Photoresponse of CsPbBr3 and Cs4PbBr6 Perovskite Single Crystals

High-quality and millimeter-sized perovskite single crystals of CsPbBr3 and Cs4PbBr6 were prepared in organic solvents and studied for correlation between photocurrent generation and photoluminescence (PL) emission. The CsPbBr3 crystals, which have a 3D perovskite structure, showed a highly sensitive photoresponse and poor PL signal. In contrast, Cs4PbBr6 crystals, which have a 0D perovskite structure, exhibited more than 1 order of magnitude higher PL intensity than CsPbBr3, which generated an ultralow photoresponse under illumination. Their contrasting optoelectrical characteristics were attributed to different exciton binding energies, induced by coordination geometry of the [PbBr6]4- octahedron sublattices. This work correlated the local structures of lead in the primitive perovskite and its derivatives to PL spectra as well as photoconductivity.

A coordination polymer of cobalt(II)-glutarate: two-dimensional interlocking structure by dicarboxylate ligands with two different conformations

A novel Co-glutarate, Co[O(2)C(CH(2))(3)CO(2)] (1), was synthesized as single crystals by the hydrothermal reaction of CoCl(2) with glutaric acid in the presence of KOH and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, TGA, IR, UV-vis reflectance spectrometry, and SQUID measurements. The dark purple Co-glutarate crystallizes in the monoclinic system in the space group P2/c, with a = 14.002(3) A, b = 4.8064(10) A, c = 9.274(3) A, beta = 90.5(2)degrees, and Z = 4. The Co(2+) centers are tetrahedrally coordinated to four oxygen atoms from the dicarboxylate ligands. The anhydrous-pillared three-dimensional structure consists of infinite Co-CO(2)-Co inorganic layers, which are stacked by the coordinated glutarate alkyl chain along the a-axis. There are two different conformations for glutarate ligands, i.e., the gauche- and the anti-forms. These ligands reside between the inorganic layers alternatively to separate each layer by 7.01 A (gauche) and 6.99 A (anti). Magnetic measurement reveals that the predominant magnetic interactions are antiferromagnetic below 14 K.

Crystal structure and spectroscopic study of novel two- and three-dimensional photoluminescent Eu(III)-adipate compounds

Two new photoluminescent compounds with the formulas of [Eu(2)(adipate)(3)(H(2)O)].H(2)O (1) and [Eu(2)(adipate)(3)(4H(2)O)] (2) were synthesized by using Eu(III) chloride and adipic acid under hydrothermal reaction conditions in aqueous solution. Compound 1, a 3-D layered framework, possesses infinite Eu-O-Eu polyhedral chains and self-assembled adipate ligands between Eu-O layers. Compound 2 has dimeric Eu(2)O(16) units interconnected by adipate ligand, resulting in 2-D open frameworks with a cavity among the ligands. Crystal data 1: monoclinic space group C2/c, with a = 14.2486(12) A, b = 8.2733(7) A, c = 39.298(2) A, beta = 99.530(6) degrees, and Z = 8. 2: monoclinic space group P2(1)/c, with a = 11.661(4) A, b = 14.011(3) A, c = 9.013(4) A, beta = 110.87(3) degrees, and Z = 2. The ligand conformations of two Eu(III)-adipate (1 and 2) compounds present anti/anti/anti, gauche/anti/gauche, and intermediate forms. Both compounds 1 and 2 showed strong red luminescence upon excitation, and their luminescence decay involves the multiphonon relaxation mechanism.

Hydrothermal synthesis and magnetic behavior of a novel layered coordination polymer generated from manganese(II) adipate

A novel, two-dimensional organic/inorganic coordinate polymers, Mn2(H2O)[O2C(CH2)4CO2]2, was synthesized as single crystals by the hydrothermal reaction of MnCl2 with adipic acid in the presence of base and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, thermal analysis, and SQUID magnetic measurement. It crystallized in the monoclinic space group C2/c(No. 15), with a = 21.671(2) A, b = 7.6023(7) A, c = 9.1452(9) A, beta = 108.849(7) A, Z = 4. The title compound presents a structure constituted by the stacking along [100] of MnO6 layers interleaved with adipate ions. The novel feature of the anionic layer is that it contains close-packed trans alkyl chains residing in an extended framework. Magnetization measurement shows this compound is antiferromagnetic below 15 K.

