Small molecule inhibitor DDQ-treated hippocampal neuronal cells show improved neurite outgrowth and synaptic branching

The process of neurite outgrowth and branching is a crucial aspect of neuronal development and regeneration.Axons and dendrites,sometimes referred to as neurites,are extensions of a neuron's cellular body that are used to start networks.Here we explored the effects of diethyl(3,4-dihydroxyphenethylamino)(quinolin-4-yl)methylphosphonate(DDQ)on neurite developmental features in HT22 neuronal cells.In this work,we examined the protective effects of DDQ on neuronal processes and synaptic outgrowth in differentiated HT22cells expressing mutant Tau(mTau)cDNA.To investigate DDQ chara cteristics,cell viability,biochemical,molecular,western blotting,and immunocytochemistry were used.Neurite outgrowth is evaluated through the segmentation and measurement of neural processes.These neural processes can be seen and measured with a fluorescence microscope by manually tracing and measuring the length of the neurite growth.These neuronal processes can be observed and quantified with a fluorescent microscope by manually tracing and measuring the length of the neuronal HT22.DDQ-treated mTau-HT22 cells(HT22 cells transfected with cDNA mutant Tau)were seen to display increased levels of synaptophysin,MAP-2,andβ-tubulin.Additionally,we confirmed and noted reduced levels of both total and p-Tau,as well as elevated levels of microtubule-associated protein 2,β-tubulin,synaptophysin,vesicular acetylcholine transporter,and the mitochondrial biogenesis protein-pe roxisome prolife rator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1α.In mTa u-expressed HT22 neurons,we observed DDQ enhanced the neurite characteristics and improved neurite development through increased synaptic outgrowth.Our findings conclude that mTa u-HT22(Alzheimer's disease)cells treated with DDQ have functional neurite developmental chara cteristics.The key finding is that,in mTa u-HT22 cells,DDQ preserves neuronal structure and may even enhance nerve development function with mTa u inhibition.

Development of small molecule drugs targeting immune checkpoints

Immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs)are used to relieve and refuel anti-tumor immunity by blocking the interaction,transcription,and translation of co-inhibitory immune checkpoints or degrading co-inhibitory immune checkpoints.Thousands of small molecule drugs or biological materials,especially antibody-based ICIs,are actively being studied and antibodies are currently widely used.Limitations,such as anti-tumor efficacy,poor membrane permeability,and unneglected tolerance issues of antibody-based ICIs,remain evident but are thought to be overcome by small molecule drugs.Recent structural studies have broadened the scope of candidate immune checkpoint molecules,as well as innovative chemical inhibitors.By way of comparison,small molecule drug-based ICIs represent superior oral bioavailability and favorable pharmacokinetic features.Several ongoing clinical trials are exploring the synergetic effect of ICIs and other therapeutic strategies based on multiple ICI functions,including immune regulation,anti-angiogenesis,and cell cycle regulation.In this review we summarized the current progression of small molecule ICIs and the mechanism underlying immune checkpoint proteins,which will lay the foundation for further exploration.

H-and J-aggregation of conjugated small molecules in organic solar cells

As H-and J-aggregation receive more and more attention in the research of organic solar cells(OSCs),especially in small molecular systems,deep understanding of aggregation behavior is needed to guide the design of conjugated small molecular structure and the fabrication process of OSC device.For this end,this review is written.Here,the review firstly introduced the basic information about H-and J-aggregation of conjugated small molecules in OSCs.Then,the characteristics of H-and J-aggregation and the methods to identify them were summarized.Next,it reviewed the research progress of H-and J-aggregation of conjugated small molecules in OSCs,including the factors influencing H-and J-aggregation in thin film and the effects of H-and J-aggregation on OPV performance.

