FOOD HYDROCOLLOIDS
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2026
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IF 13.8
Yitong Wang,Yimei Zheng,Keyue Qiu,Liya Wen,Ruoxin Liu,Hui Teng,Lei Chen
This study investigated how starch crystal type governs naringin (NRG) interactions and its impact on α-amylase inhibition and starch digestibility. Three starches with distinct crystal structures were selected, including corn (A-type), potato (B-type), and pea (C-type). NRG exhibited dose-dependent α-amylase inhibition via static binding to the active pocket, as confirmed by molecular docking and fluorescence quenching. Complexation with NRG induced crystal type-dependent structural changes. B-type (potato) starch showed the highest complexation index and stronger interaction with NRG, accompanied by the greatest disruption of short-range ordered structure. Consequently, potato starch-NRG complexes displayed the highest increase in resistant starch content and the most sustained NRG release during simulated intestinal digestion. These findings demonstrate that starch crystal type critically determines NRG incorporation and subsequent digestion resistance, B-type starch showed greater potential for NRG incorporation and sustained release. This crystal-directed strategy provides a new paradigm for designing low-glycemic starch-based foods.
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CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
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2026
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IF 12.5
Jianan Chen,Tong Xing,Jialei Song,Hang Zhang,Shaotian Fu,Lizhi Jiang,Yiqi Xu,Lei He,Huatao Liu,Hailong Ma,Xin Wang,Tangjun Zhou,An Qin,Peixiang Ma,Jie Zhao
The inflammatory environment mediated by TNF-α in the intervertebral disc can reduce the transfection efficiency of LNPs. • Engineered fibroblasts overexpressing TNF-α antibodies exhibit resistance to the decline in proliferation ability and activity induced by the inflammatory microenvironment. • Engineered fibroblasts rescue the inflammatory phenotype and ameliorate ECM homeostasis of degenerated nucleus pulposus cells in IVDD models in vitro and in vivo. Lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is a prevalent degenerative condition lacking effective early-stage treatments. While fibroblast cell therapy and mRNA therapeutics represent promising approaches, their efficacy is limited by the inflammatory microenvironment of degenerated discs, which affects the delivery efficiency and compromises cell viability and gene delivery. To overcome these challenges, we developed an LNP-mRNA-engineered fibroblast strategy, utilizing fibroblasts as a “Trojan horse” for targeted mRNA delivery. In IVDD progression, inflammatory factors, particularly TNF-α, accumulate and exacerbate degeneration. Engineered fibroblasts mitigates TNF-α-induced senescence and proliferation arrest in inflammatory conditions, counteracts nucleus pulposus inflammation, and restores extracellular matrix production. In a rat IVDD model, engineered fibroblasts significantly improved disc height and showed superior therapeutic effects compared to naive fibroblasts. These results highlight the dual therapeutic mechanism of our approach, i.e. combining cell therapy with mRNA delivery, and its clinical potential in the treatment of IVDD. Download: Download high-res image (105KB) Download: Download full-size image
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EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
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2026
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IF 5.7
Lan Luo,Wei Liu,Shenglan Qi,Jiamei Chen,Hua Zhang,Yongping Mu,Gaofeng Chen,Wei'an Yuan,Ping Liu,Linzhang Zhang
DDC-induced cholestatic liver injury in mice was significantly ameliorated by IAS II through the suppression of ductular reaction, hepatic fibrosis, and inflammatory responses. • Gut microbiota integrity is essential for IAS II efficacy, as its protective effects are lost upon antibiotic depletion. • IAS II activates PPAR-α and FXR signaling in a receptor-dependent manner to restore BA homeostasis, a mechanism validated by in vitro inhibitor studies. Cholestatic liver disease (CLD) is a severe hepatobiliary disorder with limited treatment options. Although the natural compound Isoastragaloside II (IAS II) has been suggested to possess general hepatoprotective properties, its therapeutic efficacy against CLD has not been reported. In this study, the therapeutic potential and underlying mechanisms of IAS II for CLD were investigated using a murine model established by 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine (DDC) feeding. It was demonstrated that DDC-induced cholestatic liver injury was significantly alleviated by IAS II treatment, as indicated by the normalization of key serum biochemical parameters. An integrated analysis of histopathological, protein, and gene expression data demonstrated that IAS II treatment effectively suppressed the ductular reaction, inhibited hepatic fibrosis, and attenuated inflammation. Analysis of 16S rRNA sequencing data revealed that IAS II treatment was accompanied