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Magnetic composites consisting of magnetite (Fe3O4), graphene oxide (GO), and Mg3Al-OH layered double hydroxide (LDH), denoted as MGL composites, with varying GO contents (RGO) were synthesized by a mechano-hydrothermal (MHT) route using Fe3O4, Mg(OH)2, and Al(OH)3 as the inorganic starting materials. The application of the synthesized MGLs for removing the heavy-metal Pb(II) and the hydrophobic organic pesticide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) from aqueous solutions was investigated. Chemical bonding among the GO, Fe3O4, and LDH components was observed in the MGLs. The MGL composites showed good water-dispersity, strong magnetic response, and high sorption capacities and removal efficiencies for both Pb(II) and 2,4-D pollutants. The sorption capacities of the MGL for the pollutants significantly increased with an increase in RGO. Increasing pH could increase the removal efficiency for Pb(II) but decrease that for 2,4-D. The MGLs showed more affinity for Pb(II) than for 2,4-D in the competitive sorption. In addition, the MGLs could remain almost constant removal efficiency for the pollutants after reuse over six cycles, indicating their potential use as sorbents in wastewater treatment. Furthermore, a Cs effect was observed in the sorption equilibriums, which could be described using the Langmuir-SCA and Freundlich-SCA isotherms. The removal mechanisms of the MGL for Pb(II) and 2,4-D were discussed. The MHT method provided a simple and environmentally friendly route for synthesizing GO-LDH composite materials.

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An acidic environment is vital for the maintenance of cellular activities but can be affected tremendously during intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). The effect of changes in the acidity of the environment on human nucleus pulposus mesenchymal stem cells (NP-MSCs) is, however, unknown. Thus, this study aimed to observe the biological effects of acidic conditions mimicking a degenerated intervertebral disc on NP-MSCs in vitro. NP-MSCs were isolated from patients with lumbar disc herniation and were further identified by their immunophenotypes and multilineage differentiation. Then, cells were cultured at acidic pH levels (pH 6.2, pH 6.5, pH 6.8, pH 7.1, and pH 7.4) with/without amiloride, an acid-sensing ion channel (ASIC) blocker. The proliferation and apoptosis of NP-MSCs and the expression of stem cell-related genes (Oct4, Nanog, Jagged, Notch1), ASICs, and functional genes (Aggrecan, SOX-9, Collagen-I, and Collagen-II) in NP-MSCs were evaluated. Our work showed that cells obtained from human degenerated NP met the criteria of International Society for Cellular Therapy. Therefore, cells obtained from a degenerated nucleus pulposus were definitively identified as NP-MSCs. Our results also indicated that acidic conditions could significantly inhibit cell proliferation and increase cell apoptosis. Gene expression results demonstrated that acidic conditions could decrease the expression of stem cell-related genes and inhibit extracellular matrix synthesis, whereas it could increase the expression of ASICs. Our study further verified that the above-mentioned biological activities of NP-MSCs could be significantly improved by amiloride. Therefore, the results of the study indicated that the biological behavior of NP-MSCs could be inhibited by acidic conditions during IVDD, and amiloride may meliorate IVDD by improving the activities of NP-MSCs.