Vitamin A-coupled stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles regulate the fibrotic cascade by targeting activated hepatic stellate cells in vivo.

Allogeneic transplantation of mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) offers great potential for treating liver fibrosis. However, owing to their intrinsic surface characteristics, bare EVs are non-specifically distributed in the liver tissue after systemic administration, leading to limited therapeutic efficacy. To target activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), which are responsible for hepatic fibrogenesis, vitamin A-coupled small EVs (V-EVs) were prepared by incorporating vitamin A derivative into the membrane of bare EVs.

Metabolically engineered stem cell-derived exosomes to regulate macrophage heterogeneity in rheumatoid arthritis.

Despite the remarkable advances in therapeutics for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a large number of patients still lack effective countermeasures. Recently, the reprogramming of macrophages to an immunoregulatory phenotype has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy for RA. Here, we report metabolically engineered exosomes that have been surface-modified for the targeted reprogramming of macrophages.

Bioorthogonally surface-edited extracellular vesicles based on metabolic glycoengineering for CD44-mediated targeting of inflammatory diseases.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are essential mediators in intercellular communication that have emerged as natural therapeutic nanomedicines for the treatment of intractable diseases. Their therapeutic applications, however, have been limited by unpredictable in vivo biodistribution after systemic administration. To control the in vivo fate of EVs, their surfaces should be properly edited, depending on the target site of action.

Physical properties and characterization of biodegradable films using nano-sized TiO2/poly(acrylamide-co-methyl methacrylate) composite.

In this study, biodegradable films were prepared by using corn starch, PVA, nano-sized poly(acrylamide-co-methyl methacrylate) (PAAm-co-MMA), nano-sized TiO2(P-25)/PAAm-co-MMA composite, and additives which are harmless to the human body, that is, glycerol (GL) and citric acid (CA). Nano-sized PAAm-co-MMA was synthesized by the method of emulsion polymerization. Also, nano-sized TiO2/PAAm-co-MMA composites were synthesized by wet milling for 48 h.

Preparation of antimony films by cyclic pulsed chemical vapor deposition.

Cyclic-pulsed plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) for the formation of antimony (Sb) thin films was investigated using Sb(i-C3H7)3 and H2 plasma at temperatures of 200-275 degrees C. The effects of deposition temperature on the film properties, such as resistivity, surface roughness, and crystallinity were examined. The film growth rate (thickness/cycle) was found to be in the range of 0.

Synthesis of carbon containing TiO2 nano powders by aerosol flame deposition for photocatalyst.

In-situ carbon-doped-TiO2 nano-powder was prepared by an AFD (aerosol flame deposition) technique using ethanol and isopropanol, and the photocatalytic activity of the prepared powder was examined. There were no significant effect of the solvents on the phase of the prepared TiO2, but the level of carbon in the deposits prepared with ethanol was lower than that prepared with isopropanol. Also, the average sizes of the particles prepared with ethanol were slightly smaller than that formed with isopropanol.