Enhancing antibiofilm activity with functional chitosan nanoparticles targeting biofilm cells and biofilm matrix.

Bacterial biofilms play a key role during infections, which are associated with an increased morbidity and mortality. The classical antibiotic therapy cannot eradicate biofilm-related infections because biofilm bacteria display high drug resistance due to biofilm matrix. Thus, novel drug delivery to overcome biofilm resistance and eliminate biofilm-protected bacteria is needed to be developed.

Estrogen receptor-mediated regulation of microRNA inhibits proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells.

Objective: Estradiol (E2) regulates gene transcription by activating estrogen receptor-α and estrogen receptor-β. Many of the genes regulated by E2 via estrogen receptors are repressed, yet the molecular mechanisms that mediate E2-induced gene repression are currently unknown. We hypothesized that E2, acting through estrogen receptors, regulates expression of microRNAs (miRs) leading to repression of expression of specific target genes.