Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder distinguished by progressive motor neuron degeneration, with diverse clinical manifestations and complex genetic and environmental triggers. The variability in disease progression underscores the necessity for tailored diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression, have emerged as promising biomarkers and therapeutic targets in ALS. Dysregulation of specific miRNAs has been linked to mechanisms of ALS, including neuromuscular dysfunction, neuroinflammation, and neuronal survival/apoptosis. The potential of miRNA-based therapies, such as mimics and inhibitors, offers a more integrated approach by modulating entire disease networks, rather than targeting isolated pathways. However, challenges persist, particularly in delivering these therapies efficiently across the blood-brain barrier and minimizing off-target effects. Current delivery strategies involving nanoparticles, viral vectors, and exosome-based approaches require optimization for clinical use. This review synthesizes the latest research on miRNA-mediated mechanisms in ALS, evaluating their diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic potential, while highlighting the current limitations in clinical validation. It underscores the importance of standardized methodologies, multi-omics integration, and rigorous validation to facilitate the clinical translation of miRNA-based strategies. Standardized protocols and multicenter validation in large cohorts are essential to confirm the diagnostic accuracy of miRNAs, paving the way for their clinical application in ALS precision medicine.
Current treatment for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD) mainly focuses on the modification of systemic risk factors, such as hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia. Despite significant efforts and expanse, achieving early and proper diagnosis of ASCVD to improve clinical outcomes remains challenging, and vascular-targeted therapies or genetic editing, while ideal, are still limited. The development of nanomedicine-based mRNA vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 has demonstrated the potential of nanotechnology to target previously inaccessible molecules. Precision therapies by nanomedicine targeting specific tissues/molecules hold potential for new treatment paradigms by precisely modulating disease-causing molecular pathways within diseased tissues, including dysfunctional vasculature. By leveraging insights into the pathogenic contributors of atherogenesis, researchers have optimized nanoplatforms' composition, synthesis strategies, and surface design to enhance therapeutic efficacy and enable early diagnosis. Herein, we present an updated overview of therapeutic and diagnostic strategies using nanomedicine for ASCVD, and explore future research directions and innovative approaches for nanomedicine-driven theranostics in cardiovascular care.
Silk hydrogels are emerging as versatile biomaterials for drug delivery owing to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and tunable hierarchical structure. Their trans-port properties are governed by the interplay between peptide secondary structure, hydration, and intermolecular interactions within the network. Understanding how small drug molecules, penicillin, diffuse through silk-based matrices at the molecular level is therefore critical for rational material design. Here, we studied the molecular mechanisms governing antibiotic, penicillin, transport in a spider silk-riboflavin hydrogel using all-atom molecular dynamics simulations. A 61-residue fragment de-rived from the repetitive domain of major ampullate spidroin 1 (MaSp1) was modeled to represent the silk matrix, and riboflavin was incorporated to examine its influence on supramolecular organization and drug mobility. The riboflavin molecules exhibit markedly restricted mobility, reflecting its propensity to form clusters and engage in strong interactions with the silk peptide matrix. In contrast, penicillin shows comparatively higher diffusivity. Collectively, the results establish a clear structure-dynamics relationship in which supramolecular clustering and peptide-drug interactions regulate antibiotic transport. These findings provide molecular-level insight into how controlled aggregation within silk hydrogels can be strategically leveraged to tune diffusion behavior while preserving matrix integrity.
The article is devoted to topical issues of genetic biomechanics, which studies structural connections between molecular-genetic informatics and inherited physiological complexes. It is known that amino acid sequences of proteins are genetically inherited using code messages in DNA and RNA molecules based on the alphabet of 4 nucleotides. But, as Nobel laureate geneticist T. Steitz emphasizes, all knowledge about these biomolecules encoded in the genome in this biochemical alphabet will not tell us about the inheritance of biomechanical algorithms and functions by genetic automata. Thus, in modern science of biological inheritance, there is no knowledge about a bioinformation system capable of ensuring the inheritance of cooperative phenomena of algorithmic behavior of body parts. These inherited logical forms of algorithmic behavior in biosystems require the search for bioinformation alphabets that could form the basis for the operation of genetic automata and the algorithmic inheritance of biological structures. The article describes the genetic algebraic-operator alphabets, identified as a result of such a search, based on unitary Hadamard matrices, as well as cyclic power groups based on them, which make it possible to model inherited cyclic and biorhythmic structures in connection with the formalisms of quantum logic. The evolutionary paradigm of algebraic-alphabetic Darwinism has been formulated. Related issues of inherited brain mechanisms, artificial intelligence, and the functioning of operators in human-machine systems are discussed.
