TAS-116, a Well-Tolerated Hsp90 Inhibitor,Prevents the Activation of the NLRP3 Inflammasome in Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells

Chronic inflammation has been associated with several chronic diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The NLRP3 inflammasome is a central proinflammatory signaling complex that triggers caspase-1 activation leading to the maturation of IL-1β. We have previously shown that the inhibition of the chaperone protein, Hsp90, prevents NLRP3 activation in human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells; these are cells which play a central role in the pathogenesis of AMD. In that study, we used a well-known Hsp90 inhibitor geldanamycin, but it cannot be used as a therapy due to its adverse effects, including ocular toxicity. Here, we have tested the effects of a novel Hsp90 inhibitor, TAS-116, on NLRP3 activation using geldanamycin as a reference compound. Using our existing protocol, inflammasome activation was induced in IL-1α-primed ARPE-19 cells with the proteasome and autophagy inhibitors MG-132 and bafilomycin A1, respectively. Intracellular caspase-1 activity was determined using a commercial caspase-1 activity kit and the FLICA assay. The levels of IL-1β were measured from cell culture medium samples by ELISA. Cell viability was monitored by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) test and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) measurements. Our findings show that TAS-116 could prevent the activation of caspase-1, subsequently reducing the release of mature IL-1β. TAS-116 has a better in vitro therapeutic index than geldanamycin. In summary, TAS-116 appears to be a well-tolerated Hsp90 inhibitor, with the capability to prevent the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in human RPE cells.     

Reactivity,Selectivity, and Stability of Zeolite-Based Catalysts for Methane Dehydroaromatization

Non-oxidative dehydroaromatization is arguably the most promising process for the direct upgrading of cheap and abundant methane to liquid hydrocarbons. This reaction has not been commercialized yet because of the suboptimal activity and swift deactivation of benchmark Mo-zeolite catalysts. This progress report represents an elaboration on the recent developments in understanding of zeolite-based catalytic materials for high-temperature non-oxidative dehydroaromatization of methane. It is specifically focused on recent studies, relevant to the materials chemistry and elucidating i) the structure of active species in working catalysts; ii) the complex molecular pathways underlying the mechanism of selective conversion of methane to benzene; iii) structure, evolution and role of coke species; and iv) process intensification strategies to improve the deactivation resistance and overall performance of the catalysts. Finally, unsolved challenges in this field of research are outlined and an outlook is provided on promising directions toward improving the activity, stability, and selectivity of methane dehydroaromatization catalysts.     

A spectroscopic method for quick evaluation of tint strength and tint tone of titania (rutile) pigment and factors affecting them

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) manufacturing industries measure optical properties such as brightness, colour, tint strength, tint tone, gloss, scatter coefficient, and others to ensure the quality of the product. Product characterization and process control generally focus on the optical properties, which determine its quality. In this work, titania rutile pigment with varying tint strength and tint tone is analyzed and a correlation is established between particle size and the optical properties such as tint strength and tint tone. It is observed that optical properties of titania pigment depends on the particle size as well as particle size distribution. A relatively faster evaluation of tint strength and tint tone can be made using the reflectance and particle size measurements. Analytical samples were prepared by ultrasonic dispersion of pigment in water containing calgon as dispersing agent. To verify the accuracy of the method, pigment tint strength and tint tone obtained from this study are compared with those resulting from traditional analysis. The results showed that the new method is viable.     

New environmental-friendly yellow pigments Y_(4-x)A_xMoO_(9+δ)(A =Ta,Tb)

A series of inorganic yellow pigments with general formula Y_(4-x)A_xMoO_(9+δ)(A = Ta, Tb), where x = 0,0.05,0.1,0.2, 0.4 for Ta and χ = 0, 0.005, 0.01.0.03, 0.05 for Tb,were synthesized by a conventional ceramic method at 1400 ℃ for 6 h in air. The samples were characterized by XRD,EDS,XPS,SEM,TG-DSC,UV-vis-NIR reflectance spectroscopy and CIE L*a*b* color scales. It is found that the substitution of A(A = Ta, Tb) for Y~(3+) in Y_4 MoO_9 decreases the NIR reflectance of the pigment samples, but the developed pigments Y_(4-x)A_xMoO_(9+δ)(A = Ta, Tb) still exhibit impressive NIR solar reflectance. The brighter yellow color of inorganic pigments Y_(4-x)A_xMoO_(9+δ)(A = Ta, Tb) is available when x is about 0.1 for Ta and 0.01 for Tb. The results make them a series of potential candidates as ecological yellow pigments because of their high reflectance, lightness, intense coloration and excellent thermal and chemical stability.     

