Compatible and Incompatible Mycorrhizal Fungi With Seeds of Species: The Colonization Process and Effects of Coculture on Germination and Seedling Development.

Orchids highly rely on mycorrhizal fungi for seed germination, and compatible fungi could effectively promote germination up to seedlings, while incompatible fungi may stimulate germination but do not support subsequent seedling development. In this study, we compared the fungal colonization process among two compatible and two incompatible fungi during seed germination of The two compatible fungi, i.e.

Prophylactic vaccine delivery systems against epidemic infectious diseases.

Prophylactic vaccines have evolved from traditional whole-cell vaccines to safer subunit vaccines. However, subunit vaccines still face problems, such as poor immunogenicity and low efficiency, while traditional adjuvants are usually unable to meet specific response needs. Advanced delivery vectors are important to overcome these barriers; they have favorable safety and effectiveness, tunable properties, precise location, and immunomodulatory capabilities.

Fabrication of rigid and macroporous agarose microspheres by pre-cross-linking and surfactant micelles swelling method.

A novel combined method of pre-cross-linking and surfactant micelles swelling was proposed in this study to fabricate highly cross-linked and macroporous agarose (HMA) microspheres. Agarose was chemically modified by allylglycidyl ether (AGE) as heterobifunctional cross-linker via its active glycidyl moieties before gel formation and pre-cross-linking was achieved. By this means, the effective concentration of cross-linker presented in agarose gel increased significantly, and thus cross-linking with a high-efficiency was achieved.

Transport of a graphene nanosheet sandwiched inside cell membranes.

The transport of nanoparticles at bio-nano interfaces is essential for many cellular responses and biomedical applications. How two-dimensional nanomaterials, such as graphene and transition-metal dichalcogenides, diffuse along the cell membrane is, however, unknown, posing an urgent and important issue to promote their applications in the biomedical area. Here, we show that the transport of graphene oxides (GOs) sandwiched inside cell membranes varies from Brownian to Lévy and even directional dynamics.

Improving adjuvanticity of quaternized chitosan-based microgels for H5N1 split vaccine by tailoring the particle properties to achieve antigen dose sparing effect.

In this study, we developed the quaternized chitosan microgels without chemical crosslinking as an adjuvant of H5N1 split vaccine. The microgels with pH-sensitivity, positive surface charge and good biocompatibility, have been demonstrated in favor of enhancing both humoral and cellular immune response. However, the detailed mechanism of the chitosan-based microgels to enhance antigen specific immune responses remains unclear.

Identification and biochemical characterization of DC07090 as a novel potent small molecule inhibitor against human enterovirus 71 3C protease by structure-based virtual screening.

Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a serious, highly contagious disease. HFMD caused by Enterovirus 71 (EV71), results in severe complications and even death. The pivotal role of EV71 3C in the viral life cycle makes it an attractive target for drug discovery and development to treat HFMD.

The potential adjuvanticity of quaternized chitosan hydrogel based microparticles for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus inactivated vaccine.

Infectious diseases possess a big threat to the livestock industry worldwide. Currently, inactivated veterinary vaccines have attracted much attention to prevent infection due to their safer profile compared to live attenuated vaccine. However, its intrinsic poor immunogenicity demands the incorporation of an adjuvant.

Recent Studies of Pickering Emulsions: Particles Make the Difference.

In recent years, emulsions stabilized by micro- or nanoparticles (known as Pickering emulsions) have attracted much attention. Micro- or nanoparticles, as the main components of the emulsion, play a key role in the preparation and application of Pickering emulsions. The existence of particles at the interface between the oil and aqueous phases affects not only the preparation, but also the properties of Pickering emulsions, affording superior stability, low toxicity, and stimuli-responsiveness compared to classical emulsions stabilized by surfactants.

Chitosan-mediated formation of biomimetic silica nanoparticles: an effective method for manganese peroxidase immobilization and stabilization.

Our work here, for the first time, reported the use of chitosan-mediated biomimetic silica nanoparticles in enzyme immobilization. In order to make clear the relationship among silicification process, silica nanoparticle structure and immobilized enzyme activity, a mechanism of chitosan-mediated silicification using sodium silicate as the silica source was primarily evaluated. Chitosan was demonstrated effectively to promote the silicification not only in accelerating the aggregation rate of sodium silicate, but also in templating the formation of silica nanoparticles.

Hybrid magnetic cross-linked enzyme aggregates of phenylalanine ammonia lyase from Rhodotorula glutinis.

Novel hybrid magnetic cross-linked enzyme aggregates of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (HM-PAL-CLEAs) were developed by co-aggregation of enzyme aggregates with magnetite nanoparticles and subsequent crosslinking with glutaraldehyde. The HM-PAL-CLEAs can be easily separated from the reaction mixture by using an external magnetic field. Analysis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) indicated that PAL-CLEAs were inlayed in nanoparticle aggregates.

Multiscale evaluation of pore curvature effects on protein structure in nanopores.

Protein structure in nanopores is an important determinant in porous substrate utilization in biotechnology and materials science. To date, accurate residue details of pore curvature induced protein binding and unfolding were still unknown. Here, a multiscale ensemble of chromatography, NMR hydrogen and deuterium (H/D) exchange, confocal scanning and molecular docking simulations was combined to obtain the protein adsorption information induced by pore size and curvature.