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are cell-secreted phospholipid bilayer vesicles that play a key role in intercellular communication by transporting molecular cargo and engaging in surface-level signaling. Due to their intrinsic biological features, EVs not only reflect the functional attributes of their originating cells but also hold promise as both therapeutic agent and natural carriers for targeted delivery. In recent years, plant-derived nanovesicles (PDNVs) containing bioactive molecules have attracted the attention of researchers because of their better biocompatibility, low immunogenicity, wide range of sources, and ability to act as natural therapeutic agents for diseases. PDNVs play an increasingly important role in human-plant interactions, as they are able to enter the human system and deliver effector molecules to cells, which in turn modulate cellular signaling pathways. PDNVs play a critical role in human health and disease. This review provides a comprehensive overview of PDNVs, encompassing their biogenesis, methods of isolation and purification, physicochemical characterization, stability, and storage strategies. It further explores their routes of administration, internalization, and biodistribution as therapeutic agents, highlighting their potential in the treatment of conditions such as inflammation, cancer, tissue regeneration, viral infections, liver and brain disorders, and osteoporosis. Lastly, the review examines current clinical applications of PDNVs and the key challenges hindering their broader implementation. We look forward to further exploration of the functions of PDNVs to facilitate their clinical translation and increase their benefits in humans.
Choline is an essential nutrient required for the synthesis of key molecules, such as phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin, acetylcholine, and S-adenosylmethionine. Choline metabolism encompasses two phases, namely the postprandial and postabsorptive states. The former enables the digestion, absorption, distribution, and storage of choline derivatives after a meal, while the latter allows the cellular utilization of choline and the mobilization of stored choline-containing molecules during fasting. Understanding choline metabolism is fundamental to the study of lipid disorders such as steatohepatitis or atherosclerosis, as well as neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, and inflammatory signaling pathways. Members of the alkaline phosphatase (AP) superfamily are prominent contributors to extracellular choline metabolism. Within this family, several APs and ectonucleotide pyrophosphatases/phosphodiesterases (ENPP) members are required for physiological choline metabolism. While intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) and alkaline sphingomyelinase/ENPP7 both participate in the digestion of choline-containing derivatives in the gut during the postprandial phase, circulating ENPP2, ENPP6, and tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP) act during the postabsorptive phase to generate choline. In this review we first provide a comprehensive overview of choline metabolism and then describe how APs and ENPPs have functionally and structurally co-evolved to catalyze sequential reactions within this metabolic pathway.
The transformation products (TPs) of pharmaceuticals and pesticides are ubiquitous in aquatic environments, necessitating the development of advanced treatment technologies for effective removal. This study systematically evaluated the degradation efficiency of six typical TPs of carbamazepine and atrazine by UV222-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) combined with different oxidants (periodate, hydrogen peroxide, peroxymonosulfate, persulfate, and chlorine). The results indicated that the oxidants were efficiently activated under 222 nm irradiation to generate diverse radical species, thereby accelerating TPs degradation. The dominant reactive species varied significantly across different treatment systems. Notably, the high photon energy of UV222 facilitated substantial ozone formation (6.5 × 10-9-1.61 × 10-6 M•cm2•mW-1), and potentially promoted electron transfer through the formation of excited states of oxidants and TPs. For CBZ-EP, the degradation pathways under UV222/oxidant treatments involved amide hydrolysis, epoxide hydrolysis/oxidation, decarboxylation, dehydrogenation, and aromatization. Economic analysis further confirmed the feasibility of UV222-based technologies. Moreover, the presence of dissolved organic matter (DOM) inhibited TPs removal in the UV222-AOPs, while concurrently altering the optical properties of DOM. DOM underwent dealkylation, oxygenation, and decarboxylation pathways, resulting in the formation of more saturated and highly oxidized molecules, along with the potential generation of disinfection by-products. This study provides insights into the mechanisms of TPs removal by UV222-AOPs and the molecular-level transformation of coexisting DOM, offering guidance for the optimization of advanced wastewater treatment processes.
