Effective treatment of emulsions formed during the bitumen extraction process is crucial for oil-water separation and subsequent processing. However, it remains a challenge in the oil sands industry due to the complex...
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Effective treatment of emulsions formed during the bitumen extraction process is crucial for oil-water separation and subsequent processing. However, it remains a challenge in the oil sands industry due to the complex mixture of solids, water, and bitumen. Asphaltenes in bitumen and fine clay minerals in solids can significantly adsorb at interfaces and contribute to emulsion stability, which makes oil-water separation difficult. Very limited attention has been paid to the synergistic effects of asphaltenes, solids, and complex water chemistry involved in the bitumen extraction process. This study characterized asphaltenes and kaolinite, with kaolinite acting as a representative clay mineral in the experiments. The synergistic effects of asphaltenes and kaolinite fine particles on emulsion stability and interfacial properties were systematically investigated through demulsification bottle tests, zeta potential measurements, dynamic interfacial tension, and dilatational rheology analyses. The results suggest that kaolinite fine particles substantially enhance the stability of asphaltene-stabilized emulsions. Meanwhile, metal salts, especially divalent salts such as MgCl2 and CaCl2 in water, can further contribute to the stability of both asphaltene-stabilized emulsions and emulsions co-stabilized by asphaltenes and kaolinite. Computational insights from density functional theory and ab initio molecular dynamics elucidate the molecularlevel interactions between asphaltenes, kaolinite, and metal cations. This work has improved the understanding of emulsion stability mechanisms posed by asphaltenes, clay minerals, and complex water chemistries in bitumen extraction and crude oil production. The results contribute to advancing separation and purification technologies critical to the oil sands industry.
As a receptor tyrosine kinase of insulin receptor (IR) subfamily, anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) has been validated to play important roles in various cancers, especially anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), nonsm...
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As a receptor tyrosine kinase of insulin receptor (IR) subfamily, anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) has been validated to play important roles in various cancers, especially anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and neuroblastomas. Currently, five small-molecule inhibitors of ALK, including Crizotinib, Ceritinib, Alectinib, Brigatinib, and Lorlatinib, have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) against ALK-positive NSCLCs. Novel type-I-1/2 and type-II ALK inhibitors with improved kinase selectivity and enhanced capability to combat drug resistance have also been reported. Moreover, the "proteolysis targeting chimera" (PROTAC) technique has been successfully applied in developing ALK degraders, which opened a new avenue for targeted ALK therapies. This review provides an overview of the physiological and biological functions of ALK, the discovery and development of drugs targeting ALK by focusing on their chemotypes, activity, selectivity, and resistance as well as potential therapeutic strategies to overcome drug resistance.
As non-renewable natural resources, minerals are essential in a broad range of biological and technological applications. The surface interactions of mineral particles with other objects (e.g., solids, bubbles, reagen...
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As non-renewable natural resources, minerals are essential in a broad range of biological and technological applications. The surface interactions of mineral particles with other objects (e.g., solids, bubbles, reagents) in aqueous suspensions play a critical role in mediating many interfacial phenomena involved in mineral flotation. In this work, we have reviewed the fundamentals of surface forces and quantitative surface property-force relationship of minerals, and the advances in the quantitative measurements of interaction forces of mineral-mineral, bubble-mineral and mineral-reagent using nanomechanical tools such as surface forces apparatus (SFA) and atomic force microscope (AFM). The quantitative correlation between surface properties of minerals at the solid/water interface and their surface interaction mechanisms with other objects in complex aqueous media at the nanoscale has been established. The existing challenges in mineral flotation such as characterization of anisotropic crystal plane or heterogeneous surface, low recovery of fine particle flotation, and in-situ electrochemical characterization of collectorless flotation as well as the future work to resolve the challenges based on the understanding and modulation of surface forces of minerals have also been discussed. This review provides useful insights into the fundamental understanding of the intermolecular and surface interaction mechanisms involved in mineral processing, with implications for precisely modulating related interfacial interactions towards the development of highly efficient industrial processes and chemical additives.
The compact extracellular matrix (ECM) of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the major physical barrier that hinders the delivery of anti-tumor drugs, leading to strong inherent chemotherapy resistance as well...
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The compact extracellular matrix (ECM) of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the major physical barrier that hinders the delivery of anti-tumor drugs, leading to strong inherent chemotherapy resistance as well as establishing an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). However, forcibly destroying the stroma barrier would break the balance of delicate signal transduction and dependence between tumor cells and matrix components. Uncontrollable growth and metastasis would occur, making PDAC more difficult to control. Hence, we design and construct an aptamer-decorated hypoxia-responsive nanoparticle s(DGL)(n)@Apt co-loading gemcitabine monophosphate and STAT3 inhibitor HJC0152. This nanoparticle can reverse its surficial charge in the TME, and reduce the size triggered by hypoxia. The released ultra-small DGL particles loading gemcitabine monophosphate exhibit excellent deep-tumor penetration, chemotherapy drugs endocytosis promotion, and autophagy induction ability. Meanwhile, HJC0152 inhibits overactivated STAT3 in both tumor cells and tumor stroma, softens the stroma barrier, and reeducates the TME into an immune-activated state. This smart code -livery strategy provides an inspiring opportunity in PDAC treatment.
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