by alterations in gut microbiota composition, including an enrichment of Bacteroides and a reduction in Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group . Antibiotic depletion experiments demonstrated that the hepatoprotective effects of IAS II were abrogated by gut microbiota depletion, confirming the essential role of the gut microbiota in its pharmacological action. At the molecular level, IAS II activated both the PPAR-α pathway (as indicated by transcriptomic analysis) and the FXR pathway (as confirmed by subsequent validation), which collectively resulted in a significant reduction in the hepatic accumulation of toxic bile acids (BAs). In vitro studies in LCA-induced HepG2 cells further revealed that the restoration of PPAR-α, ACOX2, FXR, and BSEP protein expression by IAS II required receptor activation, as these effects were blocked by specific inhibitors. In summary, to our knowledge, this study provides the first demonstration that a protective effect against DDC-induced cholestatic liver injury is conferred by IAS II through coordinated regulation of PPAR-α and FXR signaling, restoration of BA homeostasis, and in a gut microbiota-dependent manner, with these effects requiring the activation of both PPAR-α and FXR pathways, thereby identifying IAS II as a novel and promising therapeutic candidate for CLD. Download: Download high-res image (191KB) Download: Download full-size image
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Nature Chemistry
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2026
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IF 24.5
Huang Yu-Xin,Yang Yi,Zhao Chen-Zi,Xu Pan,Jiang Zi-Yue,Qiu Zi-Zhang,Zhong Xing-Yu,Shuang Zong-Yao,Huang Xue-Yan,Li Yong-Feng,Kong Wei-Jin,Tan Yi-Fan,Chen Xiang,Zhang Kaihang,Huang Jia-Qi,Zhang Qiang
Developing next-generation batteries that are high-energy, low-cost and eco-friendly is crucial for industrial applications. Lithium-rich manganese-based oxide positive electrodes offer substantial specific energy, enabled by their high specific capacity at high charging potential (>4.6 V versus Li/Li + ). However, stable operation at such high potentials remains challenging, as most electrolytes rely on environmentally unfriendly fluorinated solvents. Here we identified α-oxidation of the carbonyl group as the main oxidation mechanism of carboxylate esters. By removing all the reactive α-hydrogens of methyl acetate, we demonstrate that methyl trimethylacetate is a non-fluorinated, high-potential-stable solvent. This solvent exhibits outstanding oxidative stability up to 5.6 V versus Li/Li + , and electrochemical cells using methyl-trimethylacetate-based electrolytes maintain stable cycling at 4.6/4.7 V, outperforming many fluorinated systems. An industrial-scale 7.2-Ah pouch cell reached a maximum specific energy of 652.4 Wh kg −1 with 94.5% capacity retention after 28 cycles at 0.1 C/0.2 C. This work provides a simple molecular design strategy that addresses specific energy, cost and sustainability in next-generation high-voltage lithium batteries. The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.
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高影响因子
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
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2026
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IF 2.5
Zhongguang Lu,Xuan Wang,Yanran He,Hua Zeng,Chengwei Zhou,Yexun Liu,Ziyi Huang,Qimeng Fan
Betulinic acid (BA) is a naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpenoid with diverse pharmacological activities. This study systematically investigated the binding mechanisms of BA with pepsin (PEP), trypsin (TRY), and α-chymotrypsin (CHY). Steady-state and synchronous fluorescence, circular dichroism (CD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were employed to characterize the interactions, fluorescence quenching, and conformational changes. BA quenched the intrinsic fluorescence of all three enzymes in a concentration- and temperature-dependent manner; PEP underwent dynamic quenching, whereas TRY and CHY exhibited static or mixed-mode quenching. Binding analyses revealed a single dominant site on each enzyme, with the highest affinity observed for CHY. Thermodynamic analysis indicated that hydrophobic interactions predominantly drove BA–PEP binding, whereas electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonding were critical for BA–TRY and BA–CHY complexation. FTIR confirmed that BA bound to all three enzymes via synergistic hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions, inducing secondary structural alterations. Molecular docking revealed that BA stably occupied the active sites of each enzyme, forming enzyme-specific binding modes. MD simulations (RMSD, Rg, SASA, hydrogen bond analysis, and MMPBSA) validated the dynamic stability of the complexes, with binding free energies of −13.90, −20.14, and −23.08 kcal/mol for BA–PEP, BA–TRY, and BA–CHY, respectively, consistent with the experimental affinity trend. These findings elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which BA modulates digestive proteases, providing insights into its gastrointestinal behavior and bioactivity.
