Synthesis and catalysis of yolk−shell microspheres containing a single Au nanoparticle core and a mesoporous shell of hollow mesoporous silica microspheres (HMSM) are reported. This synthesis employs polystyrene-co-poly(4-vinylpyridine) microspheres as both template to fabricate the HMSM shell through sol−gel process and scaffold to immobilize the Au nanoparticle. Since the single Au nanoparticle core is supernatant within the inert HMSM shell, the yolk−shell catalyst has minimum support effect and is a promising model to explore the origin of Au catalysis. Catalyzed reduction of 4-nitrophenol with NaBH4 demonstrates size-dependent induction or activation and size-dependent activity of the Au nanoparticle core of the yolk−shell catalyst.

The noble metal nanoparticles of Pd, Au, and Ag embedded in the shell layer of core-shell poly(styreneco-4-vinylpyridine) micospheres were synthesized, and the catalytic activity of the shell-embedded Pd nanoparticles was investigated. To increase the accessible active site and therefore increase the catalytic activity of noble metal nanoparticles, the in situ synthesized noble metal nanoparticles are selectively immobilized in the outer shell layer of the core-shell poly(styrene-co-4-vinylpyridine) microspheres, which are synthesized by one-stage soap-free emulsion polymerization in water and contain a core of polystyrene and a coordinative shell of poly(4-vinylpyridine). It is found the Pd nanoparticles embedded in the shell layer of the core-shell micospheres are an efficient and easily reusable catalyst for Suzuki reactions performed in water.

Glomerular endothelial cells (GEnCs) contribute to renal injuries in IgA nephropathy (IgAN). Here we profiled microRNAs (miRNAs) in GEnCs treated with conditioned medium from human mesangial cells in vitro. Levels of miR-223 in GEnCs decreased after incubation with the medium prepared with pIgA from patients with glomerular endothelial proliferation and were also decreased in the glomerular tissues of patients with glomerular endothelial proliferation. Mesangial-derived IL-6 caused miR-223 levels to decrease. The addition of exogenous miR-223 inhibited cell proliferation, ICAM-1 expression, and monocyte adhesion. The NF-κB and STAT3 signaling pathways collaborate during the activation process. MiR-223 mimics inhibited the nuclear localization and DNA binding of p65 and STAT3 but had no effect on the expression of upstream molecules. Instead, importin α4 and α5 (multipurpose nuclear transport receptors), validated as targets of miR-223, were responsible for the nuclear transport of p65 and STAT3. Importin α4 and α5 siRNA inhibited the nuclear localization of p65 and STAT3 and prevented cell proliferation and monocyte adhesion. The level of miR-223 in circulating endothelial cells was decreased and related to the clinical and pathological parameters. Thus, miR-223 downregulation promotes glomerular endothelial cell activation by upregulating importin α4 and α5 in IgAN. Monitoring the level of miR-223 in circulating endothelial cells may provide a noninvasive method for evaluating the severity of IgAN.

A microreactor of Pd nanoparticles immobilized shell-corona hollow microspheres of poly[styrene-co-2-(acetoacetoxy) ethyl methacrylate-co-acrylamide] has been designed for catalytic hydrodechlorination (HDC) of chlorophenols in the sole solvent of water. The strategy of the combined use of the shell-corona hollow microspheres as microcapsule and catalyst scaffold endues the microreactor several advantages. First, the microreactor can be dispersed in the sole solvent of water and acts as a quasi-homogeneous catalyst for catalytic HDC of chlorophenols. Second, the reactant of chlorophenols can be highly concentrated within the hollow microspheres of the microreactor in the sole solvent of water. Third, the resultant product of phenol can be favorably excreted off the microreactor into water because of the polar difference between the reactant of chlorophenols and the product of phenol. Ascribed to the combined advantages, catalytic HDC of chlorophenols can be performed efficiently within the microreactor in the sole solvent of water at room temperature under atmosphere pressure.