The complete mitochondrial genome of Korean indigenous stag beetle, .

In this study, the mitogenome sequences of Korean indigenous stag beetle, , was completely determined by next-generation sequencing analysis. The complete mitogenome of has 15,421 bp in length and consists of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNAs, two rRNAs, and one control region. The gene orders and content were identical with previously recorded mitogenomes of Lucanidae species.

rGO nanomaterial-mediated cancer targeting and photothermal therapy in a microfluidic co-culture platform.

We developed the microfluidic co-culture platform to study photothermal therapy applications. We conjugated folic acid (FA) to target breast cancer cells using reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-based functional nanomaterials. To characterize the structure of rGO-based nanomaterials, we analyzed the molecular spectrum using UV-visible and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR).

Combinatorial biophysical cue sensor array for controlling neural stem cell fate.

Biophysical cues, such as electrical stimulus, mechanical feature, and surface topography, enable the control of neural stem cell (NSC) differentiation and neurite outgrowth. However, the effect of these biophysical cues on NSC behavior has not been fully elucidated. In the present study, we developed an innovative combinatorial biophysical cue sensor array combining a surface modified nanopillar array with conductive hydrogel micropatterns.

A microfluidic gradient device for drug screening with human iPSC-derived motoneurons.

We developed a microfluidic gradient device to utilize as a drug screening system with human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived motoneurons. The microfluidic channel was asymmetrically designed to generate the concentration gradients and a micropillar array was used to trap and culture the motoneuron spheroids containing motoneurons for 9 days. We optimized the concentration gradients in the microfluidic device using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model.

Dual Stimuli-Triggered Nanogels in Response to Temperature and pH Changes for Controlled Drug Release.

Poly-N-isopropyl acrylamide (PNIPAM) nanogels have been modified with different acrylic acid (AAc) contents for the efficient control of lower critical solution temperature (LCST). In this study, PNIPAM-co-AAc nanogels nanogels showed two volume phase transitions in comparison with PNIPAM. The transition temperature of PNIPAM nanogels was increased with AAc contents.

Generation of uniform-sized multicellular tumor spheroids using hydrogel microwells for advanced drug screening.

Even though in vitro co-culture tumor spheroid model plays an important role in screening drug candidates, its wide applications are currently limited due to the lack of reliable and high throughput methods for generating well-defined and 3D complex co-culture structures. Herein, we report the development of a hydrogel microwell array to generate uniform-sized multicellular tumor spheroids. Our developed multicellular tumor spheroids are structurally well-defined, robust and can be easily transferred into the widely used 2D culture substrates while maintaining our designed multicellular 3D-sphere structures.

Development of a theranostic prodrug for colon cancer therapy by combining ligand-targeted delivery and enzyme-stimulated activation.

The high incidence of colorectal cancer worldwide is currently a major health concern. Although conventional chemotherapy and surgery are effective to some extent, there is always a risk of relapse due to associated side effects, including post-surgical complications and non-discrimination between cancer and normal cells. In this study, we developed a small molecule-based theranostic system, Gal-Dox, which is preferentially taken up by colon cancer cells through receptor-mediated endocytosis.

In vivo imaging of β-galactosidase stimulated activity in hepatocellular carcinoma using ligand-targeted fluorescent probe.

Development of targeted, selective, and noninvasive fluorescent probes for in vivo visualization of tumor-associated overexpressed enzymes are highly anticipated for cancer diagnosis and therapy. Herein, we developed a noninvasive fluorescent probe (DCDHF-βgal) for the sensitive detection, and in vivo visualization of β-galactosidase in hepatocyte HepG2 cells and its xenograft model. As a model system for in vivo targeted imaging, DCDHF-βgal possessing galactose unit selectively target hepatocyte and monitor the β-galactosidase activity with deep tissue penetration, and low background interference.

Liposomal Texaphyrin Theranostics for Metastatic Liver Cancer.

Reported here is a new theranostic agent, 1, which consists of a Gd-texaphyrin core conjugated to a doxorubicin prodrug via a disulfide bond. Conjugate 1 was designed to undergo cleavage in the presence of glutathione (GSH), a species typically upregulated in cancer cells. As prepared, conjugate 1 displays no appreciable fluorescence.

Acid-triggered release of doxorubicin from a hydrazone-linked Gd(3+)-texaphyrin conjugate.

The hydrazone-based Gd(3+)-texaphyrin doxorubicin conjugate 1, releases active doxorubicin at acidic pH values, allowing its components to be followed by two complementary imaging methods, namely Off-On fluorescence enhancement and MR imaging. It thus acts as a promising theranostic agent.

Hypoxia-directed and activated theranostic agent: Imaging and treatment of solid tumor.

Hypoxia, a distinguished feature of various solid tumors, has been considered as a key marker for tumor progression. Inadequate vasculature and high interstitial pressures result in relatively poor drug delivery to these tumors. Herein, we developed an antitumor theranostic agent, 4, which is activated in hypoxic conditions and can be used for the diagnosis and treatment of solid tumors.

In Vivo Tracking of Phagocytic Immune Cells Using a Dual Imaging Probe with Gadolinium-Enhanced MRI and Near-Infrared Fluorescence.

A novel dual imaging probe for in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and optical imaging was developed by combining gadolinium (Gd)-chelating MR probe and a near-infrared (NIR) fluorophore, aza-BODIPY (AB; BODIPY = boron-dipyrromethene). This aza-BODIPY-based bimodal contrast agent (AB-BCA) showed a significant fluorescence emission around the NIR range and an enhanced longitudinal relaxivity in MR modality. The probe was easily delivered to phagocytic cells of the innate immune system, together with macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs), and presented high-performance fluorescence and MR imaging without obvious cytotoxicity.

An activatable prodrug for the treatment of metastatic tumors.

