Comparative Study on Curcumin Loaded in Golden Pompano (Trachinotus blochii) Head Phospholipid and Soybean Lecithin Liposomes: Preparation, Characteristics and Anti-Inflammatory Properties

In this study, we compared the characteristics and in vitro anti-inflammatory effects of two curcumin liposomes, prepared with golden pompano head phospholipids (GPL) and soybean lecithin (SPC). GPL liposomes (GPL-lipo) and SPC liposomes (SPC-lipo) loaded with curcumin (CUR) were prepared by thin film extrusion, and the differences in particle size, ζ-potential, morphology, and storage stability were investigated. The results show that GPL-lipo and SPC-lipo were monolayer liposomes with a relatively small particle size and excellent encapsulation rates. However, GPL-lipo displayed a larger negative ζ-potential and better storage stability compared to SPC-lipo. Subsequently, the effects of phospholipids in regulating the inflammatory response of macrophages were evaluated in vitro, based on the synergistic effect with CUR. The results showed that both GPL and SPC exerted excellent synergistic effect with CUR in inhibiting the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced secretion of nitric oxide (NO), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and pro-inflammatory genes (tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin 1β (IL-β), and interleukin 6 (IL-6)) in RAW264.7 cells. Interestingly, GPL-lipo displayed superior inhibitory effects, compared to SPC-lipo. The findings provide a new innovative bioactive carrier for development of stable CUR liposomes with good functional properties

Generation of High-Amylose Rice through CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Targeted Mutagenesis of Starch Branching Enzymes

Cereals high in amylose content (AC) and resistant starch (RS) offer potential health benefits. Previous studies using chemical mutagenesis or RNA interference have demonstrated that starch branching enzyme (SBE) plays a major role in determining the fine structure and physical properties of starch. However, it remains a challenge to control starch branching in commercial lines. Here, we use CRISPR/Cas9 technology to generate targeted mutagenesis in SBEI and SBEIIb in rice. The frequencies of obtained homozygous or bi-allelic mutant lines with indels in SBEI and SBEIIb in T0 generation were from 26.7 to 40%. Mutations in the homozygous T0 lines stably transmitted to the T1 generation and those in the bi-allelic lines segregated in a Mendelian fashion. Transgene-free plants carrying only the frame-shifted mutagenesis were recovered in T1 generation following segregation. Whereas no obvious differences were observed between the sbeI mutants and wild type, sbeII mutants showed higher proportion of long chains presented in debranched amylopectin, significantly increased AC and RS content to as higher as 25.0% and 9.8%, respectively, and thus altered fine structure and nutritional properties of starch. Taken together, our results demonstrated for the first time the feasibility to create high-amylose rice through CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing of SBEIIb

A Fresh Perspective on the Impact of ZnTiO₃ Coupling on the Microstructure and Photocatalytic Properties of TiO₂ Fabricated at Varied Temperatures

ZnTiO3/TiO2 composite photocatalysts were synthesized via the sol–gel technique, and the impact of varying heat treatment temperatures (470, 570, 670 °C) on their crystalline arrangement, surface morphology, elemental composition, chemical state, specific surface area, optical characteristics, and photocatalytic efficacy was systematically investigated. The outcomes revealed that, as the temperature ascends, pure TiO2 undergoes a transition from anatase to rutile, ultimately forming a hybrid crystal structure at 670 °C. The incorporation of ZnTiO3 engenders a reduction in the TiO2 grain dimensions and retards the anatase-to-rutile phase transition. Consequently, the specimens manifest a composite constitution of anatase and ZnTiO3. In contrast, for pure TiO2, the specimen subjected to 670 °C annealing demonstrates superior photocatalytic performance due to its amalgamated crystal arrangement. The degradation efficacy of methylene blue (MB) aqueous solution attains 91% within a 60-min interval, with a calculated first-order reaction rate constant of 0.039 min−1. Interestingly, the ZnTiO3/TiO2 composite photocatalysts exhibit diminished photocatalytic activity in comparison to pristine TiO2 across all three temperature variations. Elucidation of the photocatalytic mechanism underscores that ZnTiO3 coupling augments the generation of photogenerated charge carriers. Nonetheless, concurrently, it undermines the crystalline integrity of the composite, yielding an excess of amorphous constituents that impede the mobility of photoinduced carriers. This dual effect also fosters escalated recombination of photogenerated charges, culminating in diminished quantum efficiency and reduced photocatalytic performance

Effects of SnO2 coupling on the structure and photocatalytic performance of TiO2/sepiolite composites

The use of titanium dioxide in the degradation of water pollutants encounters several challenges, including particle agglomeration leading to a reduction in its specific surface area and a high rate of photogenerated electron-hole recombination, resulting in a lower quantum efficiency. Therefore, in this work, we first employed sepiolite to load titanium dioxide, mitigating particle agglomeration. Building upon this, tin dioxide was coupled with it to enhance the photogenerated charge separation. The SnO2/TiO2/sepiolite photocatalytic composites were synthesized using the sol–gel method at 450 ℃. The resulting composites underwent thorough characterization encompassing phase composition, morphology, chemical valence states, specific surface area, optical properties, and photocatalytic activity. The outcomes demonstrate an augmentation in the specific surface area of TiO2/Sep composites following the sepiolite (Sep) loading. Among these, the TiO2/Sep composite (with a Sep: TiO2 mass ratio of 10 %) exhibited the most favorable photocatalytic performance, displaying a first-order reaction rate constant of 0.010 min−1, surpassing that of pure TiO2 by a factor of 2.0. The introduction of SnO2 expedited the migration of photogenerated charge across interfaces, curbing the recombination of photogenerated pairs, thus enhancing quantum efficiency. In light of the presence of sepiolite, the addition of SnO2 further amplified the photocatalytic performance. Optimal results were achieved when the molar ratio of SnO2:TiO2 was set at 1:4, leading to the highest photocatalytic efficiency observed in the SnO2/TiO2/Sep composite. This composite exhibited a first-order reaction rate constant of 0.027 min−1, marking a notable 2.7-fold increase compared to the TiO2/Sep counterpart. The investigation of band potentials, charge transfer pathways, and the photocatalytic mechanism within SnO2/TiO2/Sep composite materials was conducted through a comprehensive analysis involving electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) valence band spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance spectra (EPR) and active radical experiments