Ficin-Cyclodextrin-Based Docking Nanoarchitectonics of Self-Propelled Nanomotors for Bacterial Biofilm Eradication.

Development of bioinspired nanomotors showing effective propulsion and cargo delivery capabilities has attracted much attention in the last few years due to their potential use in biomedical applications. However, implementation of this technology in realistic settings is still a barely explored field. Herein, we report the design and application of a multifunctional gated Janus platinum-mesoporous silica nanomotor constituted of a propelling element (platinum nanodendrites) and a drug-loaded nanocontainer (mesoporous silica nanoparticle) capped with ficin enzyme modified with β-cyclodextrins (β-CD).

Mesoporous Silica Materials as an Emerging Tool for Cancer Immunotherapy.

Cancer immunotherapy has emerged in the past decade as a promising strategy for treating many forms of cancer by stimulating the patient's immune system. Although immunotherapy has achieved some promising results in clinics, more efforts are required to improve the limitations of current treatments related to lack of effective and targeted cancer antigens delivery to immune cells, dose-limiting toxicity, and immune-mediated adverse effects, among others. In recent years, the use of nanomaterials has proven promising to enhance cancer immunotherapy efficacy and reduce side effects.

Ultrafast Directional Janus Pt-Mesoporous Silica Nanomotors for Smart Drug Delivery.

Development of bioinspired nanomachines with an efficient propulsion and cargo-towing has attracted much attention in the last years due to their potential biosensing, diagnostics, and therapeutics applications. In this context, self-propelled synthetic nanomotors are promising carriers for intelligent and controlled release of therapeutic payloads. However, the implementation of this technology in real biomedical applications is still facing several challenges.

Apple snack enriched with L-arginine using vacuum impregnation/ohmic heating technology.

Modern life has created a high demand for functional food, and in this context, emerging technologies such as vacuum impregnation and ohmic heating have been applied to generate functional foods. The aim of this research was to enrich the content of the semi-essential amino acid L-arginine in apple cubes using vacuum impregnation, conventional heating, and ohmic heating. Additionally, combined vacuum impregnation/conventional heating and vacuum impregnation/ohmic heating treatments were evaluated.

Supplementation with apple enriched with L-arginine may improve metabolic control and survival rate in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

Supplementation with L-arginine or fresh food with high content of this amino acid is associated with favorable effects in the metabolic control of diabetes. We aimed to determine whether supplementation with apples enriched with L-arginine offer additional benefits compared to L-arginine by itself in a preclinical study of diabetes. This study combines food-engineer technologies with in vivo and in vitro analysis.

Elevated concentrations of plasma adenosine in obese children.

There are no data regarding adenosine levels in obese children, even though is a ubiquitous molecule implicated in the regulation of lipid metabolism in humans. To determinate whether adenosine plasma levels are related with anthropometric and biochemical markers in children, we studied 51 students belong to Ramon Belmar School in Linares, Chile. Review of clinical data and frequent food questionnaire were taken in order to collect the information.

Adverse perinatal outcomes after the February 27th 2010 Chilean earthquake.

Objective: To investigate whether the February 27th earthquake exposition was associated to adverse perinatal outcomes in Chilean pregnant women.

Methods: We analyzed all deliveries occurred in 2009 (n = 3,609) and 2010 (n = 3,279) in a reference hospital in the area of the earthquake. Furthermore, we investigated pregnant women who gave birth between March 1st and December 31st 2010 (n = 2,553) and we classified them according to timing of exposition.