The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of Nano-Se against nickel (Ni)-induced hepatotoxicity and the potential mechanism. Hence, we constructed in vivo and in vitro models of Ni-induced hepatotoxicity. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were exposed to nickel sulfate (NiSO 4 , 5.0 mg/kg, i.p.) with or without Nano-Se (0.5, 1, and 2 mg/kg, oral gavage) co-administration for 14 days, and HepG2 cells were exposed to NiSO 4 (1500 μM) with or without Nano-Se (20 μM) for 24 h. Nano-Se obviously prevented Ni-induced hepatotoxicity indicated by ameliorating pathological change and decreasing Ni accumulation in rat livers. Ni induced a significant increase in hepatic activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GSH-Px), and malondialdehyde (MDA) level, decreased the glutathione (GSH) content while compared to those in the control group. Nano-Se administration improved the hepatic antioxidant capacity through increase hepatic GSH contents and GSH-Px activity, decrease the activities of SOD, CAT, and MDA level. Nano-Se improved the cell viability, decreased active oxygen (ROS) generation and ameliorated morphological changes of nuclear structures in Ni-treated HepG2 cells. In addition, Nano-Se inhibited the Ni-induced increases of cytochrome c, caspase-9, cleaved caspase-3, increased PI3K and AKT phosphorylation both in vivo and in vitro. Besides, the PI3K inhibitor Y294002 could inhibit the protective effects of Nano-Se on apoptosis. Thus, Nano-Se significantly activates PI3K/AKT signaling to ameliorate apoptosis in Ni-induced hepatotoxicity.

Fluorinated-defective titanium dioxide (F-TiO2−x) was successfully synthesized by fluorination of TiO2 through the hydrothermal method. The microstructure and physicochemical properties of the catalyst were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV–vis DRS). As expected, F-TiO2−x demonstrates high photocatalytic activity and stability on dye degradation. Results indicated that fluorine element can effective for stabilizing Ti3+ and oxygen vacancies on the surface of F-TiO2−x. With the increase in the amount of hydrofluoric acid (HF) added, the photocatalytic performance of the prepared material is first increased and then decreased, and the catalyst shows the best performance when the amount of HF added is 0.3 mL. For three different dyes, the catalysts all showed a certain photocatalytic degradation performance, and the degradation effect of rhodamine B was the best.