Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are featured with low toxicity, non‐trivial biocompatibility, and cell membrane penetration capability, which allow the constructions of nanoplatforms for biosensing and in vivo imaging. Interfacing CNCs and fluorescent materials into sensors/probes is thus highly topical and has received tremendous interest. This review covers the development of CNC extraction methods and, in particular, their impacts on the surficial properties of CNCs. Whereafter, recently reported strategies for fluorescent functionalizations of CNCs are summarized based on chemical modification, physical adsorption, or in situ growth. Choosing the most suitable strategy, according to the properties of both CNCs and fluorophores, for constructing fluorescent CNCs is also emphasized. With regard to applications of the fluorescent CNCs, this work focuses on the studies which have involved but not been limited to metal ion sensing, physiological pH detection, cell imaging, and tumor antiproliferation. Being aware of the highly flexible construction, appealing structural/optical properties, and outstanding performances in analysis/imaging, it is believed that CNCs are bound to be increasingly investigated in the future and widely applied in the biomedical area.

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In this study, a polyol ester from levulinic acid (LA) and trimethylolpropane (TMP) was synthesized by enzymatic catalysis in a solvent-free system. The total conversion of TMP reached up to 84% on average after lipase recycling for five times. The produced ester showed excellent lubrication properties, such as high viscosities at 40 °C (86.53 mm2/s) and 100 °C (8.91 mm2/s), a good viscosity index (49), a low pour point (−27 °C), and a high flash point (223 °C). The frictional wear behavior was evaluated on a four-ball test machine (FTM) by adding the ester into a reference mineral oil. The blend with 10% ester showed a smaller wear scar diameter (WSD) (0.62 mm) when compared with that of pure mineral oil (0.78 mm). The results demonstrated that the obtained ester has huge potential as biolubricant basestock.

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Aims Patients with acute liver injury (ALI) can develop cognitive dysfunction (CD). The study investigated the role of gut microbiota and cerebral metabolism in ALI mice with and without CD. Methods Male C57BL/6 mice that received thioacetamide were classified into ALI mice with (susceptible) or without (unsusceptible) CD‐like phenotypes by hierarchical cluster analysis of behavior. The role of gut microbiota was investigated by 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing and feces microbiota transplantation (FMT). 1H‐[13C] NMR and electrophysiology were used to detect the changes in cerebral neurotransmitter metabolic and synaptic transition in neurons or astrocytes. Results Apromixlay 55% (11/20) of mice developed CD and FMT from the susceptible group transmitted CD to gut microbiota‐depleted mice. Alloprevotella was enriched in the susceptible group. GABA production was decreased in the frontal cortex, while hippocampal glutamine was increased in the susceptible group. Altered Escherichia. Shigella and Alloprevotella were correlated with behaviors and cerebral metabolic kinetics and identified as good predictors of ALI‐induced CD. The frequencies of both miniature inhibitory and excitatory postsynaptic currents in hippocampal CA1 and prefrontal cortex were decreased in the susceptible group. Conclusion Altered transmitter metabolism and synaptic transmission in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex and gut microbiota disturbance may lead to ALI‐induced CD.