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POLYMER ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE
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2026
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IF 3.6
Chenshu Huan,Xuan Li,Jing Chang,Xuelian He
Polydicyclopentadiene (PDCPD), obtained through the ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of Dicyclopentadiene (DCPD), benefits from a highly cross-linked rigid framework that provides superior impact resistance; however, it struggles to meet the increasingly demanding mechanical performance requirements of certain emerging fields. To enhance the performance of PDCPD materials, this study prepared poly (DCPD/TCPD) and poly (DCPD/α-pinene) copolymers via ROMP, incorporating tricyclopentadiene (TCPD) as a secondary monomer and using α-pinene for comparison. The introduction of these secondary monomers effectively increased the rigidity of PDCPD. Specifically, with the addition of 5% α-pinene, the tensile strength of PDCPD increased from 52.1 to 58.9 MPa; similarly, the addition of 10% TCPD raised the tensile strength to 61.3 MPa. To achieve a synergistic optimization of stiffness and toughness, cyclooctene (COE) was further introduced as a third monomer. The resulting ternary copolymers exhibited superior rigidity and toughness compared to pure PDCPD. When the DCPD/TCPD/COE ratio was 80/10/10, the poly (DCPD/TCPD/COE) composite achieved a tensile strength of 55.1 MPa, a flexural strength of 91.3 MPa, an elongation at break of 66.3%, and an impact strength of 6.8 kJ/m 2 . Highlights DCPD, TCPD, and COE undergo ternary copolymerization via ROMP. A cross-linked network with a stable structure and no macroscopic phase separation was formed. The polymer achieved a balanced enhancement in mechanical properties.
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ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
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2025
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IF 6.7
Mengzhen Wang,Ling Ling,Jie Wen,Meiying Liu,Chuan-fan Ding
Determination of α-ketoacids is very important for disease diagnosis as well as for quality control of food and pharmaceuticals. In order to determine α-ketoacids by a simple, rapid, and simultaneous method in complex samples, a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) method has been reported herein through the development of an efficient reactive matrix. In this method, a MALDI matrix, 3,4-diaminobenzophenone (DABP), is first used to generate imidazole derivatives through its rapid reaction with α-ketoacids, which enables simple, rapid, sensitive, and selective detection of α-ketoacids by MALDI-TOF MS. The ionization efficiency of α-ketoacids is significantly improved by the use of DABP as the reactive matrix, as compared with the common alkaline matrices, such as 1,5-diaminonaphthalene and 9-aminoacridine. After optimization, the proposed method shows a lower limit of detection (0.8 μM for α-ketoglutaric acid; 0.45 μM for pyruvic acid), good linearity (R2 > 0.999), high accuracy (95.1–102.9%), and acceptable reproducibility (RSD: 0.8–4.9%). Owing to the above advantages, this method can be successfully used for the determination of α-ketoacids in real samples, including α-KG-supplemented capsules, onions, and beer, thereby demonstrating its potential for routine determination of α-ketoacids in complex samples.
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APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
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2025
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IF 6.9
Bin Cui,Yunfeng Zhu,Tongrui Hu,Jingwei Liu,Jiahao Wu,Yana Liu,Jiguang Zhang,Rui Shi,Zhixin Ba,Jun Wang,Jian Yang
The exploration of non-precious metal catalysts (NPMCs) with high activity and excellent stability for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is significant to develop the fuel cells and metal-air batteries (MABs) for large-scale applications. Heterointerface engineering is deemed as a prospective strategy to improve the ORR activity by modulating the inner electronic structure and enhancing the surface properties. Herein, the uniformly dispersed MnCo 2 O 4 nanoparticles on α-MnO 2 nanotubes were fabricated via a two-step route, and the nanoparticle size was regulated at different calcination temperatures to obtain MnCo 2 O 4 /α-MnO 2 catalysts (MCM-T, T = 450 ℃, 600 ℃, 750 ℃, 900 ℃). Benefiting from the large specific surface area, hierarchical porous structure and high ratio of (Mn 3+ +Mn 4+ )/Mn 2+ , the MCM-450 catalyst exhibits superior ORR activity with a half-wave potential of 0.78 V ( vs . RHE) and remarkable stability in 0.1 M KOH solution. Correspondingly, an impressive specific capacity (875.6 mAh g −1 ), a high discharge plateau (1.37 V) and a noticeable peak power density (151.1 mW cm −2 ) are achieved in MCM-450-based liquid aluminum-air batteries (LAABs), surpassing the performance of the commercial 20 wt% Pt/C catalyst (601.0 mAh g −1 , 1.31 V, and 128.2 mW cm −2 ). This work provides a new strategy on developing transition metal oxides (TMOs) catalysts and endows an opportunity for efficient sustainable energy storage.
