A natural resource such as peony flower has been employed for the first time as a new carbon precursor to prepare green-emitting carbon nanodots (CDs).

Aim: To investigate the protective effect and the possible mechanism of curcumin on anti-atherosclerosis. Methods: Morphological changes of atherosclerotic lesions taken from apoE knockout (apoE -/-) mice were determined by hematoxylineosin staining. Intracellular lipid droplets and lipid levels were assayed by oil red O staining and HPLC. The protein expression of caveolin-1 was quantified by Western blotting. Translocation and the expression of sterol response element-binding protein-1 (SREBP-1) were indirectly detected by an immunofluorescence analysis. Results: The administration of 20 mg·kg -1 ·d -1 curcumin to apoE -/-mice for 4 months induced a 50% reduction of atherosclerotic lesions and yielded a 5-fold increase in the caveolin-1 expression level as compared to the model group. Rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) pretreated with 50 mg·L -1 ox-lipid density lipoprotein(ox-LDL) for 48 h increased cellular lipid contents, and stimulated SREBP-1 translocation, but decreased the caveolin-1 expression level. Lipid-loaded cells exposed to curcumin at various concentrations (12.5, 25, and 50 µmol·L -1 ) for different durations (0,6,12, 24, and 48 h) significantly diminished the number and area of cellular lipid droplets, total cholesterol, cholesterol ester, and free cholesterol accompanying the elevation of the caveolin-1 expression level (approximately 3-fold); the translocation of SREBP-1 from the cytoplasm to the nucleus was inhibited compared with the models. Lipid-loaded VSMC exposed to N-acetylLeu-Leu-norleucinal, a SREBP-1 protease inhibitor, showed increased nuclear translocation of SREBP-1, reduced caveolin-1 expression level, and upregulated cellular lipid levels. Conclusion: Curcumin inhibits ox-LDL-induced cholesterol accumulation in cultured VSMC through increasing the caveolin-1 expression via the inhibition of nuclear translocation of SREBP-1.

Heat treatable Al-Mg-Si alloys can be strengthened via the precipitation of metastable phase particles. The precipitation sequence of an Al-0.89Mg-0.75Si alloy with trace Fe and Zn elements during aging at 180 °C has been investigated by transmission electron microscope (TEM), high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) and hardness measurements. It has been shown that the precipitation sequence of the alloy can be identified as follows: supersaturated solid solution → G.P. zones → metastable β″ precipitates → metastable β′ precipitates → stable β phase + Si particles. It is indicated that β″ phase remains stable up to 30 hours at 180°C. The hardness measurements during aging realize that the main strengthening phase for the investigated Al-Mg-Si alloy is β″ precipitates and the maximum hardness is obtained after aging at 180 °C for 4~6.5 hours

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is the most abundant polyphenolic constituent derived from green tea extract, which has demonstrated versatile bioactivities in combating cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, and cancer. In light of its anticancer activity, increasing attention has been paid to developing potent strategies involving EGCG in cancer chemotherapy. However, the poor bioavailability and stability of EGCG limits its effectiveness and practicality in real biomedical applications. To overcome this drawback, nanotechnology-facilitated drug delivery systems have been introduced and intensively explored to enhance the bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy of EGCG in cancer treatments and interventions. This review briefly discusses the anticancer mechanisms of EGCG, and then summarizes recent advances in engineering nanovehicles for encapsulating and delivering EGCG toward cancer therapy. In addition, we also highlight successful integrations of EGCG delivery with other chemotherapies, gene therapies, and phototherapies in one nanostructured entity for a combination therapy of cancers. To conclude, the current challenges and future prospects of the nanovehicle-based transportation systems of EGCG for cancer therapy are also discussed.