

Glycerol is an important biological molecule, but no facile and on-site fluorescence sensor for detecting glycerol has been reported up to now. In this work, the organic fluorescent sensor for glycerol was prepared based on hydrazine-bridged bis-tetraphenylimidazole (HBT), which exhibited an excellent "turn-on" blue fluorescence response in detecting glycerol for the first time. The good sensing selectivity for glycerol among all kinds of organic molecules and ions was confirmed with the low detection limitation (LOD=0.

Anti-Inflammatory and Gut Microbiota Modulation Potentials of Flavonoids Extracted from Fruits.

This study aimed to explore the anti-inflammatory and gut microbiota modulation potentials of flavonoid-rich fraction (PFF) extracted from fruits. The results showed that PFF markedly reduced the production of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells.

Tumor Vascular Destruction and cGAS-STING Activation Induced by Single Drug-Loaded Nano-Micelles for Multiple Synergistic Therapies of Cancer.

Cancer and its metastasis/recurrence still threaten human health, despite various advanced treatments being employed. It is of great significance to develop simple drug formulations to enhance the efficacy and synergistic integration of various monotherapies. Herein, DMXAA, a vasodestructive agent with cGAS-STING stimulation capacity, is integrated with polyethylene glycol grafted poly (lactic-co-glycolic) acid co-polymer (PLGA-PEG), obtaining PLGA-PEG/DMXAA (PPD) nanoparticles to induce the tumor-specific vascular destruction for multiple synergistic therapies of cancer.

Recent advances in biological membrane-based nanomaterials for cancer therapy.

Nanomaterials have shown significant advantages in cancer theranostics, owing to their enhanced permeability and retention effect in tumors and multi-function integration capability. Biological membranes, which are collected from various cells and their secreted membrane structures, can further be applied to establish membrane-based nanomaterials with perfect biocompatibility, tumor-targeting capacity, immune-stimulatory activity and adjustable versatility for cancer therapy. In this review, according to their source, membranes are divided into four groups: (1) cell membranes; (2) secretory membranes; (3) engineered membranes; and (4) hybrid membranes.

Immunological Activity and Gut Microbiota Modulation of Pectin from Kiwano () Peels.

For developing the recycling of fruit by-products from kiwano, a polysaccharide was extracted from kiwano (Cucumis metuliferus) peels, namely Cucumis metuliferus peels polysaccharide (CMPP), with the aim of investigating the potential beneficial effects. The composition of polysaccharides was analyzed by chemical methods. RAW264.

Photo-Driven Delivery of I-Labeled Nanomicelles for Nucleus-Targeted Internal Conversion Electron-Based Cancer Therapy.

As a kind of high linear energy transfer (LET) radiation, internal conversion electrons are emitted from some radionuclides, such as I, triggering severe DNA damage to tumor cells when transported into the nucleus. Herein, we develop a curcumin-loaded nanomicelle composed of a photosensitizer chlorin e6 (Ce6) and amphiphilic poly(ethylene glycol) (poly(maleic anhydride--1-octadecene)-poly(ethylene glycol) (C-PMH-PEG)) to deliver I into the nucleus under 660 nm laser irradiation, leading to the optimized imaging-guided internal conversion electron therapy of cancer. Ce6-containing nanomicelles (Ce6-C-PEG) self-assemble with nucleus-targeted curcumin (Cur), obtaining Ce6-C-PEG/Cur nanoparticles.

Structural characterization and immunological activity of pectin polysaccharide from kiwano (Cucumis metuliferus) peels.

Two novel polysaccharides, namely CMPP-1 and CMPP-2, from kiwano (Cucumis metuliferus) peels were isolated through hot-water extraction, followed by ethanol precipitation and column chromatography. The results showed that CMPP-1 and CMPP-2 were hetero-galacturonans with different molecular weights of 7.35 kDa and 6.

Structural Features of Three Hetero-Galacturonans from Fruits and Their in Vitro Immunomodulatory Effects.

is a horticultural plant and vital traditional Chinese herbal medicine. In our previous study, the characterization and immuno-enhancing effect of fruits polysaccharide 1 (PFP1), a water-eluted hetero-mannan from wild fruits, were investigated. Herein, another three salt-eluted novel polysaccharides, namely PFP2, PFP3, and PFP4, were obtained and structurally characterized.

Structure characterization of a novel polysaccharide from Chinese wild fruits (Passiflora foetida) and its immune-enhancing activity.

A novel polysaccharide (PFP1) with an average molecular weight of 2.02 × 10 g/mol was isolated from Passiflora foetida fruits through hot water extraction, ethanol precipitation and column chromatography. The structure of PFP1 was determined by GPC-MALS-RI, IC, FT-IR, GC-MS and NMR.