[en] Graphical abstract: A novel Tb complex was prepared by a simple way used sulfonate ligands owing to their broaden applications in various areas and abundant coordination modes, and the compound showed excellent electrochemiluminescence properties under the optimized conditions. Then a facile and fast response ECL senor was fabricated for sensitive and specific detection of Cd²⁺ based on effective quenching of ECL signal after addition of Cd²⁺. The low cost, facile preparation and simple instrument offer a alternative strategy for detection metal ions in real samples, and broaden the application fields of ECL system. - Highlights: • A novel Tb complex was synthesized with the ligand of pyridine-3-sulfonic acid, which has excellent ECL performance. • A simple and straightforward ECL senor was constructed for sensitive and selective detection of Cd²⁺. • Low cost, fast analysis and facile operation offered a promising method to detect the Cd²⁺ in real samples. - Abstract: In this paper, we report a novel rare earth metal complex with the weak ligand of aromatic sulphonic acid (pyridine-3-sulfonic acid, 3-pSO₃H), and characterized by FT-IR, UV–vis, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), electrochemiluminescence spectra, etc. Then an excellent electrochemiluminescence (ECL) signal was observed with K₂S₂O₈ as the coreactant in NaAc-HAc buffer solution. For another thing, the electrochemical properties of the compound have been thoroughly investigated in acetonitrile solution, the possible ECL reaction mechanism was proposed as well. Furthermore, a simple and straightforward ECL platform was reported for sensitive and selective detection of Cd²⁺ due to the effective quenching after addition of Cd²⁺. Other heavy/transition metal ions do not interfere with the sensing. The limit of detection is determined as 0.13 nM, the results suggested that as-prepared complex could be a promising material for developing ECL senors to detect the Cd²⁺ rapidly indwell in environmental and practical samples.

[en] Currently, a single treatment is less effective for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) therapy. Additionally, there are some limitations to the use of siRNA alone as a new method to treat breast cancer, such as its effective delivery into cells. In this study, we proposed a strategy that combines a siRNA-loaded DNA nanostructure and genistein for TNBC therapy. Both CD36 siRNA-loaded self-assembled DNA nanoprisms (NP-siCD36) and genistein knocked down CD36, resulting in enhanced anticancer efficacy through phosphorylation of the p38 MAPK pathway. In vitro studies showed that combination therapy could effectively enhance cell apoptosis and reduce cell proliferation, achieving an antitumor effect in TNBC cells. The current study suggests that NP-siCD36 combined with genistein might be a promising strategy for breast cancer and treatment. (paper)

[en] Copper ions (e.g., Cu²⁺) have outstanding antibacterial properties, but the exact mechanism is rather complex and not fully understood. In this work, synchrotron Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used as an analytical tool to investigate the CuCl₂-induced biochemical changes in Escherichia coli. Our spectral measurements indicated that this technique is sensitive enough to detect changes in membrane lipids, nucleic acids, peptidoglycans and proteins of Cu²⁺-treated bacteria. Interestingly, for short-time treated cells, the effects on phospholipid composition were clearly shown, while no significant alterations of proteins, nucleic acids and peptidoglycans were found. PeakForce quantitative nano-mechanics mode atomic force microscopy (AFM) confirmed the changes in the topography and mechanical properties of bacteria upon the Cu²⁺ exposure. This study demonstrated that FTIR spectroscopy combined with AFM can provide more comprehensive evaluation on the biochemical and mechanical responses of bacteria to copper. (authors)

[en] Dioscin has shown cytotoxicity against cancer cells, but its in vivo effects and the mechanisms have not elucidated yet. The purpose of the current study was to assess the antitumor effects and the molecular mechanisms of dioscin. We showed that dioscin could inhibit tumor growth in vivo and has no toxicity at the test condition. The growth suppression was accompanied by obvious blood vessel decrease within solid tumors. We also found dioscin treatment inhibited the proliferation of cancer and endothelial cell lines, and most sensitive to primary cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). What's more, analysis of HUVECs migration, invasion, and tube formation exhibited that dioscin has significantly inhibitive effects to these actions. Further analysis of blood vessel formation in the matrigel plugs indicated that dioscin could inhibit VEGF-induced blood vessel formation in vivo. We also identified that dioscin could suppress the downstream protein kinases of VEGFR2, including Src, FAK, AKT and Erk1/2, accompanied by the increase of phosphorylated P38MAPK. The results potently suggest that dioscin may be a potential anticancer drug, which efficiently inhibits angiogenesis induced by VEGFR2 signaling pathway as well as AKT/MAPK pathways. - Highlights: • Dioscin inhibits tumor growth in vivo and does not exhibit any toxicity. • Dioscin inhibits angiogenesis within solid tumors. • Dioscin inhibits the proliferation, migration, invasion, and tube formation of HUVECs. • Dioscin inhibits VEGF–induced blood vessel formation in vivo. • Dioscin inhibits VEGFR2 signaling pathway as well as AKT/MAPK pathway