Variation of microbiological and small molecule metabolite profiles of Nuodeng ham during ripening by high-throughput sequencing and GC-TOF-MS

The internal microbial diversity and small molecular metabolites of Nuodeng ham in different processing years(the first,second and third year sample)were analyzed by high-throughput sequencing technology and gas chromatography-time of flight mass spectrography(GC-TOF-MS)to study the effects of microorganisms and small molecular metabolites on the quality of ham in different processing years.The results showed that the dominant bacteria phyla of Nuodeng ham in different processing years were Proteobacteria and Firmicutes,the dominant fungi phyla were Ascomycota and Basidiomycota,while Staphylococcus and Aspergillus were the dominant bacteria and fungi of Nuodeng ham,respectively.Totally,252 kinds of small molecular metabolites were identified from Nuodeng ham in different processing years,and 12 different metabolites were screened through multivariate statistical analysis.Further metabolic pathway analysis showed that 23 metabolic pathways were related to ham fermentation,of which 8 metabolic pathways had significant effects on ham fermentation(Impact>0.01,P<0.05).The content of L-proline,phenyllactic acid,L-lysine,carnosine,taurine,D-proline,betaine and creatine were significantly positively correlated with the relative abundance of Staphylococcus and Serratia,but negatively correlated with the relative abundance of Halomonas,Aspergillus and Yamadazyma.

Chlorine-Substituent Regulation in Dopant-Free Small-Molecule Hole-Transport Materials Improves the Effi ciency and Stability of Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells

Although doped hole-transport materials(HTMs)off er an effi ciency benefi t for perovskite solar cells(PSCs),they inevi-tably diminish the stability.Here,we describe the use of various chlorinated small molecules,specifi cally fl uorenone-triphenylamine(FO-TPA)-x-Cl[x=para,meta,and ortho(p,m,and o)],with diff erent chlorine-substituent positions,as dopant-free HTMs for PSCs.These chlorinated molecules feature a symmetrical donor-acceptor-donor structure and ideal intramolecular charge transfer properties,allowing for self-doping and the establishment of built-in potentials for improving charge extraction.Highly effi cient hole-transfer interfaces are constructed between perovskites and these HTMs by strategi-cally modifying the chlorine substitution.Thus,the chlorinated HTM-derived inverted PSCs exhibited superior effi ciencies and air stabilities.Importantly,the dopant-free HTM FO-TPA-o-Cl not only attains a power conversion effi ciency of 20.82% but also demonstrates exceptional stability,retaining 93.8%of its initial effi ciency even after a 30-day aging test conducted under ambient air conditions in PSCs without encapsulation.These fi ndings underscore the critical role of chlorine-substituent regulation in HTMs in ensuring the formation and maintenance of effi cient and stable PSCs.

Advancements in the preparation of high-performance liquid chromatographic organic polymer monoliths for the separation of small-molecule drugs

The various advantages of organic polymer monoliths, including relatively simple preparation processes,abundant monomer availability, and a wide application range of pH, have attracted the attention of chromatographers. Organic polymer monoliths prepared by traditional methods only have macropores and mesopores, and micropores of less than 50 nm are not commonly available. These typical monoliths are suitable for the separation of biological macromolecules such as proteins and nucleic acids, but their ability to separate small molecular compounds is poor. In recent years, researchers have successfully modified polymer monoliths to achieve uniform compact pore structures. In particular, microporous materials with pores of 50 nm or less that can provide a large enough surface area are the key to the separation of small molecules. In this review, preparation methods of polymer monoliths for high-performance liquid chromatography, including ultra-high cross-linking technology, post-surface modification, and the addition of nanomaterials, are discussed. Modified monolithic columns have been used successfully to separate small molecules with obvious improvements in column efficiency.

Positioning of old and new biologicals and small molecules in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases

The past decade has brought substantial advances in the management of inflammatory bowel diseases(IBD). The introduction of tumor necrosis factor(TNF) antagonists, evidence for the value of combination therapy, the recog-nition of targeting lymphocyte trafficking and activation as a viable treatment, and the need for early treatment of high-risk patients are all fundamental concepts for current modern IBD treatment algorithms. In this article, authors review the existing data on approved biologicals and small molecules as well as provide insight on the current positioning of approved therapies. Patient stratification for the selection of specific therapies, therapeutic targets and patient monitoring will be discussed as well. The thera-peutic armamentarium for IBD is expanding as novel and more targeted therapies become available. In the absence of comparative trials, positioning these agents is becoming difficult. Emerging concepts for the future will include an emphasis on the development of algorithms which will facilitate a greater understanding of the positioning of novel biological drugs and small molecules in order to best tailor therapy to the patient. In the interim, anti-TNF therapy remains an important component of IBD therapy with the most real-life evidence and should be considered as first-line therapy in patients with complicated Crohn's disease and in acute-severe ulcerative colitis. The safety and efficacy of these ‘older' anti-TNF therapies can be optimized by adhering to therapeutic algorithms which combine clinical and objective markers of disease severityand response to therapy.