Metastatic cancers have historically been difficult to treat. However, metastatic tumors have been found to have high levels of reactive oxygen species such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), supporting the hypothesis that a prodrug could be activated by intracellular H2O2 and lead to a potential antimetastatic therapy. In this study, prodrug 7 was designed to be activated by H2O2-mediated boronate oxidation, resulting in activation of the fluorophore for detection and release of the therapeutic agent, SN-38.

An activatable theranostic for targeted cancer therapy and imaging.

A new theranostic strategy is described. It is based on the use of an "all in one" prodrug, namely the biotinylated piperazine-rhodol conjugate 4 a. This conjugate, which incorporates the anticancer drug SN-38, undergoes self-immolative cleavage when exposed to biological thiols.

Association of protein expression in isolated milk epithelial cells and cis-9, trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid proportions in milk from dairy cows.

Background: The effects of the individual variation among dairy cows on the synthesis of cis-9, trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) are still not well characterised. Therefore, the protein expression profiles of isolated milk epithelial cells (MECs) were detected by two-dimensional electrophoresis and their correlation with the various proportion of cis-9, trans-11 CLA were evaluated.

Results: Although animals were offered the same diet, the proportion of cis-9, trans-11 CLA in group High (1.

Comparison of diagnostic accuracy between CellprepPlus® and ThinPrep® liquid-based preparations in effusion cytology.

Liquid-based cytology (LBC) is being increasingly used for body fluid specimens and has improved diagnostic accuracy when compared to conventional smears. We compared the diagnostic accuracy and cellular morphologic features between CellprepPlus® LBC and ThinPrep® LBC in effusion cytology. One hundred and eighty body fluid specimens, consisting of 119 pleural fluid specimens, 59 peritoneal fluid specimens, and 2 pericardial fluid specimens, were obtained from 166 patients.

Prevalence of ocular symptoms in patients with allergic rhinitis: Korean multicenter study.

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is often accompanied by multiple ocular symptoms. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of ocular symptoms and the impact of ocular symptoms on the quality of life in patients with AR.

Methods: One thousand one hundred seventy-four patients with AR were enrolled from 24 centers in Korea.

Evaluation of Urine Cytology in Urothelial Carcinoma Patients: A Comparison of CellprepPlus® Liquid-Based Cytology and Conventional Smear.

Background: Urine cytology is an important test in the screening of urothlelial neoplasms. The conventional smear (CS) method of testing urine samples has a low sensitivity, approximately 50% result accuracy for detecting urothelial carcinomas, while liquid-based cytology (LBC) has much improved diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. The aim of this study was to compare the morphologic features and diagnostic efficacy of CellprepPlus® LBC with those of CS for urine cytology.

Cationic solid lipid nanoparticles for co-delivery of paclitaxel and siRNA.

In this study, we formulated cationic solid lipid nanoparticles (cSLN) for co-delivery of paclitaxel (PTX) and siRNA. 1,2-Dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-ethylphosphocholine-based cSLN were prepared by emulsification solidification methods. PTX-loaded cSLN (PcSLN) were characterized by zeta potential and gel retardation of complexes with small interfering RNA (siRNA).

Magnetic resonance imaging of superparamagnetic iron oxide-labeled macrophage infiltrates in acute-phase renal ischemia-reperfusion mouse model.

Macrophages play a key role in the initial pathogenesis of kidney ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) injury, but the mechanism of their spatial and temporal recruitment from circulation remains uncertain. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for detecting intravenously administered superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO)-labeled macrophages in an experimental renal I-R mouse model. Unilateral kidney I-R mice were imaged with a 4.

Antifibrotic effect of MMP13-encoding plasmid DNA delivered using polyethylenimine shielded with hyaluronic acid.

The imbalanced expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) is associated with liver fibrosis, one of the most common chronic liver diseases. Enhanced expression of MMPs by gene therapy is emerging as a promising antifibrotic strategy, but the effectiveness of this approach depends on reliable systems for delivering MMP genes. Here, we evaluated a newly designed hyaluronic acid (HA)-shielded delivery system for systemic administration of plasmid DNA encoding MMP13 (pMMP13), and tested whether the enhanced expression of MMP13 ameliorates liver fibrosis in mice.

Assessment of siRNA pharmacokinetics using ELISA-based quantification.

Here, we developed a novel ELISA-based assay for quantifying double-stranded intact siRNAs for in vivo pharmacokinetic analysis. The assay makes use of dual-labeled unmethylated or methylated siRNA, 5'-end-labeled on one strand with biotin (capture marker), and with dinitrophenol (detection marker), on the other end. This ELISA-based assay was linear over the range of 10-100 fmol/ml, with a sensitivity (5.

Hyaluronic acid complexed to biodegradable poly L-arginine for targeted delivery of siRNAs.

Background: Small interfering RNA (siRNA) has been recognized as a new therapeutic drug to treat various diseases by inhibition of oncogene or viral gene expression. Because hyaluronic acid (HA) has been described as a biocompatible biomaterial, we tested the nanoparticles formed by electrostatic complexation of negatively-charged HA and cationic poly L-arginine (PLR) for siRNA delivery systems.

Methods: Different electrostatic complexes of HA and PLR (HPs) were formulated: HP101 with 50% (w/w) HA and HP110 with 9% (w/w) HA.

Opsonized erythrocyte ghosts for liver-targeted delivery of antisense oligodeoxynucleotides.

The use of antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (AS-ODNs) in therapeutic applications requires the development of appropriate analysis and delivery systems. Here, we report a quantitation method and a carrier-mediated AS-ODN delivery system. AS-ODN levels were quantitated using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in which biotinylated AS-ODNs bound to streptavidin-coated plates were detected by binding of a complementary, dinitrophenol-labeled detector ODN.