A fructan-type garlic polysaccharide upregulates immune responses in macrophage cells and in immunosuppressive mice.

The anti-inflammatory effects of plant polysaccharides are well known. However, the stimulatory effects of polysaccharides under immunosuppressive conditions and their link with the polysaccharide structure is underexplored. In this work, the immune modulatory effects of a garlic polysaccharide (GP) are investigated via in vitro and vivo methods.

Fabrication and assembly of supercapacitors based on Ni-based MOFs and their derivative materials for enhancing their electrochemical performances.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a class of porous materials that have been gradually applied in the field of supercapacitors, but they still present major challenges due to their inherent instability and poor conductivity. Herein, in order to solve these problems, Ni-based MOFs and their derivative materials with a particular spherical structure were prepared using a special calcination method. This unique structure not only improves the conductivity of the electrode, but also promotes the transport of electrons and ions during the electrochemical energy storage process.

Strategies to boost the electrochemical performance of bismuth anodes for potassium-ion batteries.

Potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) are considered potential candidates for large-scale energy storage systems due to the abundant resources of potassium. Among various reported anode materials, bismuth anodes with the advantages of high theoretical specific capacity, low cost, and nontoxicity have attracted widespread attention. However, bismuth anodes experience significant volume changes during the charge/discharge process, leading to unsatisfactory cycling stability and rate performance.

Fabrication of bimetallic MOF-74 derived materials for high-efficiency adsorption of iodine.

Owing to their high porosity, open metal sites, and huge surface area, metal-organic framework (MOF) materials are commonly employed in iodine adsorption processes. Bimetallic MOFs have drawn a lot of attention since mono-metal MOFs have been unable to keep up with the demand. Bimetallic MOF materials still have drawbacks, including limited adsorption capacity, extended adsorption time, poor stability, and poor selectivity, despite their positive performance in radioactive iodine capture.

Entropy-Assisted Anion-Reinforced Solvation Structure for Fast-Charging Sodium-Ion Full Batteries.

Anion-reinforced solvation structure favors the formation of inorganic-rich robust electrode-electrolyte interface, which endows fast ion transport and high strength modulus to enable improved electrochemical performance. However, such a unique solvation structure inevitably injures the ionic conductivity of electrolytes and limits the fast-charging performance. Herein, a trade-off in tuning anion-reinforced solvation structure and high ionic conductivity is realized by the entropy-assisted hybrid ester-ether electrolyte.

Preparation of Novel Nitrogen-Rich Fluorinated Hyperbranched Poly(amide-imide) and Evaluation of Its Electrochromic Properties and Iodine Adsorption Behavior.

In this study, we successfully synthesized a novel triacid monomer by means of the thermal cyclization reaction. Subsequently, a series of nitrogen-rich (A+B)-type fluorinated hyperbranched poly(amide-imide)s (denoted as PAI-1 and -2, respectively) were prepared by means of a one-pot method using this triacid monomer and a diamine monomer with a triphenylamine-carbazole unit as precursors. The degree of support of the prepared hyperbranched PAIs was found to be about 60% via H NMR calculations.

A Novel Azo-Linked Polymer Bearing Trifluoromethyl Groups for I Capture.

In this work, a novel three nitro-group-bearing monomer 3,6-dinitro-9-(2-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenyl)-carbazole (Car-3NO -CF ) via a CN coupling reaction between 3,6-dinitro-9H-carbazole (Car-2NO ) and 2-chloro-5-nitrobenzotrifluoride is synthesized, and obtained single crystal and single crystal analysis data for this compound. The crystal system of Car-3NO -CF is monoclinic and it has a P 21/c space group. This new monomer (Car-3NO -CF ) is also utilized to synthesize a novel azo-linked polymer (Azo-Car-CF ).

Ligand-induced synthesis of two Cu-based coordination polymers and derivation of carbon-coated metal oxide heterojunctions for enhanced photocatalytic degradation.

Photocatalytic degradation of dyes is an extremely difficult but very important issue in the field of environmental protection. Two coordination polymers (CPs) [Cu(3-bpah)(HD)] (1) and [Cu(3-dpye)(HD)] (2) [3-bpah = ,-bis(3-pyridinecarboxamide)-1,2-cyclohexane, 3-dpye = ,-bis(3-pyridinecarboxamide)-1,2-ethane, HHD = hexanedioic acid] were successfully synthesized by tuning the auxiliary ligands under hydrothermal conditions. CPs 1 and 2 exhibited different compositions because of the different N-donor ligands, and were used as precursors for the preparation of metal oxide heterojunctions.

Preparation of diameter-controlled free-standing MWCNT membranes and their application for dye adsorption.

The synthesis of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was carried out over different Ni-loaded metallic oxide catalyst nanoparticles and under different reduction times to control the outside diameter of the nanotubes. Moreover, high-purity, free-standing membranes were fabricated by a simple filtration of the as-grown MWCNTs. Furthermore, the dye-adsorption properties of the nanotubes depended on the diameter of the carbon nanotubes (CNTs).

Synthesis of a 2D Cu@TiO composite the design of a 1D Cu-based coordination polymer precursor for efficient and selective photodegradation of dyes.

A 2D Cu@TiO composite with a porous and crystalline structure was successfully synthesized one-step and low-temperature calcination of a 1D Cu-based coordination polymer (Cu-CP), namely [Cu(3-dpha)(1,4-NDC)(HO)] (3-dpha = ,'-bis(3-pyridyl)adipamide and 1,4-HNDC = 1,4-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid). Moreover, the Cu@TiO membrane was fabricated by a simple filtration of the as-grown Cu@TiO composite. Compared with the benchmark TiO photocatalyst, the Cu@TiO composite material with high specific surface area and reduced photogenerated electron-hole ratio exhibited good photodegradation activity and durability for gentian violet (GV), which could be attributed to the combined effect of co-doping of Cu and TiO structure.

