Neurotoxicity of Chronic Co-Exposure of Lead and Ionic Liquid in Common Carp: Synergistic or Antagonistic?

Previous studies have indicated that the harmful heavy metal lead (Pb) contamination in aquatic systems has caused intelligence development disorders and nervous system function abnormalities in juveniles due to the increased permeability of the blood–brain barrier. Ionic liquids (ILs) are considered “green” organic solvents that can replace traditional organic solvents. Studies have found the presence of ILs in soil and water due to chemical applications or unintentional leakage. Therefore, what would happen if Pb interacted with ILs in a body of water? Could ILs enable Pb to more easily cross the blood–brain barrier? Therefore, we examined the combined exposure of Pb and ILs in common carp at low concentration (18.3 mg L⁻¹ of Pb(CH₃COO)₂•3 H₂O and 11 mg L⁻¹ of the IL 1-methyl-3-octylimidazolium chloride, 5% of their LC₅₀) for 28 days in the present study. The result of a neurobehavioral assay showed that chronic exposure of lead at lower concentrations significantly altered fish movement and neurobehaviors, indicating that lead exposure caused neurotoxicity in the carp. Increases in the neurotransmitter dopamine levels and injuries in the fish brain accounted for neurobehavioral abnormalities induced by lead exposure. Moreover, we also found that lead could easily cross the blood–brain barrier and caused significant bioaccumulation in the brain. Particularly, our study indicated that the ionic liquid could not synergistically promote blood–brain barrier permeability and hence failed to increase the absorption of lead in the fish brain, suggesting that the combined exposure of lead and ILs was not a synergistic effect but antagonism to the neurotoxicity. The results of this study suggested that ILs could recede the Pb induced neurotoxicity in fish.     

低场MRI原位研究离子液体合成及相态变化

离子液体作为一个平台化合物已经在诸多领域得到广泛应用,但离子液体的生产成本仍然是限制其进一步工业化推广的瓶颈之一。深入研究反应动力学、反应传递耦合规律对优化离子液体合成工艺/关键设备,降低大规模离子液体制备成本至关重要。本研究用一个原位低场磁共振成像(MRI)设备实时监测ILs合成过程中的反应动力学和相态变化。通过建立双组分分析模型,即1H低场核磁共振(LF-NMR)弛豫法对反应体系中的各个组分进行定量分析,并采集MRI图像记录相位分离和倒置过程,系统考察了卤代烷烃的链长、卤素种类、搅拌速度、反应温度等对咪唑类离子液体反应动力学的影响规律。对溴丁烷、甲基咪唑合成溴代1-丁基-3-甲基咪唑类离子液体合成过程中相态变化进行了实时动态观测。本研究为检测离子液体反应过程及有机溶剂中离子液体的残余量提供一种快速、便利、无损的检测方法,有望利用低场MRI对离子液体系统中传质和反应动力学的结合研究做进一步探索。     

The Recruitment-Secretory Block (“R-SB”) Phenomenon and Endoplasmic Reticulum Storage Diseases

In this article, we review the biological and clinical implication of the Recruitment-Secretory Block (“R-SB”) phenomenon. The phenomenon refers to the reaction of the liver with regard to protein secretion in conditions of clinical stimulation. Our basic knowledge of the process is due to the experimental work in animal models. Under basal conditions, the protein synthesis is mainly carried out by periportal (zone 1) hepatocytes that are considered the “professional” synthesizing protein cells. Under stimulation, midlobular and centrolobular (zones 2 and 3) hepatocytes, are progressively recruited according to lobular gradients and contribute to the increase of synthesis and secretion. The block of secretion, operated by exogenous agents, causes intracellular retention of all secretory proteins. The Pi MZ phenotype of Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) has turned out to be the key for in vivo studies of the reaction of the liver, as synthesis and block of secretion are concomitant. Indeed, the M fraction of AAT is stimulated for synthesis and regularly exported while the Z fraction is mostly retained within the cell. For that reason, the phenomenon has been designated “Recruitment-Secretory Block” (“R-SB”). The “R-SB” phenomenon explains why: (a) the MZ individuals can correct the serum deficiency; (b) the resulting immonohistochemical and electron microscopic (EM) patterns are very peculiar and specific for the diagnosis of the Z mutation in tissue sections in the absence of genotyping; (c) the term carrier is no longer applicable for the heterozygous condition as all Pi MZ individuals undergo storage and the storage predisposes to liver damage. The storage represents the true elementary lesion and consequently reflects the phenotype-genotype correlation; (d) the site and function of the extrahepatic AAT and the relationship between intra and extracellular AAT; (e) last but not least, the concept of Endoplasmic Reticulum Storage Disease (ERSD) and of a new disease, hereditary hypofibrinogenemia with hepatic storage (HHHS). In the light of the emerging phenomenon, described in vitro, namely that M and Z AAT can form heteropolymers within hepatocytes as well as in circulation, we have reviewed the whole clinical and experimental material collected during forty years, in order to evaluate to what extent the polymerization phenomenon occurs in vivo. The paper summarizes similarities and differences between AAT and Fibrinogen as well as between the related diseases, AATD and HHHS. Indeed, fibrinogen gamma chain mutations undergo an aggregation process within the RER of hepatocytes similar to AATD. In addition, this work has clarified the intriguing phenomenon underlying a new syndrome, hereditary hypofibrinogenemia and hypo-APO-B-lipoproteinemia with hepatic storage of fibrinogen and APO-B lipoproteins. It is hoped that these studies could contribute to future research and select strategies aimed to simultaneously correct the hepatocytic storage, thus preventing the liver damage and the plasma deficiency of the two proteins.     

