Metal(II)-Induced Coordination Polymer Based on 4‑(5-(Pyridin-4-yl)-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)benzoate as an Electrocatalyst for Water Splitting

Using a rigid ligand, 4-(5-(pyridin-4-yl)-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl) benzoic acid (<b>HL</b>), three metal­(II)–organic frameworks (MOFs) formulated as M₂L₄·3H₂O [M = Co (<b>1</b>), Cu (<b>2</b>), and Zn (<b>3</b>)] were synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The three MOFs are isostructural except for different unsaturated coordinated metal­(II) ions in the structures, and they display a uninodal two-dimensional layer with 4⁴-<b>sql</b> topology. Among the three complexes, the Co and Cu complexes can act as electrocatalysts for water splitting, and the Co complex shows better electrocatalytic activity. The present work shows that the species of metal­(II) ions plays an important role in the electrocatalytic activity for water splitting. The three complexes show different thermal stabilities, UV–vis absorption characteristics, and photoluminescence properties

Human UC-MSCs combined with rUGSSs can generate prostate glands.

<p>Mice were sacrificed 2 months after co-transplantation surgery, and the kidneys from the cell implanted nude mice were collected. (A) Graft initiated with hUC-MSCs alone and (B) rUGSSs alone were used as negative control, respectively. (C) Graft derived with hUC-MSCs and rUGSSs. (D–F) Histological analyses of the sections of the graft stained for haematoxylin and eosin (H&E). (D) Note that while hUC-MSCs alone and (E) rUGSSs single cell type transplantation fail to regenerate prostate glandular structures. (F) co-transplantation of hUC-MSCs and rUGSSs gives rise to prostate glandular structures. Scale bar 50 µm.</p

Detection of human cells in the regeneration of prostate.

<p>The field of prostate epithelial regeneration can be seen within the graft transplanted with hUC-MSCs and rUGSSs. (A, B) Immunofluorescent staining for CK8 in the new graft. (C, D) Detection of human cells in the new graft (green). (E, F) Note that the human nuclear antigen+ cells (green) in the graft can be co-stained with CK8. (G, H) The grafts express the prostate specific antigen (PSA). Scale bar 50 µm.</p

Regenerated prostates resemble the phenotypes of normal prostates.

<p>(A, C, E, G) Immunofluorescence analysis of the expression of CK8, p63, CK5 and androgen receptor (AR) in regenerated prostate tissue. (F) shows triple-staining for the basal cell marker CK5 (green), luminal marker CK8 (red) and DAPI counter staining (blue). (B, D, F, H) The tissue sections were counterstained with 4, 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI; blue). Scale bar 50 µm.</p

Immunophenotype analysis of P0-P8 hUC-MSCs by FACS.

<p>Cells were from P0-P8 hUC-MSCs and stained with CD29, CD105, CD34, CD45, and CD31 antibodies. The upper half of the figure is the flow histogram of single antibody staining. The shaded area shows the profile of the negative control. The lower half of the figure is CD29-FITC and CD105-PE expression of P0-P8 hUC-MSCs. (A) hUC-MSCs exhibit positive surface expression of integrin marker (CD29), (B) MSC marker (CD105), (C-E) but are negative for hematopoietic lineage markers (CD34, CD45) nor the platelet/endothelial cell adhesion molecule (CD31). The CD29+CD105+ hUC-MSC population accounts for 85%∼99.9% of all cells.</p

Ngb mRNA expression in the injured spinal cords on days 3, 7, 14, and 21 after SCI in each group.

<p>The data were plotted as mean ± SD (n = 6). ^*<i>P</i><0.05 versus the Control and the NS groups (one-way ANOVA), ^#<i>P</i><0.05 versus the BMSC group (one-way ANOVA).</p

Morphology and phenotypic characterization of cultured BMSCs.

<p>(A) Primary BMSCs at 5 days of culture (magnification: ×100). (B) BMSCs at passage 3 (magnification: ×100). (C) Flow cytometric analysis of cultured BMSCs with CD29, CD34, CD45, and CD90 antibodies. [Bar  = 500 µm (A, B)].</p

Fluorescence microscopy of the injured spinal cords.

<p>eGFP fluorescence detected with a fluorescence microscope on days 7 (A), 14 (B), and 21 (C) after SCI (magnification, ×200) [Bar  = 200 µm (A, B,C)].</p

Apoptosis in the injured spinal cords on day 7 after SCI (magnification, ×400).

<p>(A) Control; (B) NS; (C) BMSC; (D) Ngb-BMSC groups. The TUNEL positive cells were stained dark brown. The number of positive cells was significantly lower in the Ngb-BMSC group compared with the numbers in the Control, NS, and BMSC groups [n = 6, Bar  = 100 µm (A, B, C, D)].</p

Hindlimb functional assessment with the BBB rating scale on days 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21 after SCI in each group.

<p>The data are plotted as mean ± SD. ^*<i>P</i><0.05 versus the Control and the NS groups (repeated-measures ANOVA), ^*<i>P</i><0.05 versus the BMSC group (repeated-measures ANOVA).</p