Porous TiO₂ materials through Pickering high-internal phase emulsion templating.

We report a facile method for preparing porous structured TiO2 materials by templating from Pickering high-internal phase emulsions (HIPEs). A Pickering HIPE with an internal phase of up to 80 vol %, stabilized by poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-based microgels and TiO2 solid nanoparticles, was first formulated and employed as a template to prepare the porous TiO2 materials with an interconnected structure. The resultant materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and mercury intrusion.

Novel vaccine delivery system induces robust humoral and cellular immune responses based on multiple mechanisms.

Aiming to enhance the immunogenicity of H5N1 split vaccine, the development of a novel antigen delivery system based on quaternized chitosan hydrogel microparticles (Gel MPs) with multiple mechanisms of immunity enhancement is attempted. Gel MPs based on ionic cross-linking are prepared in a simple and mild way. Gel MPs are superior as a vaccine delivery system due to their ability to: 1) enhance cellular uptake and endosomal escape of antigens in dendritic cells (DCs); 2) significantly activate DCs; 3) form an antigen depot and recruit immunity cells to improve antigen capture.

Nanoparticles-based multi-adjuvant whole cell tumor vaccine for cancer immunotherapy.

Whole cell tumor vaccine (WCTV), as a potential treatment modality, elicits limited immune responses because of the poor immunogenicity. To address this issue, researchers have attempted to transduce a cytokine adjuvant into tumor cells, but these single-adjuvant WCTVs curtail the high expectations. In present study, we constructed a multi-adjuvant WCTV based on the nanoparticles modified with cell penetrating peptide, which could facilitate the transportation of granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin 2 (IL-2) into tumor cells.

Codelivery of mTERT siRNA and paclitaxel by chitosan-based nanoparticles promoted synergistic tumor suppression.

Clinical applications of siRNA are being hindered by poor intracellular uptake and enzymatic degradation. To address these problems, we devised an oral delivery system for telomerase reverse transcriptase siRNA using N-((2-hydroxy-3-trimethylammonium) propyl) chitosan chloride (HTCC) nanoparticles (HNP). Both the porous structure and the positive charge of HNP facilitated siRNA encapsulation.

Thermal-sensitive hydrogels as nasal vaccine delivery systems.

The National Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering established in 1995 is affiliated with the Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and located in Zhong-guan-cun (Beijing, China). The National Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering is working towards developments in the fields of bio-reaction, bioseparation and bio-formulation, by chemical and material methods. Over the last 5 years, approximately 200 scientists and students have worked at the laboratory, and published over 400 articles.

Microcosmic mechanisms for protein incomplete release and stability of various amphiphilic mPEG-PLA microspheres.

The microcosmic mechanisms of protein (recombinant human growth hormone, rhGH) incomplete release and stability from amphiphilic poly(monomethoxypolyethylene glycol-co-D,L-lactide) (mPEG-PLA, PELA) microspheres were investigated. PELA with different hydrophilicities (PELA-1, PELA-2, and PELA-3) based on various ratios of mPEG to PLA were employed to prepare microspheres exhibiting a narrow size distribution using a combined double emulsion and premix membrane emulsification method. The morphology, rhGH encapsulation efficiency, in vitro release profile, and rhGH stability of PELA microspheres during the release were characterized and compared in detail.

Biodegradable Microcapsules Prepared by Self-Healing of Porous Microspheres.

A method is herein proposed to produce biodegradable microcapsules by a self-healing of porous microspheres, which were prepared from water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) double-emulsion templates. Methoxypoly(ethylene glycol)--poly-dl-lactide (PELA) was dissolved in ethyl acetate (EA) as the oil phase (O) of double emulsion, NaCl and poly(vinyl acetate) aqueous solutions serving as internal and external water phases (W and W), respectively. Porous PELA microspheres were prepared by a two-step emulsification and solvent extraction method.

Targeted delivery of insoluble cargo (paclitaxel) by PEGylated chitosan nanoparticles grafted with Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD).

Poor delivery of insoluble anticancer drugs has so far precluded their clinical application. In this study, we developed a tumor-targeting delivery system for insoluble drug (paclitaxel, PTX) by PEGylated O-carboxymethyl-chitosan (CMC) nanoparticles grafted with cyclic Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) peptide. To improve the loading efficiency (LE), we combined O/W/O double emulsion method with temperature-programmed solidification technique and controlled PTX within the matrix network as in situ nanocrystallite form.

Porous quaternized chitosan nanoparticles containing paclitaxel nanocrystals improved therapeutic efficacy in non-small-cell lung cancer after oral administration.

Clinical application of paclitaxel (PTX) is limited because of its poor solubility in aqueous media. To overcome this hurdle, we devised an oral delivery system by encapsulating PTX into N-((2-hydroxy-3-trimethylammonium) propyl) chitosan chloride (HTCC) nanoparticles. These nanoparticles were small (~130 nm), had a narrow size distribution, and displayed high loading efficiency owing to the homogeneous distribution of PTX nanocrystals.

Surface charge affects cellular uptake and intracellular trafficking of chitosan-based nanoparticles.

Chitosan-based nanoparticles (NPs) are widely used in drug delivery, device-based therapy, tissue engineering, and medical imaging. In this aspect, a clear understanding of how physicochemical properties of these NPs affect the cytological response is in high demand. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of surface charge on cellular uptake profiles (rate and amount) and intracellular trafficking.