离子液体在纳米材料合成中的应用

室温离子液体（ionic liquids, ILs）作为一种新型的绿色环保溶剂,由于其特殊的功能化结构及热稳定性好、挥发度低和溶解能力强等特点,目前被广泛应用于纳米材料的制备领域。本文重点介绍了离子液体在纳米材料制备中的应用及相关研究的最新进展,结合一些示例对本领域进行了概述,其中包括离子液体作为溶剂,例如作为反应介质和稳定剂;模板剂,例如利用离子液体的微结构（胶束和囊泡、液晶凝胶、乳液和微乳液）作为纳米材料合成中的模板和软模板;反应物,例如作为反应中的还原剂和反应组分;以及离子液体微乳液在纳米材料制备中的特殊用法进行了总结,并讨论了离子液体在快速发展的纳米材料制备领域中的存在挑战和机遇。     

A Review on Ionic Liquids-Based Membranes for Middle and High Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (PEM FCs)

Today, the use of polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) possessing ionic liquids (ILs) in middle and high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (MT-PEMFCs and HT-PEMFCs) have been increased. ILs are the organic salts, and they are typically liquid at the temperature lower than 100 °C with high conductivity and thermal stability. The membranes containing ILs can conduct protons through the PEMs at elevated temperatures (more than 80 °C), unlike the Nafion-based membranes. A wide range of ILs have been identified, including chiral ILs, bio-ILs, basic ILs, energetic ILs, metallic ILs, and neutral ILs, that, from among them, functionalized ionic liquids (FILs) include a lot of ion exchange groups in their structure that improve and accelerate proton conduction through the polymeric membrane. In spite of positive features of using ILs, the leaching of ILs from the membranes during the operation of fuel cell is the main downside of these organic salts, which leads to reducing the performance of the membranes; however, there are some ways to diminish leaching from the membranes. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of these issues by evaluating key studies that have been undertaken in the last years in order to present objective and comprehensive updated information that presents the progress that has been made in this field. Significant information regarding the utilization of ILs in MT-PEMFCs and HT-PEMFCs, ILs structure, properties, and synthesis is given. Moreover, leaching of ILs as a challenging demerit and the possible methods to tackle this problem are approached in this paper. The present review will be of interest to chemists, electrochemists, environmentalists, and any other researchers working on sustainable energy production field.     

离子液体催化合成苯基硫代膦酰二氯的研究

研究了以含三氯化铝的离子液体催化苯基二氯化磷(DCPP)的硫化制备苯基硫代膦酰氯(DCPPS)的反应特点，结果表明，离子液体对反应有较好的催化活性，较传统催化方式表现出催化剂用量少、分离方式简便、原料可回收、催化剂可回收等特点，这些特点综合地解决了传统反应中产品难分离、污染重的缺点，为DCPPS的绿色合成提供了新的方法。     

Ionic Liquids as Size‐ and Shape‐Regulating Solvents for the Synthesis of Cobalt Nanoparticles

Over the last few years, ionic liquids (ILs) have emerged as an important class of reaction media for the synthesis of nanoparticles. The formation and stabilization of nanoparticles was investigated in different ILs to elucidate the effect of the chemical nature of the IL anion, cation and alkyl side chain of the imidazolium. In this context, Co₂(CO)₈ was employed as a precursor and thermally decomposed to the metallic cobalt nanoparticles in a series of selected ILs, where either the IL cation or anion was varied while keeping all of the other parameters constant. The results show that both the molecular volume of the anion and cation and the steric configuration are important aspects to control the formation and stability of nanoparticles in ILs.     

