Synthesis of highly pH-responsive lignin-based polycarboxylic acids and their application in cellulase recovery.

Recycling cellulase by using pH-responsive additives is an effective strategy for reducing the cost of lignocellulosic enzymatic hydrolysis. Traditional pH-responsive additives have limitations, including an insensitive pH response or weak binding to enzyme proteins, which restrict their industrial applications. The strong binding property of lignin to enzyme proteins was used to construct a series of ultra-high pH-responsive lignin-modified copolymers containing amide and carboxylic acid groups (L-CPM), which were obtained by using lignin cross-link pH-sensitive prepolymers containing amide and carboxylic acid groups (CPM).

Separation of lignin from bamboo using type IV deep eutectic solvents for enhancing the antioxidant properties of chitosan films.

To promote the functionalization of chitosan-based films, lignin separated from Moso bamboo using type IV deep eutectic solvents (DESs; FeCl/glycerol (Gly), AlCl/Gly, and CuCl/Gly) was incorporated into chitosan to prepare lignin/chitosan composite films. For comparison, lignin pretreated with an aqueous NaOH solution was prepared and used for forming a film. The systematic characterization of lignin samples and lignin/chitosan composite films was performed using advanced analytical techniques.

Impact of anti-solvents on the characteristics of hemicellulose fractionated from bleached bamboo pulp using lithium bromide hydrates.

Selective fractionation/dissolution of hemicellulose with no or less degradation from biomass resources is a prerequisite for its high-value material utilization. Yet, the impact of anti-solvents on the properties of regenerated/precipitated hemicellulose after dissolution is still unclear. Herein, lithium bromide (LiBr) hydrate as a green solvent was used for fractionating hemicellulose from bleached bamboo pulp (BBP).

Preparation of temperature-dependent flux controllable cellulose nanofiber-based films and their application in oil-water separation.

The discharge of industrial oily wastewater causes a significant waste of resources and serious environmental pollution problems. Oil- water separation and recycling waste oil are effective ways for human society to achieve sustainable development. In this work, a series of temperature dependent flux adjustable "dehydration type" cellulose nanofiber-based (CNFS) films was constructed for achieving efficient oil-water separation, which were obtained by using physical blending of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and cellulose nanofibers (CNF) modified by sulfobetaine fragment (SB).

Increased glucose utilization is a targetable vulnerability to overcome drug resistance associated with neddylation blockade.

Gastric cancer, a leading cause of cancer-related mortality, has a median survival of just 15 months in advanced stages and currently lacks effective treatment options. Neddylation blockade is a promising therapeutic strategy, yet its clinical application faces challenge with the emergence of drug resistance. Currently, the underlying mechanisms behind the drug resistance are not fully understood.

Mpox: Global epidemic situation and countermeasures.

Mpox, is a zoonotic disease caused by the monkeypox virus and is primarily endemic to Africa. As countries gradually stop smallpox vaccination, resistance to the smallpox virus is declining, increasing the risk of infection with mpox and other viruses. On 14 August 2024, the World Health Organization announced that the spread of mpox constituted a public health emergency of international concern.

Deciphering spread of quinolone resistance in mariculture ponds: Cross-species and cross-environment transmission of resistome.

Mariculture is known to harbor antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), which can be released into marine ecosystems via oceanic farming ponds, posing a public health concern. In this study, metagenomic sequencing was used to decipher the profiles of quinolone-resistant microbiomes and the mechanisms of quinolone resistance in sediment, seawater, and fish gill samples from five mariculture ponds. Residues of both veterinary-specific (enrofloxacin and sarafloxacin) and prohibited quinolones (ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, pefloxacin, norfloxacin, and lomefloxacin) were detected.

Construction of UCST-Responsive Claw-Like Polysulfobetaines for Efficient Capture of Cellulase.

The high cost of enzymatic glycolysis has seriously restricted the industrialization of lignocellulose-based sugar platform technology. Recovering and recycling cellulase can reduce the cost. Here, a thermo-responsive claw-type polysulfobetaine (PSPA) was constructed for hydrophobic grasping and efficient recycling of cellulase.

