The Royal Society of Chemistry最新文献

A sustainable synthesis of polyhedral MgO exposing [200] facets is developed by modulating the raw concentration without organic solvents. The optimized catalyst exhibited 90.8% fructose selectivity and a yield of 43.3% in aqueous glucose isomerization. This work highlights crystal facet engineering as a promising strategy for biomass conversion catalysis.

Ternary sulfides are increasingly sought after for applications as battery materials, photovoltaics and photocatalysts as a result of their small band gaps and good electrical conductivities but their synthesis is often more challenging than that of oxides. We report here the low temperature synthesis of new sulfide LaAgS₂ by an anionic redox topochemical reaction, alongside the synthesis of LaCuS₂ by mechanochemical topochemical reaction. Our computational work indicates that reaction enthalpies to form LaAgS₂, with structure closely related to that of LaCuS₂, are relatively small, consistent with our synthetic work. Structural analysis suggests this is due to the larger size of the Ag⁺ ion compared with Cu⁺. Diffuse reflectance measurements indicate that both sulfides have band gaps ∼2.1(2) eV.

A biphenyl-bridged bis(cyclen) cyclophane L containing two argentivorous Ag(I)-binding sites was synthesized, and its Ag(I)-binding behavior was investigated in the solid state and in solution. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction and spectroscopic studies showed a pronounced Ag(I)-induced conformational reorganization from an open free-ligand structure to a compact, helically wrapped di-Ag(I) complex, while NMR, CSI-MS, and equilibrium analysis showed that the mono-Ag(I) intermediate does not accumulate substantially. These results suggest that conformational reorganization accompanying the first Ag(I)-binding event may facilitate subsequent uptake of the second Ag(I) ion.

The synthesis of a germanium(IV) Lewis acid bearing tris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borate (Tp^Me2) and its ability to promote phosphine oxide reduction is presented. A reaction between GeCl₄ and KTp^Me2 resulted in Tp^Me2GeCl₃, which upon treatment with AgOSO₂CF₃ yielded Tp^Me2Ge(OSO₂CF₃)₃. Despite possessing similar Lewis acidity compared to the previously reported Sn(IV) analogue, Tp^Me2Ge(OSO₂CF₃)₃ exhibits higher efficiency in promoting the reduction of phosphine oxides to the corresponding phosphines using phenylsilane as the reductant.

Cholestatic liver injury (CLI) is a progressive liver disorder characterized by impaired bile acid (BA) synthesis, transport, and excretion. This dysfunction leads to the intrahepatic accumulation of toxic BAs, which in turn triggers hepatic oxidative stress, inflammation, and subsequent fibrogenesis. Through enterohepatic circulation, the gut and liver form an integrated gut-liver axis that regulates BA metabolism. Gut microbiota and nuclear receptor farnesoid X receptor (FXR) are tightly involved in modulating this axis and play a critical role in maintaining BA homeostasis. Disruption of the gut-liver axis under cholestatic conditions contributes to gut dysbiosis, BA imbalance, impaired intestinal barrier integrity, hepatic inflammation, and fibrotic progression. Flavonoids, a major class of polyphenols present in various foods, possess microbial-dependent biotransformation and gut enrichment characteristics. Through coordinated modulation of gut microbiota, BA metabolism, and host signaling pathways, flavonoids display promising protective effects against multiple pathological outcomes associated with CLI. This review summarizes the pathological mechanisms of CLI and the molecular interactions through which dietary flavonoids modulate the gut microbiota-BA-FXR axis. It further discusses the dietary exposure, bioavailability, and translational relevance of flavonoids by comparing human dietary intake and systemic exposure with preclinical doses, while evaluating safety considerations and available clinical trial evidence. These insights provide a framework for evaluating the nutritional relevance of flavonoids and their potential as functional food ingredients for the prevention and management of CLI.

Omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs), such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are known for their positive health effects. To meet recommended intake levels, people commonly consume fish and microalgal oils as supplements, typically in the form of encapsulated triacylglycerols (TAGs). However, ingesting omega-3 LC-PUFAs dispersed in a food matrix may be beneficial, as this has been shown to improve digestion for other oil types. This study investigated the in vitro bioaccessibility and basolateral recovery of DHA in DHA-rich microalgae oil in various forms: bulk oil, encapsulated oil, powdered oil, and oil incorporated into a protein matrix. After adapting the INFOGEST protocol for lipid digestion, we assessed bioaccessibility after in vitro digestion using back titration and gas chromatography coupled to a flame ionization detector (GC-FID). We used a Caco-2 cell model, adapted to take into account the lipid adhesion to the plastic plate, to assess basolateral DHA recovery. Results showed that the digestion of encapsulated oil and bulk oil was similar (n = 3). Powdered oil showed higher bioaccessibility than bulk oil (47.0 ± 2.5% for powder and 9.5 ± 0.7% for bulk, n = 3). In the Caco-2 model, powdered oil showed higher basolateral recovery (4.8 ± 0.9%) than bulk oil (1.2 ± 0.2%), although the experimental model limits interpretation (n = 3). To evaluate matrix effects, we designed a vegan cheese-like matrix (VCM) using different proteins. DHA in the VCM was 38% more bioaccessible than in bulk oil (n = 3), and we observed no differences in basolateral recovery. Our findings highlight that food matrices play a critical role in DHA bioaccessibility and basolateral recovery, potentially indicating increased intestinal uptake. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, methodological choices, including digestion protocols, transport models, and quantification strategies, should be selected based on the specific research question.