Small molecules for mesenchymal stem cell fate determination

Mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)are adult stem cells harboring self-renewal and multilineage differentiation potential that are capable of differentiating into osteoblasts,adipocytes,or chondrocytes in vitro,and regulating the bone marrow microenvironment and adipose tissue remodeling in vivo.The process of fate determination is initiated by signaling molecules that drive MSCs into a specific lineage.Impairment of MSC fate determination leads to different bone and adipose tissue-related diseases,including aging,osteoporosis,and insulin resistance.Much progress has been made in recent years in discovering small molecules and their underlying mechanisms control the cell fate of MSCs both in vitro and in vivo.In this review,we summarize recent findings in applying small molecules to the trilineage commitment of MSCs,for instance,genistein,medicarpin,and icariin for the osteogenic cell fate commitment;isorhamnetin,risedronate,and arctigenin for pro-adipogenesis;and atractylenolides and dihydroartemisinin for chondrogenic fate determination.We highlight the underlying mechanisms,including direct regulation,epigenetic modification,and post-translational modification of signaling molecules in the AMPK,MAPK,Notch,PI3K/AKT,Hedgehog signaling pathways etc.and discuss the small molecules that are currently being studied in clinical trials.The target-based manipulation of lineage-specific commitment by small molecules offers substantial insights into bone marrow microenvironment regulation,adipose tissue homeostasis,and therapeutic strategies for MSC-related diseases.

Photodetectors based on small-molecule organic semiconductor crystals

Small-molecule organic semiconductor crystals(SMOSCs) combine broadband light absorption(ultraviolet–visible–near infrared) with long exciton diffusion length and high charge carrier mobility. Therefore, they are promising candidates for realizing high-performance photodetectors. Here, after a brief resume of photodetector performance parameters and operation mechanisms, we review the recent advancements in application of SMOSCs as photodetectors, including photoconductors, phototransistors, and photodiodes. More importantly, the SMOSC-based photodetectors are further categorized according to their detection regions that cover a wide range from ultraviolet to near infrared. Finally, challenges and outlooks of SMOSC-based photodetectors are provided.

Protein kinase small molecule inhibitors for rheumatoid arthritis: Medicinal chemistry/clinical perspectives

Medicinal chemistry strategies have contributed to the development, experimental study of and clinical trials assessment of the first type of protein kinase small molecule inhibitor to target the Janus kinase/Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription(JAK/STAT) signaling pathway. The orally administered small molecule inhibitor, tofacitinib, is the first drug to target the JAK/STAT pathway for entry into the armamentarium of the medical therapy of rheumatoid arthritis. The introduction of tofacitinib into general rheumatologic practice coupled with increasing understanding that additional cellular signal transduction pathways including the mitogen-activated protein kinase and phosphatidylinositide-3-kinase/Akt/mammalian target of rapa-mycin pathways as well as spleen tyrosine kinase also contribute to immune-mediated inflammatory in rheumatoid arthritis makes it likely that further development of orally administered protein kinase small molecule inhibitors for rheumatoid arthritis will occur in the near future.