Catalytic performance of Cu- and Zr-modified beta zeolite catalysts in the methylation of 2-methylnaphthalene

2,6-Dimethylnaphthalene(2,6-DMN) is a commercially important chemical for the production of polyethylenenaphthalate and polybutylene naphthalate. However, its complex synthesis procedure and high production cost significantly reduce the use of 2,6-DMN. In this study, the synthesis of 2,6-DMN was investigated with methylation of 2-methylnaphthalene(2-MN) over metal-loaded beta zeolite catalysts including beta zeolite, Cu-impregnated beta zeolite and Zr-impregnated beta zeolite. The experiments were performed in a fixed-bed reactor at atmospheric pressure under a nitrogen atmosphere. The reactor was operated at a temperature range of 400–500 °C and varying weight hourly space velocity between 1 and 3 h~(-1).The results demonstrated that 2,6-DMN can be synthesized by methylation of 2-MN over beta type zeolite catalysts.Besides 2,6-DMN, the product stream also contained other DMN isomers such as 2,7-DMN, 1,3-DMN, 1,2-DMN and 2,3-DMN. The activity and selectivity of beta zeolite catalyst were remarkably enhanced by Zr impregnation, whereas Cu modification of beta zeolite catalyst had an insignificant effect on its selectivity. The highest conversion of 2-MN reached81%, the highest ratio of 2,6-DMN/2,7-DMN reached 2.6 and the highest selectivity of 2,6-DMN was found to be 20% by using Zr-modified beta zeolite catalyst.     

偏高岭石碱溶合成方钠石相变过程及吸附特性

方钠石具有笼型结构和比表面积大的特性,使其吸附能力较强。以偏高岭石和NaOH为原料,通过碱溶法合成了羟基方钠石,探讨了NaOH浓度、反应温度、反应时间和液固比对合成方钠石的影响。采用XRD、SEM、IR和NMR对碱溶过程的产物进行了表征；探讨了方钠石对Al³⁺的吸附特性。结果表明,反应温度对方钠石合成影响最大,NaOH浓度次之,液固比影响较小,升高反应温度和增大NaOH浓度可缩短反应时间。碱溶过程中,偏高岭石中的活性铝、硅优先溶解于NaOH溶液,随着反应的推进,溶液中的铝、硅达到一定浓度后会发生缩聚反应形成前驱体胶凝相。NaOH浓度对前驱体胶凝相的转变影响显著,低浓度时,胶凝相主要转变成沸石相；高浓度时则转变为方钠石相,反应的本质是处于亚稳定状态的沸石相与NaOH反应形成方钠石相。吸附特性试验表明,方钠石对Al³⁺的吸附符合Langmuir模型,其吸附率高达99.9%,最大吸附量达89.77 mg/g。     

分子筛负载有机磷酸酯成核体系对聚丙烯性能的影响研究

采用溶液浸渍法制备了不同分子筛负载有机磷酸酯（MBP）成核体系，研究其对等规聚丙烯（iPP）结晶性能和力学性能的影响，并通过扫描电子显微镜观察不同分子筛对MBP的分散情况，进而揭示不同分子筛负载MBP对iPP成核性能提升差异的原因。结果表明，B类分子筛?1和B类分子筛-2负载MBP对iPP性能影响有限。而A类分子筛-1和A类分子筛-2负载MBP成核体系对iPP的性能提升明显：不仅促使iPP的结晶温度分别提高了10 ℃和6 ℃；也在促使iPP的弯曲模量分别提高29.9 %和13.0 %的同时，使得其冲击强度分别提升8 %和7 %，起到了有效的刚韧平衡的作用。成核体系的SEM结果表明，A类分子筛-1的加入能有效分散MBP，从而促使其在iPP当中发挥成核性能；而B类分子筛?1本身团聚严重，无法很好地分散MBP，因此无法发挥提升iPP成核性能的作用。     

多波长高效液相色谱法测定米豆腐中4种色素

目的建立多波长高效液相色谱法监测米豆腐中添加柠檬黄、胭脂红、日落黄、亮蓝等4种人工色素。方法氨碱性条件下用水作溶剂超声提取米豆腐中色素,提取液用柠檬酸溶液调节p H值至弱酸性,高效液相色谱在线分离。经Waters C_(18)色谱柱(250 mm×4.6 mm,5μm)分离;以0.02 mol/L乙酸铵(p H值5.5)—甲醇为流动相进行梯度洗脱,流速为1.0 m L/min,柱温30℃,以各组分的最大吸收波长为检测波长,外标法定量。结果 4种组分在1.00~100μg/m L范围内线性关系良好,相关系数在0.9993~0.9997(n=7),平均加标回收率在87.4%~89.5%(n=3)。结论该斱法同时测定米豆腐中4种人工色素,前处理简单、快速,定量准确,灵敏度高,可用于米豆腐的质量控制。