Unveiling airborne threats: Vertical profiles of multiple emerging pollutants in PM across the urban atmosphere of Southern China.

PM has a detrimental impact on human health and has become a focus of widespread concern. The tempo-spatial distribution of emerging pollutants has been extensively studied, while there is a scarcity of understanding their vertical distribution in atmospheric environment. Here we investigated the vertical profiles of phthalate esters (PAEs), organophosphate esters (OPEs), neonicotinoids (NEOs), and per-and polyfluorinated substances (PFASs) in PM at ground level (4.

Enhancing the quantum yield and electrochemical properties of carbon quantum dots via optimized hydrothermal treatment using cellulose nanocrystals as precursors.

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) are receiving increasing attention due to their tunable redox activity, abundant surface functional groups, and excellent aqueous dispersion. However, their low quantum yield remains a significant impediment to their synthesis and practical application. In the present work, cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were utilized as precursors for the optimized hydrothermal synthesis of CQDs.

Valorization of residual lignin from corncob residues into thermosensitive lignin-based "molecular glues" for recycling cellulase.

The cost of enzymolysis is a major bottleneck for the industrialisation of lignocellulosic enzymatic hydrolysis technology, and recycling cellulase can reduce this cost. Herein, a sulfobetaine prepolymer (CPS) with terminal chlorine was grafted onto enzymatic hydrolysis residual lignin (EHL) from corncob to construct thermosensitive lignin-based "molecular glues" (lignin-based sulfobetaine polymers, L-CPS) that were used to recover and recycle cellulase. L-CPS (1.

High-performance cellulose/thermoplastic polyurethane composites enabled by interaction-modulated cellulose regeneration.

Strong interfacial adhesion between cellulose and other polymers is critical to achieve the properties required for specific applications in composite materials. Here, we developed a method for the simultaneous homogeneous dissolution of cellulose and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) in 1,8-diazabicyclo (5.4.

A tough, stretchable, adhesive and electroconductive polyacrylamide hydrogel sensor incorporated with sulfonated nanocellulose and carbon nanotubes.

Recently, hydrogel sensors have been widely applied in wearable and portable electronics, but the low mechanical property, intolerance of fatigue, and low sensitivity and adhesion limit their further applications. In this study, sulfonated nanocellulose (SCNF) with dual functionality was blended into polyacrylamide (PAM) hydrogel matrix to reinforce the mechanical strength and facilitate the homogeneous dispersion of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The SCNF-CNT/PAM hydrogel was designed through free radical polymerization to achieve commendable mechanical, electrical, and multifunctional properties.

Preparation and characterization of cellulose-chitosan/β-FeOOH composite hydrogels for adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange.

Biopolymer-based hydrogels have received great attention in wastewater treatment due to their excellent properties, e.g., high adsorption capacity, fast kinetics, reusability and ease of operation.

Introducing terminal alkyne groups at the reducing end of cellulose nanocrystals by aldimine condensation for further click reaction.

In recent years, click reactions with cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) participation have gradually become a research hotspot. Carboxylamine condensation is the most used method to introduce terminal alkyne groups at the reducing end of CNC as reaction sites for click reactions. However, hydroxyl groups on CNC surface would be slightly oxidized during the carboxyamine condensation process, inducing the potential positions of introduced alkynes would be not only at the reducing end but also on CNC surface.

Synthesis and characterization of polyaniline-based composites using cellulose nanocrystals as biological templates.

Polyaniline (PANI) is considered as an ideal electrode material due to its remarkable Faradaic activity, exceptional conductivity, and ease of processing. However, the agglomeration and poor cycling stability of PANI largely limit its practical utilization in energy storage devices. To address these challenges, PANI was synthesized via a facile one-pot, two-step process using cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) as bio-templates in this work.

