Long-Lifespan Fibrous Aqueous Ni//Bi Battery Enabled by BiO-BiS Hierarchical Heterostructures.

Bismuth oxide (BiO) materials are considered as great promising anodes for aqueous batteries on account of the high capacity as well as wide potential plateau. Nevertheless, the low conductivity and severe volumetric change of BiO in the course of cycling are the main limiting factors for their application in energy-storage systems. Herein, we propose and design unique hierarchical heterostructures constructed by BiO and BiS nanosheets (NSs) manufactured immediately on the surface of carbon nanotube fibers (CNTFs).

Efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia in the perinatal period: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Unlabelled: The meta-analysis aims to explore the effect of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) in the perinatal period. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessed the effects of CBT-I in perinatal women with insomnia, published in English, were eligible. Electronic searches were performed using PubMed Embase (Elsevier), PsycINFO (Ebsco), and Web of Science (Clarivate Analytics) Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) as the primary outcome was used to estimate the pooled effects and durable efficacy of CBT-I.

Rapidly degradable konjac glucomannan hydrogels cross-linked with olsalazine for colonic drug release.

Background: Polysaccharide hydrogel is one of the most important materials for the colon target drug release system. However, the degradation time of polysaccharide hydrogel is much longer than the retention time in the colon. The drugs are expelled from the body before being released.

Hollow Gradient-Structured Iron-Anchored Carbon Nanospheres for Enhanced Electromagnetic Wave Absorption.

Highlights: Microwave absorber with nanoscale gradient structure was proposed for enhancing the electromagnetic absorption performance. Outstanding reflection loss value (−62.7 dB), broadband wave absorption (6.

Highly aligned welding of ultrathin graphene layer to robust carbon nanotube film for significantly enhanced thermal conductivity.

Carbon nanotube (CNT) films have demonstrated great potential for highly efficient thermal management materials. However, how to enable a combined feature of excellent thermal conductivity and structural robustness, which is crucial for the high-performance realization, still remains challenging. Herein, an effective and facile strategy to solve the problem was proposed by developing a graphene (G)/CNT film with highly aligned welding of ultrathin G layer to robust CNT film.

Bean-Pod-Inspired 3D-Printed Phase Change Microlattices for Solar-Thermal Energy Harvesting and Storage.

Effective and reliable encapsulation of phase change materials (PCMs) is essential and critical to the high-performance solar-thermal energy harvesting and storage. However, challenges remain pertaining to manufacturing scalability, high efficiency in energy storage/release, and anti-leakage of melted PCMs. Herein, inspired by natural legume, a facile and scalable extrusion-based core-sheath 3D printing strategy is demonstrated for directly constructing bean-pod-structured octadecane (OD)/graphene (BOG) phase change microlattices, with regular porous configuration as well as individual and effective encapsulation of OD "beans" into highly interconnected graphene network wrapping layer built by closely stacked and aligned graphene sheets.

All Binder-Free Electrodes for High-Performance Wearable Aqueous Rechargeable Sodium-Ion Batteries.

Extensive efforts have recently been devoted to the construction of aqueous rechargeable sodium-ion batteries (ARSIBs) for large-scale energy-storage applications due to their desired properties of abundant sodium resources and inherently safer aqueous electrolytes. However, it is still a significant challenge to develop highly flexible ARSIBs ascribing to the lack of flexible electrode materials. In this work, nanocube-like KNiFe(CN) (KNHCF) and rugby ball-like NaTi(PO) (NTP) are grown on carbon nanotube fibers via simple and mild methods as the flexible binder-free cathode (KNHCF@CNTF) and anode (NTP@CNTF), respectively.

A versatile ratiometric nanosensing approach for sensitive and accurate detection of Hg and biological thiols based on new fluorescent carbon quantum dots.

Herein, we first reported a facile synthesis method for fabrication of highly photoluminescent carbon quantum dots (CQDs) using sodium alginate as the carbon source and histidine as both the nitrogen source and functional monomer by one-pot hydrothermal synthesis. The as-prepared CQDs gave a high quantum yield of 32%. By employing the new CQDs and rhodamine B (RhB), we demonstrated a simple, facile, sensitive, and accurate ratiometric sensor for detection of Hg and biological thiols.

Facile and Sensitive Fluorescence Sensing of Alkaline Phosphatase Activity with Photoluminescent Carbon Dots Based on Inner Filter Effect.

A simple and sensitive fluorescent assay for detecting alkaline phosphatase (ALP) based on the inner filter effect (IFE) has been proven, which is conceptually different from the previously reported ALP fluorescent assays. In this sensing platform, N-doped carbon dots (CDs) with a high quantum yield of 49% were prepared by one-pot synthesis and were directly used as a fluorophore in IFE. p-Nitrophenylphosphate (PNPP) was employed to act as an ALP substrate, and its enzyme catalytic product (p-nitrophenol (PNP)) was capable of functioning as a powerful absorber in IFE to influence the excitation of fluorophore (CDs).

Collagenase-labile polyurethane urea synthesis and processing into hollow fiber membranes.

As a means to stimulate wound healing, a hollow fiber membrane system might be placed within a wound bed to provide local and externally regulated controlled delivery of regenerative factors. After sufficient healing, it would be desirable to triggerably degrade these fibers as opposed to pulling them out. Accordingly, a series of enzymatically degradable thermoplastic elastomers was developed as potential hollow fiber base material.

Ultrasound detection of myocardial ischemic memory using an E-selectin targeting peptide amenable to human application.