Effects of physicochemical properties of ionic liquids on butyl acetate synthesis using Candida antarctica lipase B

Butyl acetate synthesis in imidazolium ring-based ionic liquids (ILs) containing trifluoromethanesulfonate, [TfO]^? using Candida antarctica lipase B was demonstrated. Among the ILs tested, the highest butyl acetate production and its initial rate was achieved in [Bmim][TfO]. Compared with tert-butanol, which has been the conventional solvent for transesterification reactions, the initial reaction and conversion rate were approximately 1.4 and 1.1 times, respectively, higher. Some physicochemical parameters, such as viscosity, hydrophobicity, and partial charge of ILs were examined to find the relations which influence reaction rates. Although only weak correlations between each parameter and enzyme activity were found, it shed a light on understanding the generalization complexity of ILs for enzyme reaction.     

离子液体的性质及其在催化反应中的应用

在对离子液体的国内外研究现状综合分析的基础上, 对离子液体的结构–性能关系和性质变化规律进行了探讨, 系统地介绍了离子液体作为溶剂或催化剂在催化反应中的应用, 特别是在金属催化、生物催化、反应–分离耦合方面的进展. 在含微量水或无水离子液体中酶能够保持高的活性和选择性，有望在生物催化方面带来突破性进展. 超临界CO2/离子液体及离子液体/水/有机相提供了一种新的反应–分离耦合模式, 将进一步推动绿色化学的发展.     

Applications and Mechanisms of Ionic Liquids in Whole-Cell Biotransformation

Ionic liquids (ILs), entirely composed of cations and anions, are liquid solvents at room temperature. They are interesting due to their low vapor pressure, high polarity and thermostability, and also for the possibility to fine-tune their physicochemical properties through modification of the chemical structures of their cations or anions. In recent years, ILs have been widely used in biotechnological fields involving whole-cell biotransformations of biodiesel or biomass, and organic compound synthesis with cells. Research studies in these fields have increased from the past decades and compared to the typical solvents, ILs are the most promising alternative solvents for cell biotransformations. However, there are increasing limitations and new challenges in whole-cell biotransformations with ILs. There is little understanding of the mechanisms of ILs’ interactions with cells, and much remains to be clarified. Further investigations are required to overcome the drawbacks of their applications and to broaden their application spectrum. This work mainly reviews the applications of ILs in whole-cell biotransformations, and the possible mechanisms of ILs in microbial cell biotransformation are proposed and discussed.     

Lipase-catalyzed Synthesis of Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester in Ionic Liquids： Effect of Specific Ions and Reaction Parameters

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester（CAPE） is a rare, naturally occurring phenolic food additive. This work systematically reported fundamental data on conversion of caffeic acid（CA）, yield of CAPE, and reactive selectivity during the lipase-catalyzed esterification process of CA and phenylethanol（PE） in ionic liquids（ILs）. Sixteen ILs were selected as the reaction media, and the relative lipase-catalyzed synthesis properties of CAPE were measured in an effort to enhance the yield of CAPE with high selectivity. The results indicated that ILs containing weakly coordinating anions and cations with adequate alkyl chain length improved the synthesis of CAPE. [Emim][Tf2 N] was selected as the optimal reaction media. The optimal parameters were as follows by response surface methodology（RSM）： reaction temperature, 84.0 °C; mass ratio of Novozym 435 to CA, 14︰1; and molar ratio of PE to CA, 16 ︰ 1. The highest reactive selectivity of CAPE catalyzed by Novozym 435 in [Emim][Tf2 N] reached 64.55%（CA conversion 98.76% and CAPE yield 63.75%, respectively）. Thus, lipase-catalyzed esterification in ILs is a promising method suitable for CAPE production.     

Shape-controllable synthesis of hydrophilic NaLuF4:Yb,Er nanocrystals by a surfactant-assistant two-phase system

Water-soluble upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) were prepared by a one-pot procedure in a two-phase reacting system. Four kinds of surfactants were tested in the synthesis process as capping agent to tune size and morphology of nanocrystals. Nanoparticles (approximately 70 nm) and rods (400 nm and 2.5 μm) were synthesized, respectively. Then, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis confirmed the successful linking between UCNP surface and surfactant. Ionic liquids (ILs) and surfactants participated in synthesis process together, competing with each other to cap on UCNPs. ILs still led the competition of capping, while surfactants worked as cooperative assistants to develop functional surface. Further characterizations such as high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction indicated the changes in crystallization and phase transformation under the influence of surfactants. In addition, the growth mechanism of nanocrystals and upconversion fluorescence luminance was also investigated in detail. At last, the cytotoxicity of UCNPs was evaluated, which highly suggest that these surface-functionalized UCNPs are promising candidates for biomedical engineering.     