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SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
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2025
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IF 9
Yadi Wang,Jingang Zhao,Taoyang Zou,Yuekun Jing,Yixuan Song,Guanchao Wang,Fang Liu,Guofei Jiang
In order to address the issue of air pollution caused by the volatilization of VOCs in oilfield mud storage tanks and further reduce the energy consumption associated with traditional thermal oxidation technology, this study employs a photothermal synergistic catalytic oxidation method for the treatment of oilfield VOCs. A series of Ni/α-MnO 2 catalysts doped with varying nickel contents were synthesized via the hydrothermal method using transition metals, with propane selected as the representative pollutant. The incorporation of nickel enhances the adsorption capacity of O 2 to a certain extent. Simultaneously, it increases the competitive adsorption intensity of O 2 in the presence of coexisting H 2 O and O 2 , thereby exhibiting superior catalytic oxidation performance for propane. Compared to the single-component α-MnO 2 material (T 90 = 228 °C), the 40 %Ni/α-MnO 2 composite catalytic material showed excellent degradation ability for propane (T 90 = 206 °C) and good long-term stability. Furthermore, based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations, a plausible mechanism for propane removal was proposed. Consequently, this study offers novel insights into the design and synthesis of efficient catalysts and the degradation of VOCs.
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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
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2026
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IF 8.7
Xueting Zhang,Tong Ye,Yanli Zhang,Li Huang,Yimeng Song,Xucheng Zhang,Yinliang Zhang,Yazhong Xiao,Wei Fang
Raw starch-degrading α-amylases play a key role in the cold hydrolysis of starch granules. Using bioinformatic approaches, one α-amylase-encoding gene, AmySy , was identified in the database. AmySy exhibited high activity toward raw corn and microalgal starch, with specific activities of 7570 ± 234 and 2564 ± 33 U/mg, respectively. Through a combination of computational design strategies, the variant AmySy:G207H was obtained, which exhibited enhanced catalytic performance. The half-life of AmySy:G207H at 35 °C was extended to 113 h, representing a 3.0-fold increase over AmySy. Using 30% raw corn flour as the substrate, the hydrolysis rate of AmySy:G207H reached 34.7% after a 5-h reaction. A chemo-enzymatic saccharification process for microalgae was developed using AmySy:G207H. After a three-hour reaction, the reducing sugar yield reached 367.5 mg/g microalgal biomass, which was 2.5 times that obtained through chemical hydrolysis alone. Owing to its ability to hydrolyze raw corn and microalgal starch, as well as its excellent thermostability, AmySy:G207H can be considered an efficient enzyme for the conversion of raw starch into sugar.
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Food & Function
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2026
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IF 5.4
Li Jiao,Jiangdong Zou,Huanhuan Ma,Danfei Huang,Chang Li
This study employed ultrasonic-assisted DES technology to extract jujube polysaccharides (ZJP) and investigated the effects of α-galactosidase modification on their structural characteristics and prebiotic functions. The modified polysaccharide (α-ZJP) exhibited significant alterations in physicochemical properties, including reduced neutral sugar and protein content, increased reducing sugars and uronic acids, and a shifted molecular weight distribution due to selective cleavage of galactose and rhamnose residues. Structural analysis confirmed the retention of key functional groups and revealed a transformed morphology from smooth sheets to a porous, sponge-like architecture. In vitro fermentation demonstrated that α-ZJP promoted rapid initial microbial growth and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, by enriching Firmicutes and Lachnospiraceae. In contrast, unmodified ZJP showed sustained fermentation, yielding higher total SCFAs and selectively promoting butyrate-producing bacteria like Coriobacteriaceae. Both polysaccharides enhanced microbial diversity and SCFA accumulation, indicating their potential as prebiotics for gut health through distinct structure-dependent mechanisms.
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CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
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2015
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IF 4.321
Xiaolian Jing,Jiale Huang,Huixuan Wang,Mingming Du,Daohua Sun,Qingbiao Li
Supported Ag catalyst for ethylene epoxidation was prepared by an impregnation–bioreduction process with Cinnamomum camphora (CC) extract. Influence of bioreduction temperature, concentration of CC extract, silver loading amount, calcination temperature as well as Cs promoter on catalytic performance were thoroughly investigated and the catalysts were characterized. The results showed that the catalyst prepared from bioreduction process exhibited excellent performance for the ethylene epoxidation with O 2 . Proper amount of Cs addition could effectively improve the catalytic performance of the catalyst. The optimal catalyst 15Ag/α-Al 2 O 3 -150Cs gave the EO concentrations of 1.70%, EO selectivity of 87.46% and EO STY of 223.07 g h −1 L −1 cat at 200 °C, showing high catalytic stability with no significant decrease in the activity and the selectivity during 50 h.
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危险品化学品经营许可证（带存储）