A novel sponge-like composite biosorbent fabricated by sodium alginate and polyethyleneimine for uranium(VI) extraction from seawater.

Uranium extraction from seawater (UES) has important strategic significance for maintaining the sustainable development of nuclear energy. This article presents the preparation of a low-cost, efficient, and highly reusable biosorbent sodium alginate/polyethyleneimine (SA/PEI) through a simple one-step crosslinking process. The chemical crosslinking between PEI and SA provides biosorbent excellent mechanical strength and thermal stability.

β-Cyclodextrin and diatomite immobilized in sodium alginate biosorbent for selective uranium(VI) adsorption in aqueous solution.

The separation and enrichment of uranium from various resources such as seawater is of great significance to the sustainable development of nuclear energy. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop an adsorbent with low cost and easy availability, simple preparation process, and environment friendly. In this work, we used inexpensive natural polymer material (sodium alginate) and natural adsorbents (β-cyclodextrin and diatomite) to prepare a novel biosorbent β-cyclodextrin/sodium alginate/diatomite (CSD) hydrogel beads for uranium adsorption by a simple method.

Graphene oxide encapsulated polyvinyl alcohol/sodium alginate hydrogel microspheres for Cu (II) and U (VI) removal.

In this work, a novel sodium alginate (SA)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/graphene oxide (GO) hydrogel microspheres were prepared by a simple method. Sodium alginate was physically crosslinked by Ca; GO was encapsulated into the composite to strengthen the hydrogels; PVA played a significant role in well dispersing of GO in SA. The SA/PVA/GO (SPG) hydrogels were employed as an efficient adsorbent for removal of Cu (II) and U (VI) from aqueous solution.

Preparation of a novel polyacrylic acid and chitosan interpenetrating network hydrogel for removal of U(vi) from aqueous solutions.

A clean and simple method has been developed for preparation of interpenetrating polymer networks using polyacrylic acid (PAA) and chitosan (CS) for extraction of uranium from polluted water. The peak of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) occurred at 928 cm indicating combination of uranium and PAA/CS. The energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and the scanning electron microscope (SEM) studies illustrated the formation of a crosslinking structure and excellent binding ability of uranium on PAA/CS.

Modification of chitosan/calcium alginate/FeO hydrogel microsphere for enhancement of Cu(II) adsorption.

Copper in drinking water causes a significant environmental problem. Composite material based on alginate hydrogel has been gaining attention in the field of Cu(II) adsorption. However, alginate-based hydrogel exhibits poor mechanical property and relative low adsorption capacity which limit their application.

Encapsulating FeO into calcium alginate coated chitosan hydrochloride hydrogel beads for removal of Cu (II) and U (VI) from aqueous solutions.

The aim of this work was to study the removal of Cu (II) and U (VI) ions from aqueous solutions by encapsulating magnetic FeO nanoparticles into calcium alginate coated chitosan hydrochloride (CCM) hydrogel beads. ATR-FTIR and XRD analysis data indicated that the CCM composites were successfully prepared. SEM images and EDX spectra showed that Cu and UO ions were adhered onto sorbents.

Oxidative removal of phenol by HRP-immobilized beads and its environmental toxicology assessment.

Horseradish peroxidase shows potential biological and environmental applications on the removal of phenolic compounds. In the present study, the HRP-immobilized beads were synthesized to detect the efficiency of the removal of phenol at optimum pH and H2O2 concentration. Comparative in vitro cytotoxicity of phenol/treated solutions were evaluated in HeLa, HepG2 and mcf-7 cells by using MTT method along with flow cytometry study for cell viability and cell cycle distributions.

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Novel Ursolic acid Derivatives as Potential Anticancer Prodrugs.

Ursolic acid (UA) is a natural product which has been shown to possess a wide range of pharmacological activities, in particular those with anticancer activity. In this study, 13 novel ursolic acid derivatives were designed and synthesized in an attempt to further improve compound potency. The structures of the newly synthesized compounds were confirmed using mass spectrometry, infrared spectroscopy, and (1) H NMR.

A pentacyclic triterpene natural product, ursolic acid and its prodrug US597 inhibit targets within cell adhesion pathway and prevent cancer metastasis.

Here we showed that ursolic acid (UA), a pentacyclic triterpene natural product, and its novel prodrug derivative US597 suppressed cancer cells adhesion, invasion and migration. This effect was accompanied by inhibition of focal adhesion signaling pathway including alterations in ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-selectin, P-selectin, integrin α6β1, FAK, Src, paxillin and PTEN. While oral administration of UA or US597 increases survival rate of melanoma lung metastasis in C57BL/6 mice, US597 treatment extend the survival rate above that of UA.

UP12, a novel ursolic acid derivative with potential for targeting multiple signaling pathways in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Targeting cancer cell glucose metabolism is a promising strategy for cancer therapy. In past approaches to cancer drug discovery, ursolic acid (UA) has been chemically modified to improve its antitumor activities and bioavailability. Here, a novel ursolic acid (UA) derivative UP12 was developed via computer-aided drug design to explore potent anti-cancer agents and to examine possible mechanisms.

Synthesis, spectral characterization, and in vitro cellular activities of metapristone, a potential cancer metastatic chemopreventive agent derived from mifepristone (RU486).

Mifepristone (RU486) is marketed and used widely by women as an abortifacient, and experimentally for psychotic depression and anticancer treatments. After administration, metapristone is found to be the most predominant metabolite of mifepristone. We hypothesized that adhesion of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) to vascular endothelial bed is a crucial starting point in metastatic cascade, and that metapristone can serve as a cancer metastatic chemopreventive agent that can interrupt adhesion and invasion of CTCs to the intima of microvasculature.

Synergism of ursolic acid derivative US597 with 2-deoxy-D-glucose to preferentially induce tumor cell death by dual-targeting of apoptosis and glycolysis.

Ursolic acid (UA) is a naturally bioactive product that exhibits potential anticancer effects. The relatively safe and effective molecule intrigued us to explore a way to further improve its anti-cancer activity and tumor-targeting specificity. In the present study, a series of structural modifications of UA was achieved, which resulted in significant increase in growth inhibition on various cancer cell lines with minimal effects on normal cells.

[An experimental study(II) on the inhibition of prostatic hyperplasia by extract of seeds of Brassica alba].

Objective: To study the active components and their functionary mechanism of the extract of Brassica alba seeds, which inhibits experimental mice prostatic hyperplasia.

Method: Prostatic hyperplasia of castrated male mice induced by testosterone propionate, the penetrability of capillary vessel of mice skin induced by histamine and the endermic flesh bud of rat induced by filter paper were used as experimental models. Sinalbin and beta-sitosterol separated from seeds of Brassica alba were used to test the activities.

[An experimental study(I) on the inhibition of prostatic hyperplasia with extract of seeds of Brassica alba].

Objective: To study the effective fraction of the extract of seeds of Brassica alba, which inhibits experimental mice prostatic hyperplasia.

Method: An experimental model of prostatic hyperplasia of castrated male mice induced by testosterone propionate was made. Fractions I, II and III were prepared by extracting the seeds of Brassica alba successively with ether, ethanol and water under reflux.