酸性离子液体［HSO3-bpy］CF3SO3催化合成MDC

制备了一系列磺酸吡啶功能化酸性离子液体(ILs),采用Hammett指示剂与紫外联用法测定了其酸强度。考察了各酸性离子液体在苯氨基甲酸甲酯(MPC)与甲醛缩合制备二苯甲烷二氨基甲酸甲酯(MDC)反应中的催化活性。结果表明,离子液体的酸强度与其催化活性关联较好;［HSO₃-bpy］CF₃SO₃酸强度最高,催化活性也最好。以［HSO₃-bpy］CF₃SO₃为催化剂兼溶剂,优化了MDC合成反应条件。在反应温度70℃,反应时间60 min,MPC与甲醛的摩尔比为12,离子液体与MPC的质量比为4的条件下,MDC产率最高可达91.5％。用水处理反应液,通过减压蒸馏后的离子液体可以循环使用5次以上。     

离子液体结构对Diels-Alder反应的影响

综述了不同结构离子液体对Diels-Alder反应的影响,总结了大量国内外有关离子液体中Diels-Alder反应. 分别从极性、酸性和黏度的角度分析了离子液体结构变化对Diels-Alder反应产物选择性或反应速率的影响. 讨论了离子液体中所能形成的氢键种类、咪唑类阳离子C(2)位取代情况、离子液体的Lewis酸性或Br?nsted酸性、离子液体黏度和反应体系黏度等因素的影响. 采用量子化学密度泛函理论计算了反应活化能、反应物的亲电性和过渡态C?C键长. 结果表明,离子液体的独特结构能降低反应活化能,同时增加反应过程中成键的不协同性. 指出未来的发展方向是通过对离子液体物理性质更深入的研究,基于反应机理合成功能化离子液体,进一步优化反应,发展新型、高效、绿色的Diels-Alder反应,从而扩大其应用.     

New developments in polymer science and technology using combination of ionic liquids and microwave irradiation

The purpose of this review is to provide appropriate details concerning the application of ionic liquids (IL)s associated with microwave-assisted polymer chemistry. From the viewpoint of microwave chemistry, one of the key significant advantages of ILs is their high polarity, which is variable, depending on the cation and anion and therefore can effectively be tuned to a particular application. Hence, these liquids offer a great potential for the innovative application of microwaves for organic synthesis as well as for polymer science. ILs efficiently absorb microwave energy through an ionic conduction mechanism, and thus are employed as solvents and co-solvents, leading to a very high heating rate and a significantly shortened reaction time. Since an IL-based and microwave-accelerated procedure is efficient and environmentally benign, we believe that this method may have some potential applications in the synthesis of a wide variety of vinyl and non-vinyl polymers. This review describes application of combination of ILs with microwave irradiation as a modern tool for the addition and step-growth polymerization as well as modification of polymers and it was compared with ILs alone and conventional polymerization method.     

Role of MicroRNAs in Signaling Pathways Associated with the Pathogenesis of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: A Focus on Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic and progressive disease with high mortality and unclear etiology. Previous evidence supports that the origin of this disease is associated with epigenetic alterations, age, and environmental factors. IPF initiates with chronic epithelial lung injuries, followed by basal membrane destruction, which promotes the activation of myofibroblasts and excessive synthesis of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, as well as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Due to miRNAs’ role as regulators of apoptosis, proliferation, differentiation, and cell-cell interaction processes, some studies have involved miRNAs in the biogenesis and progression of IPF. In this context, the analysis and discussion of the probable association of miRNAs with the signaling pathways involved in the development of IPF would improve our knowledge of the associated molecular mechanisms, thereby facilitating its evaluation as a therapeutic target for this severe lung disease. In this work, the most recent publications evaluating the role of miRNAs as regulators or activators of signal pathways associated with the pathogenesis of IPF were analyzed. The search in Pubmed was made using the following terms: “miRNAs and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)”; “miRNAs and IPF and signaling pathways (SP)”; and “miRNAs and IPF and SP and IPF pathogenesis”. Additionally, we focus mainly on those works where the signaling pathways involved with EMT, fibroblast differentiation, and synthesis of ECM components were assessed. Finally, the importance and significance of miRNAs as potential therapeutic or diagnostic tools for the treatment of IPF are discussed.     

