A multifunctional targeted drug delivery platform (CDHA–MGO) has been successfully constructed by grafting β-cyclodextrin–hyaluronic acid polymers (CDHA) to Fe3O4–graphene oxide (MGO). The obtained CDHA–MGO nanocomposite has good water-dispersibility, easy magnetic separation, high near-infrared (NIR) photothermal heating, and excellent biocompatibility. The β-cyclodextrin-hyaluronic acid polymers efficaciously enhance the doxorubicin (DOX) loading amount up to 485.43 mg·g−1. Meanwhile, the Fe3O4–graphene oxide provides a facile photothermal response mechanism to handle the NIR-triggered release of DOX in weak acidic solvent environments. Significantly, the DOX-loaded nanocomposite (DOX@CDHA–MGO) has displayed CD44 receptor-mediated active targeting recognition and chemo-photothermal synergistic therapy of hepatoma cells. These findings suggest that the as-prepared drug delivery platform would be of valuable potential for cancer-targeted photo-chemotherapy.

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A lot of energy is required for drying the sewage sludge produced during the wastewater treatment process in China; however, on the other hand, the thermal energy in flue gas from power plants is usually wasted as it discharges into the atmosphere. In this study, a new technique for sludge drying is introduced. The key component of the new technique is equipment of a two-stage drying and granulation that utilizes thermal energy contained in the flue gas from power plants and extends sludge contact time with flue gas during the constant-rate evaporation stage. The primary results of the implementation in the Kangshun sludge treatment plant (daily treatment capacity of 100 tons of wet sludge) show that the new drying technique is very effective economically and environmentally. The water content in the sludge was reduced from 78% to less than 30%. The resulted sludge could be used either to co-incinerate with coal in a circulating fluidized bed or to mix with clay to make better bricks. Besides the saving in the direct heating cost in the sludge drying processes by 80%, the saving in fossil fuel consumption due to reuse of the dried sludge is also significant. As a result of the implementation of the new technique in a sludge treatment plant at the scale of the Kangshun plant, about 16,440 tons of CO 2 emission could also be reduced every year.

β-Amyloid(Aβ) plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary lesions in the brain are markers of Alzheimer's disease(AD). The ability to safely decrease Aβ concentrations is potentially important as a preventive strategy for AD. The interactions between vanillin and Aβ polypeptide were investigated via fluorescence spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy(AFM). The results of fluorescence and synchronous spectroscopies illustrate that the intrinsic fluorescence of tyrosine(Tyr) residues in Aβ 1-42 aggregates can be quenched strongly upon the formation of vanillin-Aβ 1-42 complex. Thioflavine T(ThT)-induced fluorescence changes indicated that Aβ 1-42 aggregates could be disaggregated by vanillin, and the AFM images of Aβ 1-42 enunciated the depolymerization of Aβ 1-42 aggregates by vanillin in a dose-dependent manner. Vanillin may be a potential pharmacological agent for the treatment of AD.