Isolation of a small molecule with anti-MRSA activity from a mangrove symbiont Streptomyces sp.PVRK-1 and its biomedical studies in Zebrafish embryos

Objective:The aim of the present study was to isolate the anti-MRSA(Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus)molecule from the Mangrove symbiont Streptomyces and its biomedical studies in Zebrafish embryos.Methods:MRSA was isolated from the pus samples of Colachal hospitals and confirmed by amplification of mecA gene.Anti-MRSA molecule producing strain was identified by!6s rRNA gene sequencing.Anti-MRSA compound production was optimized by Solid State Fermentation(SSF)and the purification of the active molecule was carried out by TLC and RP-HPLC.The inhibitory concentration and LC_(50)were calculated using Statistical software SPSS.The Biomedical studies including the cardiac assay and organ toxicity assessment were carried out in Zebraiish.Results:The bioactive anti-MRSA small molecule A,was purified by TLC with Rf value of 0.37 with 1.389 retention time at RP-HPLC.The Inhibitory Concentration of the purified molecule A_2 was 30μg/mL but,the inhibitory concentration of the MRSA in the infected embryo was 32-34μg/mL for TLC purified molecule A,with LC_(50)mean value was61.504μg/mL.Zebrafish toxicity was assessed in 48-60μg/mL by observing the physiological deformities and the heart beat rates(HBR)of embryos for anti MRSA molecule showed the mean of 41.33-41.67 HBR/15 seconds for 40μg/mL and control was 42.33-42.67 for 15 seconds which significantly showed that the anti-MRSA molecule A_2 did not affected the HBR.Conclusions:Anti-MRSA molecule from Streptomyces sp PVRK-I was isolated and biomedical studies in Zebrafish model assessed that the molecule was non toxic at the minimal inhibitory concentration of MRSA.

Precision medicine in inflammatory bowel disease:Individualizing the use of biologics and small molecule therapies

The advent of biologics and small molecules in inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)has marked a significant turning point in the prognosis of IBD,decreasing the rates of corticosteroid dependence,hospitalizations and improving overall quality of life.The introduction of biosimilars has also increased affordability and enhanced access to these otherwise costly targeted therapies.Biologics do not yet represent a complete panacea:A subset of patients do not respond to first-line anti-tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-alpha agents or may subsequently demonstrate a secondary loss of response.Patients who fail to respond to anti-TNF agents typically have a poorer response rate to second-line biologics.It is uncertain which patient would benefit from a different sequencing of biologics or even a combination of biologic agents.The introduction of newer classes of biologics and small molecules may provide alternative therapeutic targets for patients with refractory disease.This review examines the therapeutic ceiling in current treatment strategies of IBD and the potential paradigm shifts in the future.

A Clinical and Animal Experiment Integrated Platform for Small-Molecule Screening Reveals Potential Targets of Bioactive Compounds from a Herbal Prescription Based on the Therapeutic Efficacy of Yinchenhao Tang for Jaundice Syndrome

A herbal prescription in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)has great complexity,with multiple components and multiple targets,making it extremely challenging to determine its bioactive compounds.Yinchenhao Tang(YCHT)has been extensively used for the treatment of jaundice disease.Although many studies have examined the efficacy and active ingredients of YCHT,there is still a lack of an in-depth systematic analysis of its effective components,mechanisms,and potential targets—especially one based on clinical patients.This study established an innovative strategy for discovering the potential targets and active compounds of YCHT based on an integrated clinical and animal experiment platform.The serum metabolic profiles and constituents of YCHT in vivo were determined by ultra-performance liquid chromatography–quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-ToF-MS)-based metabolomics combined with a serum pharmacochemistry method.Moreover,a compound–target–pathway network was constructed and analyzed by network pharmacology and ingenuity pathway analysis(IPA).We found that eight active components could modulate five key targets.These key targets were further verified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),which indicated that YCHT exerts therapeutic effects by targeting cholesterol 7a-hydroxylase(CYP7A1),multidrug-resistance-associated protein 2(ABCC2),multidrug-resistance-associated protein 3(ABCC3),uridine diphosphate glucuronosyl transferase 1A1(UGT1A1),and farnesoid X receptor(FXR),and by regulating metabolic pathways including primary bile acid biosynthesis,porphyrin and chlorophyll metabolism,and biliary secretion.Eight main effective compounds were discovered and correlated with the key targets and pathways.In this way,we demonstrate that this integrated strategy can be successfully applied for the effective discovery of the active compounds and therapeutic targets of an herbal prescription.

