Infrared-to-visible upconversion enhanced photothermal catalytic degradation of toluene over Yb3+, Er3+: CeO2/attapulgite nanocomposite: Effect of rare earth doping

Jie Huang,Xuhua Ye,Wenjun Li,Anqi Shi,Xini Chu,Ziwen Cao,Chao Yao,Xiazhang Li 한국공업화학회 2022 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.116 No.-

Developing low cost and efficient strategy to eliminate volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are quite urgent and challenging. Herein, CeO2 nanoparticles co-doped with Yb3+ and Er3+ were immobilized on attapulgite clay (ATP) for photothermal catalytic oxidation of toluene. The CeO2:Yb3+, Er3+/ATP exhibited outstanding catalytic activity with low T90 of 295 °C (temperature at 90% degradation), satisfactory stability and highly water resistance. The enhanced photothermal catalytic performance can be attributed to the optimal introduction of Yb3+ and Er3+, which promoted the up-conversion of near-infrared light (NIR) to visible light increasing the light utilization. The defects caused by Yb3+/Er3+ doping facilitated the adsorption of O2, while the active oxygen species generated from the defects and the photoinduced reactive species not only favored the oxidation of toluene in photothermal catalytic process, but also accelerated the reoxidation of reduced catalyst. Notably ATP support provided large specific surface area and abundant adsorption sites for toluene molecules to promote the deep oxidation and hindered the deactivation of catalysts caused by the accumulation of intermediates. In-situ DRIFTS test revealed that the alkoxide and benzoate appeared as the main intermediates, which can be deeply oxidized under light irradiation. Current work provides a new alternative for photothermal catalytic degradation of VOCs.

Construction of Strontium Titanate/Binary Metal Sulfide Heterojunction Photocatalysts for Enhanced Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalytic Activity

Yongwei Yu,Qing Yang,Jiangquan Ma,Wenliang Sun,Chong Yin,Xiazhang Li,Jun Guo,Qingyan Jiang,Zhiyuan Lu 성균관대학교(자연과학캠퍼스) 성균나노과학기술원 2018 NANO Vol.13 No.11

A novel strontium titanate/binary metal sulfide (SrTiO3/SnCoS4) heterostructure was synthesized by a simple two-step hydrothermal method. The visible-light-driven photocatalytic performance of SrTiO3/SnCoS4 composites was evaluated in the degradation of methyl orange (MO) under visible light irradiation. The photocatalytic performance of SrTiO3/SnCoS4-5% is much higher than that of pure SrTiO3, SnCoS4, SrTiO3/SnS2 and SrTiO3/CoS2. The SrTiO3/SnCoS4 composite material with 5 wt.% of SnCoS4 showed the highest photocatalytic efficiency for MO degradation, and the degradation rate could reach 95% after 140 min irradiation time. The enhanced photocatalytic activity was ascribed to not only the improvement of visible light absorption efficiency, but also the construction of a heterostructure which make it possible to effectively separate photoexcited electrons and holes in the two-phase interface.

Titanium Dioxide–Graphene–Polyaniline Hybrid for Nonenzymatic Detection of Glucose

Jiawen Du,Yiyang Tao,Zhichen Xiong,Xianglang Yu,Aijuan Xie,Shiping Luo,Xiazhang Li,Chao Yao 성균관대학교(자연과학캠퍼스) 성균나노과학기술원 2019 NANO Vol.14 No.7

A novel titanium dioxide–graphene–polyaniline (TiO2–RGO–PANI) hybrid was prepared by the one-pot method and used as a nonenzymatic electrochemical sensor for glucose detection. The composition and structural morphology of the as-prepared composites were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The characterization results showed that TiO2–RGO–PANI is mainly composed of Ti, O, C and N and their weight percentages are 67.68%, 21.57%, 10.70% and 0.05%, respectively, indicating that the TiO2–RGO–PANI composite catalyst has been successfully prepared and presents a poriferous coral structure. A series of electrochemical tests such as cyclic voltammetry tests declared that TiO2–RGO–PANI composite possessed a low limit of detection (LOD) (7.46 μM), good repeatability, selectivity and stability. In the concentration range of 10–180 μM, the hybrid presented linear diffusion, and the linear equation was Ipa = 0.21338 + 0.01392 (C/mM), the correlation coefficient R2 = 0.9912. In addition, the comparison of the merits of this proposed electrode with some recent nonenzymatic glucose sensors indicates that this highly sensitive TiO2–RGO–PANI complex glucose sensor provides a simple, low-cost, nonenzymatic method for glucose detection, and has promising applications in clinical diagnostics and medical analysis.