Vascular endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecules, such as E-selectin, are acutely upregulated in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion and are thus "ischemic memory" biomarkers for recent cardiac ischemia. We sought to develop an ultrasound molecular imaging agent composed of microbubbles (MBs) targeted to E-selectin to enable the differential diagnosis of myocardial ischemia in patients presenting with chest pain of unclear etiology. Biodegradable polymer MBs were prepared bearing a peptide with specific human E-selectin affinity (MBESEL).

Ultrasound Detection of Myocardial Ischemic Memory Using an E-Selectin Targeting Peptide Amenable to Human Application.

Vascular endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecules, such as E-selectin, are acutely upregulated in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion and are thus "ischemic memory" biomarkers for recent cardiac ischemia. We sought to develop an ultrasound molecular imaging agent composed of microbubbles (MBs) targeted to E-selectin to enable the differential diagnosis of myocardial ischemia in patients presenting with chest pain of unclear etiology. Biodegradable polymer MBs were prepared bearing a peptide with specific human E-selectin affinity (MB).

Acoustic radiation force for vascular cell therapy: in vitro validation.

Cell-based therapeutic approaches are attractive for the restoration of the protective endothelial layer in arteries affected by atherosclerosis or following angioplasty and stenting. We have recently demonstrated a novel technique for the delivery of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that are surface-coated with cationic lipid microbubbles (MBs) and displaced by acoustic radiation force (ARF) to a site of arterial injury. The objective of this study was to characterize ultrasound parameters for effective acoustic-based delivery of cell therapy.

Vascular endoluminal delivery of mesenchymal stem cells using acoustic radiation force.

Restoration of functional endothelium is a requirement for preventing late stent thrombosis. We propose a novel method for targeted delivery of stem cells to a site of arterial injury using ultrasound-generated acoustic radiation force. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were surface-coated electrostatically with cationic gas-filled lipid microbubbles (mb-MSC).

Gene expression mediated by dendrimer/DNA complexes encapsulated in biodegradable polymer microspheres.

A convenient and effective 'ultrasonic dispersion method' was used to fabricate vector/DNA complexes encapsulated microspheres. Polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer/DNA complexes protected by a water-soluble polymer, poly-alpha,beta-[N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-L-aspartamide] (PHEA), were encapsulated in a polymer film mainly composed of cholic acid functionalized star poly(DL-lactide), which degraded through surface erosion mechanism with a fast degradation rate. The PAMAM/DNA complexes encapsulated polymer film was then immersed in ethanol and ultrasonicated to afford the microspheres.

Dendrimer/DNA complexes encapsulated functional biodegradable polymer for substrate-mediated gene delivery.

Background: To overcome the extracellular barriers in gene delivery and direct gene delivery to target tissues, substrate-mediated transfection, which sustains the release of naked DNA or vector/DNA complexes, and also supports cell growth, has been developed.

Methods: In the present study, polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer/DNA complexes encapsulated functional biodegradable polymer films for substrate-mediated gene delivery were prepared. To maintain the activity of DNA during dehydration, the dendrimer/DNA complexes were encapsulated in a water soluble polymer, poly alpha,beta-[N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-(L)-aspartamide], and then deposited on or sandwiched in functional polymer films with a fast degradation rate to mediate gene transfection.

Cholic acid functionalized star poly(DL-lactide) for promoting cell adhesion and proliferation.

Cholic acid functionalized star poly(DL-lactide) was synthesized through the ring-opening polymerization of DL-lactide initiated by cholic acid. The properties and cell behaviour of the cholic acid functionalized star poly(DL-lactide) were investigated as compared with linear poly(DL-lactide)s with different molecular weights and a star poly(DL-lactide) initiated by glycerol. In comparison to linear poly(DL-lactide)s, the cholic acid functionalized star poly(DL-lactide) had better wettability and slightly higher surface energy.

Dendrimer/DNA complexes encapsulated in a water soluble polymer and supported on fast degrading star poly(DL-lactide) for localized gene delivery.

Polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer/DNA complexes encapsulated in a water soluble polymer, poly-alpha,beta-[N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-l-aspartamide], were supported on a cholic acid functionalized star poly(DL-lactide) film with a fast degradation rate to mediate localized gene delivery. The in vitro gene transfections of two types of cells, HEK293 and NIH3T3, were investigated. The expressions of pGL3-Luc and pEGFP-C1 plasmids in HEK293 cells indicated that the star poly(DL-lactide) supported PHEA encapsulated PAMAM/DNA complexes could effectively mediate transfection, with transfection efficiencies which were comparable to that of solution-based transfections.

Fabrication and in vitro drug release study of microsphere drug delivery systems based on amphiphilic poly-alpha,beta-[N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-L-aspartamide]-g-poly(L-lactide) graft copolymers.

Biodegradable amphiphilic graft copolymers with different compositions were synthesized by grafting poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) sequences onto a water-soluble poly-alpha,beta-[N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-L-aspartamide] (PHEA) backbone. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the graft polymers was determined by fluorescence probe technique. Using the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay, the graft polymers were proved to have low cytotoxicity.

Synthesis of novel cholic acid functionalized branched oligo/poly(epsilon-caprolactone)s for biomedical applications.

Novel cholic acid functionalized branched oligo/poly(epsilon-caprolactone)s were synthesized through the ring-opening polymerization of epsilon-caprolactone initiated by cholic acid with hydroxyl groups. The molecular weight of the branched polymers can be adjusted by controlling the feed ratio of the initiator cholic acid to the monomer epsilon-caprolactone. Comparing with linear homopolymer poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL), these branched oligo/poly(epsilon-caprolactone)s show much faster hydrolytic degradation rates, implies that our approach provides a convenient and effective strategy to accelerate degradation of the biodegradable polymers with slow degradation rates such as PCL.