[en] Highlights: • Kinetics models of the inactivation of Escherichia coli SR1 and removal of ARGs by fishery oxidants were studied and tested. • Removal of iARGs by chlorine and bromine oxidation exceeded that of eARGs in pond water. • High concentration (15 mg/L) of chlorine could efficiently remove ARGs in pond water. • The indigenous ARB inactivation in pond water matrix influenced the ARG removal. The persistence of antibiotics in the environment because of human activities, such as seafood cultivation, has attracted great attention as they can give rise to antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB). In this study, we explored the inactivation and removal efficiencies of Escherichia coli SR1 and sul1 (plasmid-encoded ARGs), respectively, in their extracellular and intracellular forms (eARGs and iARGs) by three commonly used fishery oxidants, namely chlorine, bromine, and potassium permanganate (KMnO₄), at the practical effective concentration range (0.5, 5, and 15 mg/L). Kinetics data were obtained using laboratory phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Following the same fishery oxidation methods, the determined kinetics models were tested by studying the SR1 and sul1 disinfection efficiencies in (sterilized) pond water matrix. At concentrations of 5 and 15 mg/L, all three oxidants achieved sufficient cumulative integrated exposure (CT values) to completely inactivate SR1 and efficiently remove sul1 (up to 4.0-log). The oxidation methods were then applied to an unsterilized pond water matrix in order to study and evaluate the indigenous ARB and ARGs disinfection efficiencies in aquaculture, which reached 1.4-log and 1.0-log during treatment with fishery oxidants used in pond preparation at high concentrations before stocking (5–15 mg/L), respectively. A high chlorine concentration (15 mg/L) could efficiently remove ARGs (or iARGs) from pond water, and the iARG removal efficiency was higher than that of eARGs in pond water. The method and results of this study could aid in guiding future research and practical disinfection to control the spread of ARGs and ARB in aquaculture.

[en] Highlights: • Erythromycin-H₂O had the highest concentrations in water, sediment and feed samples. • Total concentrations of antibiotics in water source were much higher than pond water. • Significant decreases of total concentrations of antibiotics occurred in pond water. • Total concentrations of antibiotics in sediment increased during rearing periods. • Water source was likely the main source of antibiotics in the aquaculture ponds. Although the occurrence and distribution of antibiotics in aquatic environments and reared organisms have been widely reported, the spatiotemporal variations and sources of antibiotics throughout the rearing period of aquaculture remain unclear. In this study, the concentrations and spatiotemporal variations of antibiotics in water sources, pond water, sediment, feed, and reared shrimp samples during three rearing periods in an ecological shrimp farm in Southern China were investigated. The water, sediment, and feed samples were found to contain twelve, nine, and four types of antibiotics, respectively, and the concentration of erythromycin-H₂O was the highest among these antibiotics. No target antibiotics were detected in the reared shrimp samples from this typical shrimp farm, which employed ecological rearing with no antibiotic use throughout the rearing processes. The total concentrations of antibiotics in water source were 1.96–40.58 times higher than those in pond water. A significant decrease in the total antibiotic concentrations of the pond water was observed, while a significant increase was observed in sediment during each rearing period (p < 0.05), suggesting that antibiotics transferred from the water phase to the sediment phase in the farm. Redundancy analysis demonstrated that the chemical oxygen demand was negatively correlated with the concentration of the target antibiotics in the water samples during three rearing periods (p < 0.05). The results of calculations conducted using the concentrations of antibiotics in the water source, pond water, sediment, and feed samples detected in this study indicated that the water source was likely to be the main source of antibiotics in the rearing ponds. This study can provide a better understanding of the spatiotemporal variations and sources of antibiotics in aquaculture.