Role of the combination of biologics and/or small molecules in the treatment of patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)is a group of chronic diseases that includes ulcerative colitis,Crohn’s disease,and indeterminate colitis.Patients with IBD require prolonged treatment and high utilization of healthcare resources for proper management.The treatment of patients with IBD is focused on achieving therapeutic goals including clinical,biochemical,and endoscopic variables that result in improvement of the quality of life and prevention of disability.Advanced IBD treatment includes tumor necrosis factor inhibitors,integrin antagonist,antagonist of the p40 subunit of interleukin 12/23,and small molecule drugs.However,despite the multiple treatments available,about 40%of patients are refractory to therapy and present with persistent symptoms that have a great impact on their quality of life,with hospitalization and surgery being necessary in many cases.Dual therapy,a strategy sometimes applicable to refractory IBD patients,includes the combination of two biologics or a biologic in combination with a small molecule drug.There are two distinct scenarios in IBD patients in which this approach can be used:(1)Refractory active luminal disease without extraintestinal manifestations;and(2)patients with IBD in remission,but with active extraintestinal manifestations or immune-mediated inflammatory diseases.This review provides a summary of the results(clinical response and remission)of different combinations of advanced drugs in patients with IBD,both in adults and in the pediatric population.In addition,the safety profile of different combinations of dual therapy is analyzed.The use of newer combinations,including recently approved treatments,the application of new biomarkers and artificial intelligence,and clinical trials to establish effectiveness during long-term followup,are needed to establish new strategies for the use of advanced treatments in patients with refractory IBD.

Molecular Design of Conjugated Small Molecule Nanoparticles for Synergistically Enhanced PTT/PDT

Simultaneous photothermal therapy(PTT)and photodynamic therapy(PDT)is beneficial for enhanced cancer therapy due to the synergistic effect.Conventional materials developed for synergistic PTT/PDT are generally multicomponent agents that need complicated preparation procedures and be activated by multiple laser sources.The emerging monocomponent diketopyrrolopyrrole(DPP)-based conjugated small molecular agents enable dual PTT/PDT under a single laser irradiation,but suffer from low singlet oxygen quantum yield,which severely restricts the therapeutic efficacy.Herein,we report acceptor-oriented molecular design of a donor-acceptor-donor(D-A-D)conjugated small molecule(IID-ThTPA)-based phototheranostic agent,with isoindigo(IID)as selective acceptor and triphenylamine(TPA)as donor.The strong D-A strength and narrow singlet-triplet energy gap endow IID-ThTPA nanoparticles(IID-ThTPA NPs)high mass extinction coefficient(18.2 L g^-1 cm^-1),competitive photothermal conversion efficiency(35.4%),and a dramatically enhanced singlet oxygen quantum yield(84.0%)comparing with previously reported monocomponent PTT/PDT agents.Such a high PTT/PDT performance of IID-ThTPA NPs achieved superior tumor cooperative eradicating capability in vitro and in vivo.

Neural progenitor cells derived from fibroblasts induced by small molecule compounds under hypoxia for treatment of Parkinson’s disease in rats

Neural progenitor cells(NPCs) capable of self-renewal and differentiation into neural cell lineages offer broad prospects for cell therapy for neurodegenerative diseases. However, cell therapy based on NPC transplantation is limited by the inability to acquire sufficient quantities of NPCs. Previous studies have found that a chemical cocktail of valproic acid, CHIR99021, and Repsox(VCR) promotes mouse fibroblasts to differentiate into NPCs under hypoxic conditions. Therefore, we used VCR(0.5 mM valproic acid, 3 μM CHIR99021, and 1 μM Repsox) to induce the reprogramming of rat embryonic fibroblasts into NPCs under a hypoxic condition(5%). These NPCs exhibited typical neurosphere-like structures that can express NPC markers, such as Nestin, SRY-box transcription factor 2, and paired box 6(Pax6), and could also differentiate into multiple types of functional neurons and astrocytes in vitro. They had similar gene expression profiles to those of rat brain-derived neural stem cells. Subsequently, the chemically-induced NPCs(ciNPCs) were stereotactically transplanted into the substantia nigra of 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned parkinsonian rats. We found that the ciNPCs exhibited long-term survival, migrated long distances, and differentiated into multiple types of functional neurons and glial cells in vivo. Moreover, the parkinsonian behavioral defects of the parkinsonian model rats grafted with ciNPCs showed remarkable functional recovery. These findings suggest that rat fibroblasts can be directly transformed into NPCs using a chemical cocktail of VCR without introducing exogenous factors, which may be an attractive donor material for transplantation therapy for Parkinson’s disease.

