Therapeutical Strategies for Spinal Cord Injury and a Promising Autologous Astrocyte-Based Therapy Using Efficient Reprogramming Techniques.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a traumatic event resulting in disturbances to normal sensory, motor, or autonomic functions, which ultimately impacts a patient's physical, psychological, and social well-being. Until now, no available therapy for SCI can effectively slow down or halt the disease progression. Compared to traditional treatments, e.

A novel rGR-TiO-ZrO composite nanosheet for capturing phosphopeptides from biosamples.

A novel rGR-TiO-ZrO (rGTZ) composite nanosheet comprising graphene oxides, tetrabutyl titanate, and zirconium(iv) isopropoxide was synthesized using a simple sol-gel method and hydrothermal treatment. The excellent surface area of graphene and the specificity of TiO and ZrO toward phosphopeptides were integrated to form a composite with a high number of specific sites for the capture of phosphopeptides from complex biosamples. The average diameter of the nanoparticles that were loaded onto the flat graphene surface was 100 nm, according to a TEM analysis.

Repair of spinal cord injury by implantation of bFGF-incorporated HEMA-MOETACL hydrogel in rats.

There is no effective strategy for the treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI). An appropriate combination of hydrogel materials and neurotrophic factor therapy is currently thought to be a promising approach. In this study, we performed experiments to evaluate the synergic effect of implanting hydroxyl ethyl methacrylate [2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl] trimethylammonium chloride (HEMA-MOETACL) hydrogel incorporated with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) into the site of surgically induced SCI.

Thermodynamics versus kinetics in nanosynthesis.

One may discover a stone tool by chance but it takes more than luck to make a car or cell phone. With the advance of nanoscience, the synthesis of increasingly sophisticated nanostructures demands a rational design and a systems approach. In this Review, we advocate the distinction between thermodynamically and kinetically controlled scenarios, that is, whether a product forms because it is the most stable state or because the pathway leading to it has the lowest energy barrier.

Rapid and simple detection of Japanese encephalitis virus by reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification combined with a lateral flow dipstick.

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a major cause of viral encephalitis in geographical areas, such as Asia and Western Pacific, where it is a threat to human and animal health. To control this disease, it is necessary to develop a rapid, simple, accurate method for diagnosis. In this study, a method based on reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) coupled with a lateral flow dipstick (LFD) has been developed to detect JEV (JEV RT-LAMP-LFD).

Facile preparation of organic-inorganic hybrid polymeric ionic liquid monolithic column with a one-pot process for protein separation in capillary electrochromatography.

An organic-inorganic hybrid monolithic column based on 1-vinyl-3-dodecylimidazolium bromide (VC12Im(+)Br(-)) has been prepared in a single step by combining radical copolymerization with a non-hydrolytic sol-gel (NHSG) process. The NHSG process was significantly shortened to 6 h by using formic acid as catalyst. For comparison, we also prepared polymeric ionic liquid (PIL) monolithic columns by hydrolytic sol-gel and organic polymeric process, respectively.

Facile synthesis of graphene doped poly(ionic liquid) boronate affinity material for specific capture of glycoproteins.

Glycoproteins, as low-abundance proteins in organisms, play a critical role in numerous biological processes such as signal transduction, cell differentiation, cellular adhesion, immune defense and embryonic development. Thus, the development of enrichment techniques for glycoproteins is of great importance. In this study, a thiol graphene (TG) doped poly[ionic liquid (ViOcImCl)] boronate affinity monolithic material was prepared in a single step.

Understanding the phase emergence of mesoporous silica.

The cylinder-to-vesicle phase transition of mesoporous silica and the inter-dependence of the controlling factors are studied. (3-Mercaptopropyl)trimethoxylsilane (MPTMS) is used to alter the phase outcome of mesoporous silica from the cylindrical MCM-41 to the vesicular phase. Exploiting the phase selection at the critical time point of phase emergence allows investigation of the complex interactions among the ingredients.

Homo- and co-polymerization of polysytrene-block-poly(acrylic acid)-coated metal nanoparticles.

Amphiphilic block copolymers such as polystyrene-block-poly(acrylic acid) (PSPAA) give micelles that are known to undergo sphere-to-cylinder shape transformation. Exploiting this polymer property, core-shell nanoparticles coated in PSPAA can be "polymerized" into long chains following the chain-growth polymerization mode. This method is now extended to include a variety of different nanoparticles.

Biotoxins for cancer therapy.

In recent times, a number of studies have provided evidence that biotoxins present great potential as antitumor agents, such as snake venom, bee venom, some bacteria toxins and plant toxins, and thus could be used as chemotherapeutic agents against tumors. The biodiversity of venoms and toxins make them a unique source from which novel anticancer agent may be developed. Biotoxins, also known as natural toxins, include toxic substances produced by plants, animals and microorganisms.

Effect of intravenous gadolinium-DTPA on diffusion-weighted imaging of brain tumors: a short temporal interval assessment.

Purpose: To determine the effect of intravenous administration of gadolinium (Gd) contrast medium (Gd-DTPA) on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) for the evaluation of normal brain parenchyma vs. brain tumor following a short temporal interval.

Materials And Methods: Forty-four DWI studies using b values of 0 and 1000 s/mm(2) were performed before, immediately after, 1 min after, 3 min after, and 5 min after the administration of Gd-DTPA on 62 separate lesions including 15 meningioma, 17 glioma and 30 metastatic lesions.

Characterization of a functionally active recombinant 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate synthase from Babesia bovis.

The 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate synthase (DXS) enzyme has been characterized in other species, but not in the genus Babesia, which causes major losses in the livestock industries worldwide. Therefore, we isolated, cloned and expressed the wild-type B. bovis dxs cDNA in Escherichia coli and evaluated its enzymatic activity in vitro.