Cu-Organic framework-derived V-doped carbon nanostructures for organic dye removal.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have recently emerged as a type of uniformly and periodically atom-distributed precursor and efficient self-sacrificial template to fabricate hierarchical porous-carbon-related nanostructured functional materials. In this work, we used Cu(II) ions and aromatic dicarboxylic acid to construct [Cu(4,4'-oba)(μ-OH)(HO)] (4,4'-Hoba = 4,4'-oxybisbenzoic acid) as a precursor for the preparation of carbon nanostructures. Doping foreign elements into intrinsic MOF-based nanomaterials is an effective way to enhance the adsorption property and photocatalytic activity; thus, we designed a facile method to synthesize a vanadium-doped mixture of CuO and Cu nanoparticles encapsulated in a Cu-MOF-derived carbon nanostructure (C-V-1) in this work for the first time.

A novel 3D Zn-coordination polymer based on a multiresponsive fluorescent sensor demonstrating outstanding sensitivities and selectivities for the efficient detection of multiple analytes.

A novel and unusual 3D luminescent coordination polymer (CP) [Zn(3-bpah)(bpta)(HO)]·3HO (1), where 3-bpah denotes ,'-bis(3-pyridinecarboxamide)-1,2-cyclohexane and Hbpta denotes 2,2',4,4'-biphenyltetracarboxylic acid, was successfully synthesized hydrothermal methods from Zn(II) ions and 3-bpah and bpta ligands. The structure of this CP was investigated powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis along with single crystal X-ray diffraction. Notably, 1 exhibits remarkable fluorescence behavior and stability over a wide pH range and in various pure organic solvents.

Efficient and selective removal of Congo red by a C@Mo composite nanomaterial using a citrate-based coordination polymer as the precursor.

To research the effect of structural diversity on citrate-based coordination polymers (CPs), citric acid (H4cit) was selected to combine with Cu(ii) under hydrothermal conditions. A new CP [Cu2(cit)(H2O)2] (1) was synthesized and structurally characterized. The title complex shows a 3D 2,4,6-connected topology with the point symbol of {43·63}{44·66·85}{4}.

Anti-Inflammatory and Intestinal Microbiota Modulation Properties of Jinxiang Garlic ( L.) Polysaccharides toward Dextran Sodium Sulfate-Induced Colitis.

Garlic polysaccharides are great potential agents because of their anti-inflammation, antioxidation, and immunomodulation properties. However, few studies have reported their anti-inflammatory effects on improving the colon system and corresponding intestinal microbiota. Herein, a water-soluble garlic polysaccharide (WSGP) was extracted from Jinxiang garlic to evaluate its effects on ameliorating dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in a mouse model.

Directed Self-Assembly of High χ Poly(styrene--(lactic acid--glycolic acid)) Block Copolymers on Chemical Patterns via Thermal Annealing.

We demonstrated the synthesis and directed self-assembly (DSA) of poly(styrene--(lactic acid--glycolic acid)) (PS--PLGA). Lamellae-forming PS--PLGAs with a range of molecular weights were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of LGA (d,l-3-methyl-1,4-dioxane-2,5-dione) from hydroxy-terminated polystyrene (PS-OH) with stannous octoate as the catalyst and characterized by H NMR spectroscopy, GPC, DSC, TGA, SAXS, and rheometry. The order-disorder transition temperatures () of four PS--PLGA block copolymers were determined by temperature sweep measurements and verified by variable-temperature SAXS, which were used to determine the temperature dependence of χ.

Structure and antioxidant activity of soy protein isolate-dextran conjugates obtained by TiO2 photocatalysis.

The aim of this study was to investigate the structural characteristics and antioxidant activities of soy protein isolate- (SPI-) dextran conjugates obtained by TiO2 photocatalysis treatment. Results revealed that the UV-vis absorption and the fluorescence intensity increased as the photocatalytic power increased (P < 0.05).

Self-assembly and chiroptical property of poly(N-acryloyl-L-amino acid) grafted celluloses synthesized by RAFT polymerization.

Three amphiphilic poly(N-acryloyl-L-amino acid) grafted celluloses were prepared by RAFT polymerization of N-acryloyl-L-amino acid, where amino acid is alanine, proline or glutamic acid, onto cellulose backbones. The chemical structure and solution properties of the brush copolymers were characterized with FTIR, NMR and wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD). The thermal stability of the brush copolymers was estimated by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA).

Protective effects of the flavonoid-rich fraction from rhizomes of Smilax glabra Roxb. on carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

Hepatoprotective agents could prevent tissue damage and reduce morbidity and mortality rates; such agents may include folkloric or alternative treatments. The present study evaluated the protective effects of the flavonoid-rich fraction from rhizomes of Smilax glabra Roxb. (SGF) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

Facile method for the fabrication of robust polyelectrolyte multilayers by post-photo-cross-linking of azido groups.

In this letter, we have developed a facile method to enhance the stability of polyelectrolyte multilayers. We fabricate conventional polyelectrolyte multilayers of PAH/PAA through electrostatic layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly and then postinfiltrate photosensitive cross-linking agent 4,4'-diazostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid disodium salt into the LbL films. After cross-linking by UV irradiation, the stability of the photo-cross-linked multilayer is highly improved as evidenced by the lack of dissolution under ultrasonication in saturated SDS aqueous solutions for 10 min.