Role of bile acids in colon carcinogenesis

Bile acids (BAs) are cholesterol derivatives synthesized in the liver and then secreted into the intestine for lipid absorption. There are numerous scientific reports describing BAs, especially secondary BAs, as strong carcinogens or promoters of colon cancers. Firstly, BAs act as strong stimulators of colorectal cancer (CRC) initiation by damaging colonic epithelial cells, and inducing reactive oxygen species production, genomic destabilization, apoptosis resistance, and cancer stem cells-like formation. Consequently, BAs promote CRC progression via multiple mechanisms, including inhibiting apoptosis, enhancing cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and angiogenesis. There are diverse signals involved in the carcinogenesis mechanism of BAs, with a major role of epidermal growth factor receptor, and its down-stream signaling, involving mitogen-activated protein kinase, phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt, and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells. BAs regulate numerous genes including the human leukocyte antigen class I gene, p53, matrix metalloprotease, urokinase plasminogen activator receptor, Cyclin D1, cyclooxygenase-2, interleukin-8, and miRNAs of CRC cells, leading to CRC promotion. These evidence suggests that targeting BAs is an efficacious strategies for CRC prevention and treatment.

A new mussel-inspired polydopamine sensitizer for dye-sensitized solar cells: controlled synthesis and charge transfer

The efficient electron injection by direct dye-to-TiO(2) charge transfer and strong adhesion of mussel-inspired synthetic polydopamine (PDA) dyes with TiO(2) electrode is demonstrated. Spontaneous self-polymerization of dopamine using dip-coating (DC) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) in basic buffer solution were applied to TiO(2) layers under a nitrogen atmosphere, which offers a facile and reliable synthetic pathway to make the PDA dyes, PDA-DC and PDA-CV, with conformal surface and perform an efficient dye-to-TiO(2) charge transfer. Both synthetic methods led to excellent photovoltaic results and the PDA-DC dye exhibited larger current density and efficiency values than those in the PDA-CV dye. Under simulated AM 1.5 G solar light (100 mW cm(-2)), a PDA-DC dye exhibited a short circuit current density of 5.50 mW cm(-2), corresponding to an overall power conversion efficiency of 1.2 %, which is almost 10 times that of the dopamine dye-sensitized solar cell. The PDA dyes showed strong adhesion with the nanocrystalline TiO(2) electrodes and the interface engineering of a dye-adsorbed TiO(2) surface through the control of the coating methods, reaction times and solution concentration maximized the overall conversion efficiency, resulting in a remarkably high efficiency.

Helicobacter pylori and interleukin-8 in gastric cancer

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a major etiological factor in the development of gastric cancer. Large-scale epidemiological studies have confirmed the strong association between H. pylori infection and both cancer development and progression. Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is overexpressed in gastric mucosa exposed to H. pylori. The expression of IL-8 directly correlates with a poor prognosis in gastric cancer. IL-8 is multifunctional. In addition to its potent chemotactic activity, it can induce proliferation and migration of cancer cells. In this review, we focus on recent insights into the mechanisms of IL-8 signaling associated with gastric cancer. The relationship between IL-8 and H. pylori is discussed. We also summarize the current therapeutics against IL-8 in gastric cancer.

Conformation change of the cyclohexanedicarboxylate ligand toward 2D and 3D La(III)-organic coordination networks

2D and 3D structures of La-1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylates (chdc) coordination networks, have been constructed using flexible chdc ligands which can have cis and trans conformations of two dicarboxylate groups, controlled by the solution pH in hydrothermal reaction conditions.

Orientation-controlled assembly and solvothermal ion-exchange of layered double hydroxide nanocrystals

The orientation-controlled LDH crystals on Si substrates were intercalated by dicarboxylate ions to give the anisotropic layer expansion.

Monodispersed ZnO nanoparticles from a single molecular precursor

Monodispersed ZnO nanoparticles are easily prepared by the thermolysis of EtZnO(i)Pr as a single molecular precursor and TOPO without any extra solvent as well as any oxygen source.