Atomically dispersed catalysts for small molecule electrooxidation in direct liquid fuel cells

Direct liquid fuel cells(DLFCs) have received increasing attention because of their high energy densities,instant recharging abilities, simple cell structure, and facile storage and transport. The main challenge for the commercialization of DLFCs is the high loading requirement of platinum group metals(PGMs) as catalysts. Atomically dispersed catalysts(ADCs) have been brought into recent focus for DLFCs due to their well-defined active sites, high selectivity, maximal atom-utilization, and anti-poisoning property. In this review, we summarized the structure–property relationship for unveiling the underlying mechanisms of ADCs for DLFCs. More specifically, different types of fuels used in DLFCs such as methanol, formic acid,and ethanol were discussed. At last, we highlighted current challenges, research directions, and future outlooks towards the practical application of DLFCs.

14.46% Efficiency small molecule organic photovoltaics enabled by the well trade-off between phase separation and photon harvesting

Small molecule organic photovoltaics(SMPVs) were prepared by utilizing liquid crystalline donor material BTR-Cl and two similar optical bandgap non-fullerene acceptor materials BTP-BO-4 F and Y6.The BTPBO-4 F and Y6 have the similar optical bandgap and different absorption coefficients.The corresponding binary SMPVs exhibit different short circuit current density(/sc)(20.38 vs.23.24 mA cm^(-2)),and fill factor(FF)(70.77% vs.67.21%).A 14.46% power conversion efficiency(PCE) is acquired in ternary SMPVs with 30 wt% Y6,companied with a JSC of 24.17 mA cm^(-2) a FF of 68.78% and an open circuit voltage(Voc) of 0.87 V.The improvement on PCE of ternary SMPVs should originate from the well trade-off between phase separation and photon harvesting of ternary active layers by incorporating 30 wt% Y6 in acceptors.This work may deliver insight onto the improved performance of SMPVs by superposing the superiorities of binary SMPVs with similar optical bandgap acceptors into one ternary cell.

Perinodular ductular reaction/epithelial cell adhesion molecule loss in small hepatic nodules

AIM: To investigate if loss of epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is associated with microinvasion in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) in the presence of chronic hepatitis B.

Recent advances and prospects of asymmetric non-fullerene small molecule acceptors for polymer solar cells

Recently,polymer solar cells developed very fast due to the application of non-fullerence acceptors.Substituting asymmetric small molecules for symmetric small molecule acceptors in the photoactive layer is a strategy to improve the performance of polymer solar cells.The asymmetric design of the molecule is very beneficial for exciton dissociation and charge transport and will also fine-tune the molecular energy level to adjust the open-circuit voltage(Voc)further.The influence on the absorption range and absorption intensity will cause the short-circuit current density(Jsc)to change,resulting in higher device performance.The effect on molecular aggregation and molecular stacking of asymmetric structures can directly change the microscopic morphology,phase separation size,and the active layer's crystallinity.Very recently,thanks to the ingenious design of active layer materials and the optimization of devices,asymmetric non-fullerene polymer solar cells(A-NF-PSCs)have achieved remarkable development.In this review,we have summarized the latest developments in asymmetric small molecule acceptors(A-NF-SMAs)with the acceptor-donor-acceptor(A-D-A)and/or acceptor-donor-acceptor-donor-acceptor(A-D-A-D-A)structures,and the advantages of asymmetric small molecules are explored from the aspects of charge transport,molecular energy level and active layer accumulation morphology.