[Screening of novel miRNAs targeting EZH2 3' untranslated region using lentivirus miRNAs library and their expressions in breast cancer cells and tissues].

Objective: To screen novel miRNAs targeting EZH2 3' untranslated region (UTR) in recombinational MCF-7 breast cancer cells over-expressing EZH2 3' UTR and quantitative analyze the expressions of the screened miRNA in breast cancer cells and tissues.

Methods: A lentiviral library was transfected into the recombinant cell line MCF-7. The cells were screened with cytotoxic agents before extraction of the genome for amplification of the miRNA precursors using PCR.

Anticancer activity of binary toxins from Lysinibacillus sphaericus IAB872 against human lung cancer cell line A549.

The inhibitory effect of binary toxic (Bin) protein produced by Lysinibacillus sphaericus IAB872 on cell proliferation of human lung, liver, stomach and cervical tumor cell lines was assessed using MTT assay. The effect of Bin protein on A549 cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle, migration and invasion were examined by MTT assay, Western blotting, Immunocytochemical staining, flow cytometry assay and wound-healing assay. Results showed that Bin protein inhibits proliferation of a range of human cancer cells in vitro.

Ionic liquids monolithic columns for protein separation in capillary electrochromatography.

A series of ionic liquids (ILs) monolithic capillary columns based on 1-vinyl-3-octylimidazolium (ViOcIm(+)) were prepared by two approaches ("one-pot" approach and "anion-exchange" approach). The effects of different anions (bromide, Br(-); tetrafluoroborate, BF4(-); hexafluorophosphate, PF6(-); and bis-trifluoromethanesulfonylimide, NTf2(-)) on chromatography performance of all the resulting columns were investigated systematically under capillary electrochromatography (CEC) mode. The results indicated that all these columns could generate a stable reversed electroosmotic flow (EOF) over a wide pH range from 2.

Bridging the gap in the micellar transformation from cylinders to vesicles.

The micelles of polystyrene-block-poly(acrylic acid) (PS154-b-PAA49) are made to transform slowly in mixed solvent, allowing continual trapping of the various intermediates. During the transformation from cylindrical to vesicular micelles, it appears that a section of the cylinder first flattens to give a lamellar section, which then depresses to give a bowl-like moiety, before finally converting to a fully enclosed vesicle. Most part of this transformation involves the "flow" of polymer domains without mingling of the hydrophobic and hydrophilic domains.

Preparation of a semicovalent, molecularly surface imprinted polymer for the rapid determination of trace acid orange II in food and environmental samples.

In this work, molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) particles were synthesized using a semicovalent method based on a specific thermally reversible bond, and these particles were used for the rapid detection of the azo dye acid orange II. The imprinted polymers-which were prepared via the covalent reaction of 3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl isocyanate with the template molecules-were attached to the surface of silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles, and a simple thermal reaction was then performed to remove the templates, leaving spaces with specific noncovalent bonds for target re-recognition. The conditions for the synthesis of the MIP were optimized during the polymerization experiments to improve the adsorption capacity and selectivity.

Investigating the multiple roles of polyvinylpyrrolidone for a general methodology of oxide encapsulation.

Growing oxide shells on seed nanoparticles requires the control of several processes: (a) the nucleation and growth of the shell material; (b) the "wetting" of the shell material on the seeds; and (c) the aggregation of the nanoparticles. These processes are influenced by a number of factors, many of which are related. Without understanding the interdependence of these contributing factors, it is difficult to circumvent problems and achieve rational synthesis.

The role of the N-D1 linker of the N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor in the SNARE disassembly.

N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (NSF) is a member of the type II AAA+ (ATPase associated with various cellular activities) family. It plays a critical role in intracellular membrane trafficking by disassembling soluble NSF attachment protein receptor (SNARE) complexes. Each NSF protomer consists of an N-terminal domain (N domain) followed by two AAA ATPase domains (D1 and D2) in tandem.

Preservation of lattice orientation in coalescing imperfectly aligned gold nanowires by a zipper mechanism.

Parallel-stacked gold nanowires (NWs) in a ring conformation are induced to coalesce, forming solid seamless rings. The axial lattice orientation of the original Au NWs is preserved in the coalesced rings (see picture; scale bars 2 nm, insets 50 nm). A zipper mechanism is proposed to reconcile the three major events in coalescing nanocrystals: ligand loss, lattice alignment, and coalescence.

A novel ionic liquid stabilized molecularly imprinted optosensing material based on quantum dots and graphene oxide for specific recognition of vitamin E.

This work prepared a novel ionic liquid stabilized molecularly imprinted optosensing material based on quantum dots (QDs) and graphene oxide (GO) composites using a one-step polymerization for highly selective and sensitive specific recognition of vitamin E (VE). Here, GO was first introduced to the molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) because of its ultra-high specific surface area which increases the rate of mass-transfer relative to that of traditional bulk MIP. The ionic liquid was used to provide the desired surface binding groups between the QDs and the GO, but also to improve their fluorescence stability by virtue of its high thermal and chemical stability.

Simultaneous determination of banned acid orange dyes and basic orange dyes in foodstuffs by liquid chromatography-tandem electrospray ionization mass spectrometry via negative/positive ion switching mode.

Simultaneous detection of two classes of dyes possessing different chemical properties is difficult. In this study, through negative/positive ion switching mode, simultaneous determination of four typical acid orange dyes and three typical basic orange dyes was achieved by a single high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method, and the analytical efficiency of multiresidues identification was greatly improved. To enhance detection sensitivity, the sample pretreatment conditions and HPLC-MS/MS determining conditions were carefully optimized.