Clonorchis sinensis, a liver fluke, secretes immunomodulatory molecules that may suppress inflammation in autoimmune diseases such as ankylosing spondylitis (AS). However, the specific bioactive compounds involved remain largely unidentified. We performed LC-MS/MS-based metabolomic profiling of CS-ESP and detected a compound identical to valdecoxib, a selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor, as a candidate bioactive molecule. Then, we evaluated therapeutic efficacy of valdecoxib in curdlan-induced AS mice. Clinical arthritis scores, paw thickness, and joint histopathology were assessed. In vitro cytotoxicity was tested using an MTS assay in both RAW 264.7 cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from AS patients. Valdecoxib showed no significant cytotoxicity to RAW cells until at 15μg/ml and to AS PBMCs until at 200μg/ml, respectively. In the SKG mouse model, valdecoxib treatment effectively delayed the development of arthritis and significantly reduced its severity (clinical scores of disease control group vs. valdecoxib group, mean ± SEM; 5.28 ± 1.00 vs. 3.84 ± 1.08, p < 0.05). Histological evaluation showed reduced arthritis (Histopathology scores of the ankles, mean ± SD; negative control group vs. disease control group: 0.50 ± 0.45 vs. 9.33 ± 4.55, p < 0.001; disease control group vs. valdecoxib group: 9.33 ± 4.55 vs. 4.75 ± 0.76, p < 0.05) in mice treated with valdecoxib. The current study showed that a compound identical to valdecoxib detected in CS-ESP exhibited robust anti-inflammatory and joint-protective effects in an AS model and highlighted the need for investigation into the chemical identity and immunoregulatory mechanisms of CS-ESP metabolites.
The BK (big potassium, MaxiK) channel is a potassium channel of large conductance gated by calcium (Ca2+) and voltage. Formed by a homotetramer of alpha (slo1) subunits, this channel plays a major role in numerous physiological systems and processes. Consistently, BK channel expression and function are regulated by a variety of endogenous ligands. In particular, the activity of homotetrameric channels made of slo1 subunits is inhibited by cholesterol (CLR). However, it remains unknown whether BK channel inhibition involves direct chemical binding of CLR molecules to the slo1 protein, or results from allosteric coupling between slo1 and CLR binding elsewhere, such as the lipid bilayer. Here, we demonstrate by equilibrium dialysis that CLR binds slo1 proteins cloned from rat cerebral artery myocytes (cbv1) in both the absence and presence of activating Ca2+. This binding is saturable with a KD of 1.0-1.2 mM and requires the physical association between the cbv1 transmembrane core and its cytosolic tail domain (CTD). Moreover, F substitution of Y450, a CTD residue located nearby the membrane inner leaflet, abolishes CLR binding independent of Ca2+. Remarkably, cbv1Y450F protein intrinsic fluorescence is unaffected by Ca2+, suggesting that Y450 contributes to Ca2+ sensing by cbv1. In summary, the present study demonstrates for the first time direct binding of CLR to slo1 channels and underscores the critical role of Y450 in such binding and in Ca2+ sensing of slo1 channels.
This study presents a novel surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor composed of silver (Ag), bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3), nickel (Ni), and perovskite nanomaterial (MAPbBr3). Different ethanol concentrations (ECs) could be detected thanks to the hybrid structure. The transfer matrix technique (TMM) is used to assess the suggested surface plasmon resonance (SPR) structure. To compare the angular sensitivity of the EC = 0% sample with the EC = 10% to 40% sample, a comparative analysis was carried out. The BiFeO3, Ni, and MAPbBr3 layer thicknesses must be changed in order to maximize the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) structure's performance. Additionally, precise measurements of the resonance angle (θ_res), minimum reflectance (Rmin), full width at half maximum (FWHM), and figure of merits (FOM) have been made. In comparison to the conventional structure (BK7/Ag/SM) with a matching FOM of 149.12 RIU-1, the ideal angular sensitivity was found to be 55 nm for Ag, 5 nm for BiFeO3, 20 nm for Ni, and 3 nm of MAPbBr3 with a sensitivity of 428 Degree RIU-1, which improved by 268.96%. Furthermore, the impacts of four sensor structures-conventional (BK7/Ag/SM), with BiFeO3 (BK7/Ag/BiFeO3/SM), with Ni (BK7/Ag/BiFeO3/Ni/SM), and our suggested sensor structure (BK7/Ag/BiFeO3/Ni/MAPbBr3/ SM) on sensitivity were examined in this work. The proposed structure shows better angular sensitivity compared to the existing surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor. The biosensor in question shows promise for identifying a broad variety of chemical molecules and biological analytes because of its increased sensitivity.
