Facile preparation of a novel nickel-containing metallopolymer via RAFT polymerization

<p>While the metallocene polymers were comprehensively studied, other metallopolymers are rarely explored. The major challenge is the lack of a synthetic platform for the preparation of metal coordinated derivatives, monomers, and polymers. Therefore, the development of a facile synthesis of new metal coordinated monomers and polymers is critically needed. A novel successfully synthesized methacrylate-containing nickel complex is reported in this communication. Controlled RAFT polymerizations are further carried out to prepare a series of side-chain nickel containing polymers with different molecular weight and narrow Polydispersity Index (PDI). This new metallopolymer performs specific electrochemical and excellent thermal properties. This study provides a novel and convenient strategy to prepare metallopolymer with controllable molecular weight, which has potential applications in assembled, catalytic and magnetic materials.</p

Chronological constraints on the tectonic evolution of the Chinese Tianshan Orogen through detrital zircons from modern and palaeo-river sands

<p>The Chinese Tianshan Orogen marks prolonged and complicated interactions between the southwestern Palaeo-Asian Ocean and surrounding blocks. New and previously published detrital zircon chronological data from modern and palaeo-river sands were compiled to reveal its tectonic evolution. It is characterized by predominant Palaeozoic as well as minor Mesozoic and Precambrian detrital zircon ages with a multimodal characteristic. The oldest Phanerozoic zircon population (peaking at 475 Ma) is a result of subduction and closure of the early Palaeozoic Terskey Ocean. However, the absence of this peak in the Chinese North and southern South Tianshan suggests that subductions of the North and South Tianshan oceans may not have initiated until the Late Ordovician with subsequent 460–390 and 360–320 Ma arc magmatism. Similar to the magmatic suite in classic collisional orogens, the youngest massive 320–270 Ma magmatism is suggested to be post-collisional. The North and South Tianshan oceans therefore probably had their closure to form the Chinese Tianshan Orogen during the late Carboniferous. The weak Mesozoic intra-plate magmatism further rejects a late Permian–Triassic Tianshan Orogen due to a lack of extensive syn- and post-collisional magmatism. Moreover, diverse Precambrian detrital zircon age patterns indicate that the surrounding blocks have distinct evolutionary processes with short-term amalgamation during the Meso- to Neoproterozoic.</p

Growth of SiC Whiskers onto Carbonizing Coir Fibers by Using Silicon Slurry Waste

To reduce environmental pollution and waste of resources, it is very important to recycle valuable materials in silicon slurry waste (SSW). We report a novel method for the rapid preparation of SiC nanowhiskers by spark plasma (SP) assisted thermal treatment using SSW as the silicon source. In the preparation process, coir fibers were used as the carbon source and whisker growth substrate. At 1100–1300 °C, carbon-rich tadpole-like 3C–SiC whiskers with Fe catalyst caps were prepared by the vapor–liquid–solid growth mechanism. At 1400–1600 °C, carbon-rich, stick-like 3C–SiC whiskers without Fe catalyst caps with aspect ratios of about 40, and diameters of about 50 nm were prepared by the vapor–solid growth mechanism. The SiC whiskers grew along the [111] direction on the (111) plane at different temperatures. At the optimum temperature of 1500 °C, the silicon in SSW reacted completely, and SiC whiskers with good morphology were prepared. Furthermore, the photoluminescence (PL) spectra of SiC whiskers showed strong blue-violet emission at 450 nm. Accordingly, this study provides an environmentally friendly method for preparing SiC whiskers

Tau-Targeted Multifunctional Nanocomposite for Combinational Therapy of Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) remains an incurable disease and lacks efficient diagnostic methods. Most AD treatments have focused on amyloid-β (Aβ) targeted therapy; however, it is time to consider the alternative theranostics due to accumulated findings of weak correlation between Aβ deposition and cognition, as well as the failures of Phase III clinical trial on Aβ targeted therapy. Recent studies have shown that the tau pathway is closely associated with clinical development of AD symptoms, which might be a potential therapeutic target. We herein construct a methylene blue (MB, a tau aggregation inhibitor) loaded nanocomposite (CeNC/IONC/MSN-T807), which not only possesses high binding affinity to hyperphosphorylated tau but also inhibits multiple key pathways of tau-associated AD pathogenesis. We demonstrate that these nanocomposites can relieve the AD symptoms by mitigating mitochondrial oxidative stress, suppressing tau hyperphosphorylation, and preventing neuronal death both <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i>. The memory deficits of AD rats are significantly rescued upon treatment with MB loaded CeNC/IONC/MSN-T807. Our results indicate that hyperphosphorylated tau-targeted multifunctional nanocomposites could be a promising therapeutic candidate for Alzheimer’s disease