Inhibition of RhoGEF/RhoA alleviates regorafenib resistance and cancer stemness via Hippo signaling pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are vulnerable to drug resistance. Although drug resistance has been taken much attention to HCC therapy, little is known of regorafenib and regorafenib resistance (RR). This study aimed to determine the drug resistance pattern and the role of RhoA in RR.

Polymer Hydrogel Supported Ni/Pd Alloys for Hydrogen Gas Production from Hydrolysis of Dimethylamine Borane with a Long Recyclable Lifetime.

Hydrogen gas production can be produced from dimethylamine borane by the catalytic effect of metal nanoparticles. Past research efforts were heavily focused on dehydrogenation in organic solvents. In this study, hydrolysis of the borane in aqueous solutions was investigated, which bears two significant advantages: that two-thirds of the hydrogen generated originate from water and that the hydrogen storage materials are non-flammable.

In situ fabrication of Ag3PO4/TiO2 nanotube heterojunctions with enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity.

Ag3PO4/TiO2 nanotube (TNT) heterojunctions were fabricated via a facile in situ growth method. Hemispherical Ag3PO4 nanocrystals were uniformly grown on the TNT surface, and their size was confined to 5-10 nm. A joint area was distinctly observed between the Ag3PO4 nanocrystals and TNT, indicating the formation of a Ag3PO4/TNT heterojunction.

Biosilica-coated kappa-carrageenan microspheres for yeast alcohol dehydrogenase encapsulation.

In this study, a novel polysaccharide/inorganic hybrid biocomposite was prepared through biomineralization-inspired process for efficient immobilization of yeast alcohol dehydrogenase (YADH). YADH-encapsulated kappa-carrageenan microspheres (KCM) were first coated with chitosan, which was used to guide and catalyze the biomimetic formation of silica, and then coated with silica derived from tetraethoxysiliane (TEOS). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with a energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX) was employed to investigate the composition and thickness of silica film.

Preparation of novel silica-coated alginate gel beads for efficient encapsulation of yeast alcohol dehydrogenase.

Biomimetic formation has undoubtedly inspired the preparation of novel organic-inorganic hybrid composites. In this study, silica-coated alginate gel beads were prepared by coating the surface of alginate gel beads with silica film derived from tetramethoxysilane (TMOS). The composition and structure of the silica film were characterized by FT-IR and SEM equipped with EDX.

Improved protein-adsorption-resistant property of PES/SPC blend membrane by adjustment of coagulation bath composition.

To improve surface protein-adsorption-resistant property of polyethersulfone (PES) membranes, soybean phosphatidylcholine (SPC) was added to PES casting solution. The blend membranes were prepared by a phase inversion method in a wet process. The surface of PES/SPC blend membranes was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM).

Remarkable reduction of irreversible fouling and improvement of the permeation properties of poly(ether sulfone) ultrafiltration membranes by blending with pluronic F127.

Hydrophilic modification of ultrafiltration membranes was achieved through blending of Pluronic F127 with poly(ether sulfone) (PES). The chemical composition and morphology changes of the membrane surface were confirmed by water contact angle, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and protein adsorption measurements. The decreased static water contact angle with an increase in the Pluronic F127 content indicated an increase of surface hydrophilicity.

[Membrane used for separation of the effective parts and components of traditional Chinese medicine].

Membrane separation, as an efficient and green technology, has found more and more research and development reports in the separation and purification of the effective parts and components of traditional Chinese medicine. The basic principle and mechanism was first described in this paper, and the applicability and technological advantage was analyzed accordingly. Then, the separation performance of commonly employed membrane materials including polymeric materials such as polysulfones, cellulose acetate, polyacrylonitrile as well as inorganic materials was compared out and the application examples were presented.