Network pharmacology analysis and experimental verification of the antitumor effect and molecular mechanism of isocryptomerin on HepG2 cells.

Isocryptomerin (ISO) is a flavonoid isolated from the natural medicine Selaginellae Herba, which has various pharmacological activities. This study investigated the antitumor effect and underlying molecular mechanism of ISO on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) HepG2 cells. The cell viability assay revealed that ISO has a considerable killing effect on HCC cell lines.

Facile dissolution of cellulose by superbase-derived ionic liquid using organic solvents as co-solvents at mild temperatures.

Dissolving cellulose at low temperatures is a key step in its efficient utilization as a renewable resource to produce high-value-added platform chemicals and high-performance materials. Here, the potential of four aprotic organic solvents was investigated for use as co-solvents with a sustainable DBU-derived ionic liquid (SIL) for the low-temperature dissolution and regeneration of cellulose. Combined experiments, density functional theory calculations, and molecular dynamic simulations were performed.

Jaceosidin induces apoptosis and inhibits migration in AGS gastric cancer cells by regulating ROS-mediated signaling pathways.

Jaceosidin (JAC) is a natural flavonoid with anti-oxidant and other pharmacological activities; however, its anti-cancer mechanism remains unclear. We investigated the mechanism of action of JAC in gastric cancer cells. Cytotoxicity and apoptosis assays showed that JAC effectively killed multiple gastric cancer cells and induced apoptosis in human gastric adenocarcinoma AGS cells via the mitochondrial pathway.

Cellulose dissolution and regeneration behavior via DBU-levulinic acid solvents.

Most organic solvents are unable to dissolve carbohydrates due to the lack of hydrogen bonding ability. The development of solvent systems for dissolving cellulose is of great importance for its utilization and conversion. In this study, four new cellulose solvents were designed using inexpensive levulinic acid (LevA) and 1,8-diazabicyclo [5,4,0] undec-7-ene (DBU) as raw materials.

Synthesis of bifunctional thermal response promoters for improved high-solids enzymatic hydrolysis of corncob residues.

The enzymatic hydrolysis cost of lignocellulose can be reduced by improving enzymatic hydrolysis and recycling cellulase by adding additives. A series of copolymers P(SSS-co-SPE) (PSSPs) were synthesized using sodium p-styrene sulfonate (SSS) and sulfobetaine (SPE) as monomers. PSSP exhibited upper critical solution temperature response.

Conductive and antibacterial films by loading reduced graphene oxide/silver nanoparticles on cellulose nanofiber films.

The development of sustainable high-performance materials based on nanocellulose has received great attention in recent years. Herein, nanocellulose based composite films with highly electro-conductive and antibacterial properties have been developed by loading reduced graphene oxide (rGO)/silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on cellulose nanofiber films via vacuum filtration process. The reduction effect of gallic acid on the chemical structure and electrical conductivity of rGO/AgNP composites was studied.

Lignin-grafted quaternary ammonium phosphate with temperature and pH responsive behavior for improved enzymatic hydrolysis and cellulase recovery.

The cost of lignocellulosic enzymatic hydrolysis was reduced by enhancing enzymatic hydrolysis and recycling cellulase. Lignin-grafted quaternary ammonium phosphate (LQAP) with sensitive temperature and pH response, was obtained by grafting quaternary ammonium phosphate (QAP) onto enzymatic hydrolysis lignin (EHL). LQAP dissolved under the hydrolysis condition (pH 5.

Nanocellulose-based electrodes and separator toward sustainable and flexible all-solid-state supercapacitor.

Nanocellulose, as the most abundant natural nanomaterial with sustainability, biodegradability, and excellent mechanical properties, has been widely applied in modern electronic systems, particularly, in the flexible electrochemical energy storage devices. Herein, a reduced graphene oxide (RGO)/cellulose nanocrystal/cellulose nanofiber (RCC) composite membrane was prepared by using a one-pot method. Compared to the pure RGO membranes, the RCC composite membranes exhibited better mechanical properties and hydrophilicity.