Waxy hull-less barley (WHB), which is rich in β-glucan, reportedly exhibits immunomodulatory properties, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the immunological effects and underlying mechanism of a WHB-containing diet using DO 11.10 mice, in which the T-cell antigen (Ag)-specificity is largely restricted to ovalbumin to minimize WHB-specific adaptive immune responses. Fecal secretory IgA (SIgA) levels were consistently higher in the WHB intake group throughout the feeding period. In the ileum, expression of the IgA transporter polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR) and the retinoic acid-generating enzyme Raldh2 was significantly upregulated. WHB intake increased the ratio of MHCII⁺ CD86⁺ conventional dendritic cells (cDC) in the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) and peripheral blood, whereas no changes were observed in the spleen. IgA⁺ cells increased in peripheral blood but decreased in the GALT, whereas IgM⁺ and α4β7⁺ B cells were elevated in the GALT but reduced in the spleen. Microbiota analysis revealed increased α-diversity and a shift toward higher abundances of species in the butyrate-producing genera Oscillospira, accompanied by lower abundances of SMB53 and Allobaculum. Notably, the abundance of Allobaculum species was negatively correlated with fecal SIgA. These findings suggest that WHB consumption is associated with increased intestinal IgA secretion, activation of gut cDCs, upregulation of Raldh2 and pIgR, and coordinated changes in B-cell dynamics and the gut microbiota.

1-Oleoyl-2-palmitoyl-3-linoleoylglycerol (OPL) is a representative sn-2 palmitate-containing triacylglycerol (TAG) relevant to human milk fat and early-life lipid nutrition. However, whether dietary OPL-rich structured lipid affects developing muscle nutritional characteristics and associated metabolic features remains unclear. In this study, juvenile largemouth bass were used as a developmental model to compare dietary OPL-rich oil with a mixed oil (MO), which had a similar total fatty acid composition but a lower sn-2 palmitate content. Dietary OPL-rich structured lipid significantly increased muscle crude protein content, muscle fiber area percentage, the proportion of larger-diameter fibers, springiness and cohesiveness. Untargeted metabolomics identified candidate metabolites with nominal differences, including higher abundances of DHA, linoleyl carnitine, LysoPE(18:0/0:0), L-phenylalanine, anserine and adenine, and lower abundances of β-leucine, linoleic acid and inosinic acid in the OPL group compared with the MO group. These metabolites were mapped to pathways including D-amino acid metabolism, histidine metabolism, β-alanine metabolism, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis, and linoleic acid metabolism. Targeted amino acid profiling further showed that dietary OPL-rich structured lipid increased total amino acids and essential amino acids in developing muscle. Overall, dietary OPL-rich structured lipid improved nutritional characteristics of developing muscle in juvenile largemouth bass, accompanied by changes in lipid, amino acid, dipeptide and nucleotide metabolism. These findings support further evaluation of OPL-rich structured lipids enriched in sn-2 palmitate as functional lipid ingredients for early-life nutrition.

The exploration of zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF)-based nanoplatforms for drug delivery has attracted increasing attention in recent years. In this study, a bimetallic ZIF (BZIF) containing Zn and Co was synthesized through a simple one-pot approach under mild conditions. The formation of BZIF was confirmed through comprehensive physicochemical characterization. Curcumin (CUR) was subsequently loaded onto BZIF to obtain the CBZIF nanoplatform. CBZIF exhibited pH-responsive CUR release, with cumulative release reaching 78.19% at pH 5.5 compared with 44.25% at pH 7.4 after 72 h. In vitro studies demonstrated that CBZIF maintained favorable biocompatibility toward normal L929 cells while exhibiting enhanced anticancer activity against C26 cancer cells compared with free CUR and pristine BZIF. Overall, these findings suggest that CBZIF is a promising nanoplatform for pH-responsive CUR delivery and provide a basis for further investigation of its potential biomedical applications.

Probiotics hold potential in delaying aging and promoting healthy aging. The systematic decline characteristic of aging limits single probiotic strain intervention to ameliorate aging. Multi-strain combination represents a promising strategy but lacks evidence-based criteria. In this study, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Q7, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis F1-7, and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei J5 were selected based on their ability to extend both the lifespan and the healthspan of Caenorhabditis elegans. The three probiotic strains significantly enhanced anti-aging biomarkers in C. elegans. Transcriptomic analysis and validation revealed that all three strains co-regulated evolutionarily conserved Wnt signaling pathways while demonstrating distinct strain-specific characteristics. Specifically, L. plantarum Q7 modulated lipid metabolism and activated conserved longevity pathways, B. animalis F1-7 stimulated immune defense and protein stability regulation, and L. paracasei J5 predominantly influenced methionine metabolism and detoxification/antioxidation functions. The three-probiotic combination demonstrated superior anti-aging effects in C. elegans by both integrating single-strain pathways additively and activating the Wnt/Ca²⁺ pathway uniquely, thereby expanding the anti-aging regulatory network. This study underscores the necessity of employing combined probiotics to extend both lifespan and healthspan and provides a theoretical rationale for the design of functional complementarity probiotic formulations.