Developing hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs) for highly efficient Xe/Kr separation is an attractive alternative for producing high-purity noble gases. However, its practical application is hampered by insufficient binding sites and intrinsically slow adsorption kinetics. We herein report a microporous HOF (HOF-TBPDM) featuring the unique two-dimensional (2D) and size-matched pore architecture, which enables the rapid diffusion of Xe and high-efficiency Xe/Kr separation. Specifically, HOF-TBPDM achieves a high Xe uptake and a record Xe/Kr IAST selectivity (26.9) at 298 K and 1 bar. Especially, the kinetic adsorption results confirm the 2D pores lead to the rapid Xe diffusion rate. Dynamic breakthrough experiments indicate that after one cycle of separation operation 4.8 mol kg-1 high-purity Kr (>99.99%) and 1.0 mol kg-1 Xe (>99.9%) can be directly obtained. The dynamic selectivity calculated from desorption process is as high as 16.5, which exceeds all the reported porous organic materials. Gas-loaded crystal data combined with molecular modeling clearly reveal that the size-matched pores within HOF-TBPDM induce a stronger polarization effect on Xe than Kr, leading to preferential binding of Xe molecules. Overall, this study demonstrates the effectiveness of 2D pore in HOFs for balancing thermodynamic adsorption and kinetic diffusion, providing a viable strategy for advanced Xe/Kr separation.
We previously demonstrated that Artemisia capillaris flower extract (ACFE) suppresses the expression of HYBID (hyaluronan-binding protein involved in hyaluronan depolymerization), a hyaluronan-degrading enzyme, and increases the expression of miR-486-5p, a microRNA that downregulates HYBID. In the same study, we isolated two novel active compounds, Kawarayomogin I and II, and reported that they also suppress HYBID expression. However, it remained unclear whether their inhibitory effects on HYBID were mediated through miR-486-5p. Furthermore, because ACFE has been reported to inhibit melanin production, and miR-141-3p and miR-200a-3p are known to regulate melanogenesis, we investigated whether these compounds modulate melanogenesis-related microRNAs. The expressions levels of miR-486-5p in normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF) and miR-141-3p and miR-200a-3p in mouse B16 melanocytes were measured by RT-PCR. Melanin content was quantified by lysing the cells using NaOH followed by taking of absorbance at 420 nm. We confirmed for the first time that Kawarayomogin I and II significantly increased the expression of miR-486-5p in NHDF. Among miR-141-3p and miR-200a-3p, ACFE and Kawarayomogin I and II selectively induced miR-141-3p in B16. These findings identify Kawarayomogin I and II as the principal active components responsible for the melanin-suppressing activity of ACFE for the first time. Although these compounds may influence other microRNAs, our results suggest that they selectively regulate miR-486-5p and miR-141-3p, indicating an epigenetic mechanism underlying their biological effects. Collectively, Kawarayomogin I and II represent promising bioactive molecules that selectively and epigenetically regulate microRNA expression to confer dual functions in hyaluronan protection and melanogenesis suppression.
Homo- and heteroditopic 4-tert-butyl-1,2-benzene-bischalcogenol ligands, namely t-BuC6H3(SH)2 and t-BuC6H3(SH)(SeH) (t-Bu = C(CH3)3), have been prepared through the functionalization of the ortho position of the t-BuC6H4(SH) precursor with thiol (-SH) or selenol (-SeH) groups. The lithiated derivatives of these compounds have been isolated and structurally characterized. With these versatile precursors at hand, we explored the preparation of axially chiral compounds ((t-BuC6H3S2)2E; (t-BuC6H3(S)(Se))2E; E = Sn; Ge; Pb) with a group 14 element in the center. All complexes have been characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, EA, HR-MS spectrometry, and SCXRD in the case of the germanium compound. In the case of lead, we observed reduction of Pb(IV) to Pb(II) with oxidation of the ligand. The resulting Pb(II) products were isolated and characterized. Their tendency for aggregation is pronounced, and reaction with donor molecules such as pyridine or 1,3,4,5-tetramethylimidazol-2-ylidene yields adducts, albeit without deaggregation of the polymeric plumbylene in the solid state. For the stable germanes (t-BuC6H3(S)(Ch))2Ge with (Ch = S, Se), additional attempts to achieve chiral resolution were explored using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
Kinetic resolution has been a cornerstone for accessing enantioenriched molecules, but its application in radical chemistry has remained elusive due to the high reactivity of radical intermediates. Here, we present a new approach enabling precise Kinetic resolution in radical addition processes, yielding enantioenriched products and recovered starting materials with high efficiency. Two examples are provided: the Kinetic resolution of Minisci reactions between N-heterobiaryls or biaryls and glycine-derived redox-active esters under visible light irradiation with a chiral Brønsted acid catalyst, achieving high yields and enantioselectivities. The second example involves the reductive coupling of aldehydes with N-heterobiaryl-based olefins, enabling efficient synthesis of axially chiral heterobiaryls featuring both axial and remote central chirality. This work represents a conceptual breakthrough in asymmetric radical reactions, inspiring future developments in radical transformations using accessible racemic feedstocks.