Chrysin inhibits tumor promoter-induced MMP-9 expression by blocking AP-1 via suppression of ERK and JNK pathways in gastric cancer cells

Cell invasion is a crucial mechanism of cancer metastasis and malignancy. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is an important proteolytic enzyme involved in the cancer cell invasion process. High expression levels of MMP-9 in gastric cancer positively correlate with tumor aggressiveness and have a significant negative correlation with patients' survival times. Recently, mechanisms suppressing MMP-9 by phytochemicals have become increasingly investigated. Chrysin, a naturally occurring chemical in plants, has been reported to suppress tumor metastasis. However, the effects of chrysin on MMP-9 expression in gastric cancer have not been well studied. In the present study, we tested the effects of chrysin on MMP-9 expression in gastric cancer cells, and determined its underlying mechanism. We examined the effects of chrysin on MMP-9 expression and activity via RT-PCR, zymography, promoter study, and western blotting in human gastric cancer AGS cells. Chrysin inhibited phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced MMP-9 expression in a dose-dependent manner. Using AP-1 decoy oligodeoxynucleotides, we confirmed that AP-1 was the crucial transcriptional factor for MMP-9 expression. Chrysin blocked AP-1 via suppression of the phosphorylation of c-Jun and c-Fos through blocking the JNK1/2 and ERK1/2 pathways. Furthermore, AGS cells pretreated with PMA showed markedly enhanced invasiveness, which was partially abrogated by chrysin and MMP-9 antibody. Our results suggest that chrysin may exert at least part of its anticancer effect by controlling MMP-9 expression through suppression of AP-1 activity via a block of the JNK1/2 and ERK1/2 signaling pathways in gastric cancer AGS cells.

Cadmium induces matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression via ROS-dependent EGFR, NF-кB, and AP-1 pathways in human endothelial cells

Cadmium (Cd), a widespread cumulative pollutant, is a known human carcinogen, associated with inflammation and tumors. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) plays a pivotal role in tumor metastasis; however, the mechanisms underlying the MMP-9 expression induced by Cd remain obscure in human endothelial cells. Here, Cd elevated MMP-9 expression in dose- and time-dependent manners in human endothelial cells. Cd increased ROS production and the ROS-producing NADPH oxidase. Cd translocates p47(phox), a key subunit of NADPH oxidase, to the cell membrane. Cd also activated the phosphorylation of EGFR, Akt, Erk1/2, and JNK1/2 in addition to promoting NF-кB and AP-1 binding activities. Specific inhibitor and mutagenesis studies showed that EGFR, Akt, Erk1/2, JNK1/2 and transcription factors NF-κB and AP-1 were related to Cd-induced MMP-9 expression in endothelial cells. Akt, Erk1/2, and JNK1/2 functioned as upstream signals in the activation of NF-κB and AP-1, respectively. In addition, N-acetyl-l-cystein (NAC), diphenyleneiodonium chloride (DPI) and apocynin (APO) inhibited the Cd-induced activation of EGFR, Akt, Erk1/2, JNK1/2, and p38 MAPK, indicating that ROS production by NADPH oxidase is the furthest upstream signal in MMP-9 expression. At present, it states that Cd displayed marked invasiveness in ECV304 cells, which was partially abrogated by MMP-9 neutralizing antibodies. These results demonstrated that Cd induces MMP-9 expression via ROS-dependent EGFR->Erk1/2, JNK1/2->AP-1 and EGFR->Akt->NF-κB signaling pathways and, in turn, stimulates invasiveness in human endothelial cells.

Metformin inhibits lithocholic acid-induced interleukin 8 upregulation in colorectal cancer cells by suppressing ROS production and NF-kB activity

Metformin, an inexpensive, well-tolerated oral agent that is a commonly used first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes, has become the focus of intense research as a potential anticancer agent. In this study, we describe the inhibitory effect of metformin in interleukin 8 (IL-8) upregulation by lithocholic acid (LCA) in HCT116 colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. Pharmacological inhibition studies indicated that reactive oxygen species (ROS) were involved in LCA-induced IL-8 upregulation through activation of the transcription factor NF-κB. Metformin was demonstrated to block LCA-stimulated ROS production, in turn suppressing NF-κB signaling that was critical for IL-8 upregulation. An NADPH oxidase assay proved that the inhibitory effect of metformin on ROS production was derived from its strong suppression of NADPH oxidase, a key producer of ROS in cells. Compared with conditioned media (CM) derived from HCT116 cells treated with LCA, CM derived from HCT116 cells pretreated with metformin and then treated with LCA lost all stimulatory effect on endothelial cell proliferation and tubelike formation. In conclusion, metformin inhibited NADPH oxidase, which in turn suppressed ROS production and NF-κB activation to prevent IL-8 upregulation stimulated by LCA; this prevention thus obstructed endothelial cell proliferation and tubelike formation.