Towards continuous sustainable processes for enzymatic synthesis of biodiesel in hydrophobic ionic liquids/supercritical carbon dioxide biphasic systems

The excellent suitability of immobilized Candida antarctica lipase B (Novozym 435) catalyst to carry out the synthesis of methyl oleate (biodiesel) by methanolysis of triolein in ILs based on imidazolium cations with large alkyl side chain (from C₁₂ to C₁₈) has been demonstrated at 60 and 85 °C. The phase behaviour of IL/triolein/methanol and IL/methyl oleate mixtures were studied at different concentrations and temperatures, the best results (up to 98.6% biodiesel yield after 6 h) being obtained for ILs able to provide monophasic reaction systems, i.e. 1-methyl-3-octadecylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide). A continuous enzymatic reactor, based on biocatalysts particles coated with hydrophobic ILs, for biodiesel synthesis in supercritical carbon dioxide was studied at 60 °C and 180 bar. The operational stability of the immobilized lipase was improved by its coating with ILs, i.e. 1-methyl-3-octadecylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, leading to a two-phase systems with respect to the biodiesel product, which showed an excellent catalytic behaviour in continuous operation under supercritical conditions (up to 82% biodiesel yield after 12 cycles of 4 h).     

Intermolecular Diels-Alder Cycloadditions of Furfural-Based Chemicals from Renewable Resources: A Focus on the Regio- and Diastereoselectivity in the Reaction with Alkenes

A recent strong trend toward green and sustainable chemistry has promoted the intensive use of renewable carbon sources for the production of polymers, biofuels, chemicals, monomers and other valuable products. The Diels-Alder reaction is of great importance in the chemistry of renewable resources and provides an atom-economic pathway for fine chemical synthesis and for the production of materials. The biobased furans furfural and 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural, which can be easily obtained from the carbohydrate part of plant biomass, were recognized as “platform chemicals” that will help to replace the existing oil-based refining to biorefining. Diels-Alder cycloaddition of furanic dienes with various dienophiles represents the ideal example of a “green” process characterized by a 100% atom economy and a reasonable E-factor. In this review, we first summarize the literature data on the regio- and diastereoselectivity of intermolecular Diels-Alder reactions of furfural derivatives with alkenes with the aim of establishing the current progress in the efficient production of practically important low-molecular-weight products. The information provided here will be useful and relevant to scientists in many fields, including medical and pharmaceutical research, polymer development and materials science.     

Polytopal Rearrangement Governing Stereochemistry of Bicyclic Oxime Ether Synthesis

In the present study, four O-substituted oximes of quinuclidin-3-one were synthesized using appropriate O-substituted hydroxylamine hydrochlorides. In order to perform these reactions in a solvent, a mixture of (E) and (Z) products was yielded. Using mechanochemical and microwave synthesis, we then obtained pure (E) oximes. In almost all cases, the conversion to oxime ethers was completed. Reactions were monitored by ATR spectroscopy and the ratios of (E) and (Z) oxime ethers were deduced from ¹H NMR data. Several reactions were very rapid (1 min) with 100% conversion and stereospecificity. To investigate the reaction mechanisms, full conformational analyses of the reaction intermediates were performed and the lowest energy conformers were determined. These conformers differed in spatial arrangement around the nitrogen atom of the amino group and were in the correct orientation for reactions to occur. Calculated standard Gibbs energies of the formation were in agreement with the experimentally obtained ratios of (E) and (Z) isomers. This work shows alternatives to the classical synthesis of O-substituted oxime ether precursors and highlights the fast reaction rate and stereoselectivity of microwave synthesis as well as the “green” aspects of mechanochemistry.     

The Mechanism of Energy Coupling in H+/Na+-Pumping Membrane Pyrophosphatase—Possibilities and Probabilities

Membrane pyrophosphatases (mPPases) found in plant vacuoles and some prokaryotes and protists are ancient cation pumps that couple pyrophosphate hydrolysis with the H⁺ and/or Na⁺ transport out of the cytoplasm. Because this function is reversible, mPPases play a role in maintaining the level of cytoplasmic pyrophosphate, a known regulator of numerous metabolic reactions. mPPases arouse interest because they are among the simplest membrane transporters and have no homologs among known ion pumps. Detailed phylogenetic studies have revealed various subtypes of mPPases and suggested their roles in the evolution of the “sodium” and “proton” bioenergetics. This treatise focuses on the mechanistic aspects of the transport reaction, namely, the coupling step, the role of the chemically produced proton, subunit cooperation, and the relationship between the proton and sodium ion transport. The available data identify H⁺-PPases as the first non-oxidoreductase pump with a “direct-coupling” mechanism, i.e., the transported proton is produced in the coupled chemical reaction. They also support a “billiard” hypothesis, which unifies the H⁺ and Na⁺ transport mechanisms in mPPase and, probably, other transporters.