Long Non-Coding RNA RMRP Contributes to Sepsis-Induced Acute Kidney Injury

Xia Zhang,Zhongwei Huang,Yan Wang,Ting Wang,Jingjing Li,Peipei Xi 연세대학교의과대학 2021 Yonsei medical journal Vol.62 No.3

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the role of the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) RNA component of mitochondrial RNAase P (RMRP) in sepsis-induced acute kidney injury (AKI). Materials and Methods: Venous blood was collected from septic patients and healthy people. C57BL/6 mice who underwent cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) were used as in vivo models of septic AKI. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced HK-2 cells were employed as in vitro models of AKI. Flow cytometry analysis was conducted to detect cell apoptosis. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot assays were used to detect levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Results: RMRP was upregulated in sera from patients with AKI and in LPS-induced cells. Knockdown of RMRP inhibited cell apoptosis and reduced production of inflammatory factors in LPS-induced cells, as well as alleviated AKI in CLP mice. RMRP facilitated inflammation by activating NACHT, LRR, and PYD domains-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome. We found that microRNA 206 (miR-206) binds with and is negatively regulated by RMRP: miR-206 directly targets the 3’ untranslated region of DEAD-box helicase 5 (DDX5) and negatively regulates DDX5 expression. By binding with miR-206, RMRP upregulated DDX5 expression. Rescue assays revealed that overexpression of DDX5 counteracted the effect of RMRP inhibition on cell apoptosis and inflammatory response in LPS-induced cells. Conclusion: The lncRNA RMRP contributes to sepsis-induced AKI through upregulation of DDX5 in a miR-206 dependent manner and through activation of NLRP3 inflammasome. This novel discovery may provide a potential strategy for treating AKI.

Effects and Predictive Factors of Immunosuppressive Therapy Combined with Umbilical Cord Blood Infusion in Patients with Severe Aplastic Anemia

Xia Zhang,Zhangzhi Li,Wei Geng,Bin Song,Chucheng Wan 연세대학교의과대학 2018 Yonsei medical journal Vol.59 No.5

Purpose: To investigate the efficacy and safety of umbilical cord blood (UCB) infusion (UCBI) plus immunosuppressive therapy (IST)treatment in comparison to IST treatment, as well as predictive factors for clinical responses, in severe aplastic anemia (SAA) patients. Materials and Methods: Totally, 93 patients with SAA were enrolled in this cohort study. In the IST group, rabbit antithymocyte globulin(r-ATG) combined with cyclosporine A (CsA) was administered, while in the IST+UBCI group, r-ATG, CsA, and UCB were used. Results: After 6 months of treatment, UCBI+IST achieved a higher complete response (CR) rate (p=0.002) and an elevated overallresponse rate (ORR) (p=0.004), compared to IST. Regarding hematopoietic recovery at month 6, platelet responses in theUCBI+IST group were better than those in the IST group (p=0.002), and UCBI+IST treatment facilitated increasing trends in absoluteneutrophil count (ANC) response (p=0.056). Kaplan-Meier curves illuminated UCBI+IST achieved faster ANC response(p<0.001) and platelet response (p<0.001), compared with IST therapy. There was no difference in overall survival (OS) betweenthe two groups (p=0.620). Furthermore, logistic regression analysis demonstrated that UCBI+IST was an independent predictingfactor for both CR (p=0.001) and ORR (p<0.001), compared to IST; meanwhile, very severe aplastic anemia (VSAA) and ANC couldpredict clinical responses as well. However, Cox proportional hazard regression indicated that VSAA (p=0.003), but not UCBI+IST,affected OS. Safety profiles showed that UCBI+IST therapy did not elevate adverse events, compared with IST treatment. Conclusion: UCBI+IST achieved better clinical responses and hematopoietic recovery than IST, and was well tolerated in SAApatients.