The processing (paozhi) of traditional Chinese medicines profoundly influences their efficacy. Wine-roasted (Jiuzhi) can alter the medicinal properties of Gentiana rigescens Franch. (GRF), yet few studies have explored the effects of different wine products on these properties. This research obtained 11 Jiuzhi samples. Fourier Transform near infrared spectroscopy (FT-NIR) and Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-MIR) and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) techniques were employed to obtain relevant information, investigating how different Jiuzhi affect the chemical composition of GRF. Network pharmacology analysis was used to predict pharmacological differences among the processed samples. Additionally, molecular docking was employed to predict the binding conformations between the chemical components and the predicted protein receptors. Partial Least Squares-Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) and Random Forest (RF) models were applied to distinguish different Jiuzhi GRF. Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR), RF, and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) algorithms were utilized to predict the levels of seven chemical components in the GRF. Results indicate that different Jiuzhi methods alter the content of various chemical components. The binding energies of all docked molecules were below -5 kcal/mol. PLS-DA emerged as the optimal model for discriminating between processed samples, achieving accuracy rates exceeding 90% in both train and test datasets. Among seven components, the LSTM-based Isovitexin prediction model showed the highest performance, with R2 > 0.9 in both calibration and prediction datasets. This study establishes a workflow for the rapid screening of quality markers and the prediction of pharmacological mechanisms in TCMs using FTIR-based chemometric analysis and network pharmacology.
Chemoenzymatic dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) offers a powerful bridge between chemocatalysis and biocatalysis for the preparation of chiral molecules. However, its broader application has been limited by the incompatibility between racemization and resolution catalysts, where mutual interference often compromises catalytic activity and/or enantioselectivity. Here, we introduce a membrane-modulated strategy that circumvents the mandatory requirement for strict rate matching, offering a significant conceptual advance in the design of chemoenzymatic DKR systems. By spatially separating racemization and resolution while enabling their collaborative operation within a two-stage, two-step process, this approach dramatically enhances the typically low efficiency of conventional DKR, allowing the efficient synthesis of tetra-substituted 3-hydroxyphthalide esters that are challenging to access by traditional methods, and greatly expanding the scope of chiral phthalide preparation. This membrane-modulated strategy not only streamlines the typically laborious optimization required in conventional DKR for developing an alternative chemoenzymatic DKR approach but also provides a useful platform with the potential for pharmaceutical synthesis.
Connexin 43 (Cx43) exhibits remarkable functional diversity that is precisely dictated by its dynamic subcellular localization. Beyond its canonical role at the plasma membrane, where it assembles into gap junctions (GJs) and hemichannels (HCs) to mediate intercellular communication, Cx43 translocates to the nucleus and mitochondria, where it exerts non-channel functions including transcriptional regulation and metabolic adaptation. At the plasma membrane, dysregulation of Cx43 trafficking, anchoring, or turnover leads to excessive HC opening and impaired GJ communication, contributing to cardiovascular arrhythmias, ischemia-reperfusion injury, neuroinflammation, osteoporosis, and retinopathy. In the nucleus, Cx43 or its C-terminal fragment enters through importin-dependent pathways, functioning as a non-canonical transcriptional regulator; its mislocalization is implicated in cancer (context-dependent suppression or promotion), hepatic gluconeogenesis in diabetes, and tissue fibrosis. Within mitochondria, Cx43 is imported via Hsp90/TOM complex- or GJA1-20 k-dependent pathways, where it regulates K+ transport, respiratory chain activity, and redox balance; this mitochondrial pool exerts cardioprotection under preconditioning but exacerbates diabetic cardiomyopathy and neurological injury under pathological stress. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the trafficking mechanisms, pathological outcomes, and therapeutic targeting of Cx43 in these three subcellular compartments. We further discuss peptide-based inhibitors (e.g., Gap19, αCT1), small molecules (e.g., tonabersat, danegaptide), and natural product-derived modulators, highlighting challenges in specificity, bioavailability, and clinical translation. By linking compartment-specific functions to distinct disease entities, this review establishes subcellular localization as a central determinant of Cx43 biology and a promising axis for precision medicine.
Surface-mediated electron transfer with excellent resistance to salt interference has been widely applied in the pretreatment of high-salinity organic wastewater. However, traditional two-electron transfer process often forms polymers, resulting in additional economic cost for subsequent purification of salt with impurities. Herein, we proposed a chloride-induced dynamic diatomic reconstruction strategy to upcycle anti-salt interference into in-situ salt utilization for the treatment of high-salinity organic wastewater. The dynamic reconstruction system enabled an unprecedented surface-mediated three-electron transfer that efficiently mineralized refractory contaminants into low-toxicity small molecules, thus avoiding the formation of polymers and halogenated byproducts. By taking advantage of three-electron transfer, the diatomic reconstructor achieved a normalized rate constant k-value exceeding 259.0 min⁻ (Zhang et al., 2024) M⁻ (Zhang et al., 2024) for various typical contaminants, surpassing most of the state-of-the-art catalysts. Only US$0.30 per ton of treatment cost and low environmental impact confirmed scalability and practical applicability. This work developed a novel salt-driven dynamic wastewater treatment approach, enabling sustainable and cost-effective cleanup of high-salinity organic wastewater.
Coal exhibits heterogeneous pore networks and chemically diverse surfaces, resulting in complex competitive adsorption among CH4, CO2, and H2O. The underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In this work, molecular simulation methods were applied to investigate the adsorption behavior and interaction characteristics of CH4/CO2/H2O mixtures on two typical coal components (inertinite and vitrinite) under different CO2 enrichment levels, corresponding to gas-phase CO2 mole fractions of 4.8%, 9.1%, and 16.7%. The results demonstrate that CH4 dominates surface occupation in all cases, maintaining 30-70 adsorbed molecules, whereas CO2 adsorption is significantly weaker, remaining below 5 at low loading and increasing to only 10-17 at high loading. This indicates a limited competitive capability of CO2 for adsorption sites. From an interaction perspective, water governs the electrostatic environment, with surface-water Coulombic energies consistently distributed around - 600 to - 750 kJ mol-1. In contrast, CO2-water interactions decrease from - 220 to - 360 kJ mol-1 to - 100 to - 170 kJ mol-1 as CO2 loading increases, reflecting a pronounced screening effect. Meanwhile, direct CO2-surface interactions remain weak (typically - 5 to - 15 kJ mol-1). Overall, CH4 adsorption is primarily controlled by dispersion interactions, while CO2 is constrained by weak surface affinity and reduced hydration strength, resulting in a secondary role in multicomponent competitive adsorption within coal systems.
This study developed an integrated process coupling dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) pretreatment with a membrane bioreactor (MBR) for treating tetracycline (TC)-containing wastewater. The results demonstrated that DBD pretreatment effectively degraded more than half of TC, reduced transmembrane pressure, and decreased the average membrane fouling rate by 16%. Systematic analysis revealed that the sludge in the DBD-MBR system maintained stable mixed liquor suspended solids and sludge volume index, while the contents of extracellular polymeric substances and quorum-sensing signal molecules (C6-HSL and C8-HSL) were significantly reduced, which contributed to the mitigation of membrane fouling. Furthermore, DBD pretreatment markedly alleviated the oxidative stress induced by TC, as evidenced by the decreased reactive oxygen species generation, lactate dehydrogenase and superoxide dismutase activities. Microbial community analysis indicated that the DBD-MBR system maintained a more stable and diverse microbial structure compared to the conventional MBR. These findings confirm that the integration of DBD with MBR provides a sustainable and efficient strategy for the treatment of antibiotic wastewater by simultaneously enhancing biodegradation and controlling membrane fouling.