Reconfiguring van der Waals Metal-Semiconductor Contacts via Selenium Intercalation/Deintercalation Post-Treatment.

To achieve the commercialization of two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors, the identification of an appropriate combination of 2D semiconductors and three-dimensional (3D) metals is crucial. Furthermore, understanding the van der Waals (vdW) interactions between these materials in thin-film semiconductor processes is essential. Optimizing these interactions requires precise control over the properties of the vdW interface through specific pre- or post-treatment methods.

Forming Stable van der Waals Contacts between Metals and 2D Semiconductors.

High-performing 2D electrical and optical devices can be realized by forming an ideal van der Waals (vdW) metal contact with weak interactions and stable interface states. However, the methods for applying metal contacts while avoiding damage from metal deposition present challenges in realizing a uniform, stable vdW interface. To overcome this problem, this study develops a method for forming vdW contacts using a sacrificial Se buffer layer.

Pattern of F-18 FDG Uptake in Colon Cancer after Bacterial Cancer Therapy Using Engineered : A Preliminary Study.

Purpose: Bacterial cancer therapy (BCT) research using engineered has increased in recent years. 2-Deoxy-2[F] fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET) is widely used in cancer patients to detect cancer, monitor treatment responses, and predict prognoses. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate FDG uptake patterns in a mouse tumor model after BCT.

Ferroelastic-Ferroelectric Multiferroicity in van der Waals Rhenium Dichalcogenides.

2D multiferroics with combined ferroic orders have gained attention owing to their novel functionality and underlying science. Intrinsic ferroelastic-ferroelectric multiferroicity in single-crystalline van der Waals rhenium dichalcogenides, whose symmetries are broken by the Peierls distortion and layer-stacking order, is demonstrated. Ferroelastic switching of the domain orientation and accompanying anisotropic properties is achieved with 1% uniaxial strain using the polymer encapsulation method.

Imaging Calreticulin for Early Detection of Immunogenic Cell Death During Anticancer Treatment.

Surface-exposed calreticulin (ecto-CRT) is a well-known "eat-me" signal exhibited by dying cells that contributes to their recognition and destruction by the immune system. We assessed the use of a CRT-specific binding peptide for imaging ecto-CRT during immunogenic cell death and its utility for early prediction of treatment response. A synthetic CRT-specific peptide, KLGFFKR (CRTpep), was labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate or F, and the characteristics of ecto-CRT were evaluated in a colon cancer cell line in vitro and in vivo.

Development of a Squaraine-Based Molecular Probe for Dual-Modal Fluorescence and Photoacoustic Imaging.

Dual-modular imaging approaches combining near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence (FLI) and photoacoustic imaging (PAI) require suitable contrast agents to produce dual-modular signals. Although nanoparticles have been used to develop PAI agents, small molecule-based imaging agents have not been extensively studied, highlighting the need to design new fluorophores with an enhanced multifunctional ability. Thus, in this study, we designed a novel squaraine (SQ)-based dye and reported its rational preparation and conjugation with a cancer targeting peptide.

Identification of a novel senomorphic agent, avenanthramide C, via the suppression of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype.

Senescent cells are deeply involved in the induction of tissue damage and aging-related diseases. The identification of factors that eliminate senescent cells or inhibit the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) in these cells is necessary. Here, we report an avenanthramice C (Avn C) extracted from oat as a new SASP modulator.

Production of Cu-labeled monobody for imaging of human EphA2-expressing tumors.

We previously reported on the monobody E1, which specifically targets the tumor marker hEphA2. In this study, we labeled NOTA-conjugated E1 with Cu (Cu-NOTA-E1) and evaluated biologic characteristics. The uptake of Cu-NOTA-E1 in PC3 cells (a human prostate cancer cell line) with high expression of hEphA2 increased in a time-dependent manner.

Diagnostic Value of Lesion-specific Measurement of Myocardial Blood Flow Using Hybrid PET/CT.

Background: We evaluated whether lesion-specific measurement of myocardial blood flow (MBF) and flow reserve (MFR) by hybrid imaging of myocardial perfusion positron emission tomography (PET) and coronary computed tomography (CT) can provide additional diagnostic value.

Methods: Forty-three patients with stable angina underwent N-13 ammonia PET and coronary CT before invasive coronary angiography (CAG). The lesion-specific MBF was calculated from the average MBF of the myocardial segments downstream of a coronary stenosis using hybrid PET/CT images.

Therapeutic Effect of Fimasartan in a Rat Model of Myocardial Infarction Evaluated by Cardiac Positron Emission Tomography with [F]FPTP.

We evaluated the efficacy of fimasartan on perfusion defects and infarction size in an animal model of myocardial infarction (MI), with echocardiography and positron emission tomography (PET) using a F-labeled phosphonium cation (5-[F]-fluoropentyl-triphenylphosphonium salt, [F]FPTP) as a mitochondrial voltage sensor for myocardial imaging. We induced MI in 33 rats by ligation of the left coronary artery, and checked their cardiac PET image using [F]FPTP for evaluation of myocardial perfusion. Rats were grouped into 3 groups according to their administered drugs: no drug (n=11), fimasartan 3 mg/kg (n=10), and fimasartan 10 mg/kg (n=12).

Multi-atlas cardiac PET segmentation.

Purpose: We propose a multi-atlas based segmentation method for cardiac PET and SPECT images to deal with the high variability of tracer uptake characteristics in myocardium. In addition, we verify its performance by comparing it to the manual segmentation and single-atlas based approach, using dynamic myocardial PET.

Methods: Twelve left coronary artery ligated SD rats underwent ([F]fluoropentyl) triphenylphosphonium salt PET/CT scans.

-(2-(Dimethylamino)Ethyl)-4-F-Fluorobenzamide: A Novel Molecular Probe for High-Contrast PET Imaging of Malignant Melanoma.

Malignant melanoma is an aggressive and serious form of skin cancer, with prognosis and treatment outcome depending heavily on the clinical stage of the disease at the time of diagnosis. Here, we synthesized a novel F-labeled benzamide derivative to target melanoma and then evaluated its biologic characteristics in small-animal models. -(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl)-4-F-fluorobenzamide (F-DMFB) was synthesized by reaction of -succinimidyl 4-F-fluorobenzoate with -dimethylethylenediamine.

Acetazolamide-based [F]-PET tracer: In vivo validation of carbonic anhydrase IX as a sole target for imaging of CA-IX expressing hypoxic solid tumors.

Carbonic anhydrase IX is overexpressed in many solid tumors including hypoxic tumors and is a potential target for cancer therapy and diagnosis. Reported imaging agents targeting CA-IX are successful mostly in clear cell renal carcinoma as SKRC-52 and no candidate was approved yet in clinical trials for imaging of CA-IX. To validate CA-IX as a valid target for imaging of hypoxic tumor, we designed and synthesized novel [F]-PET tracer (1) based on acetazolamide which is one of the well-known CA-IX inhibitors and performed imaging study in CA-IX expressing hypoxic tumor model as 4T1 and HT-29 in vivo models other than SKRC-52.

Green synthesis of bioactive polysaccharide-capped gold nanoparticles for lymph node CT imaging.

The development of biologically targeted contrast agents for X-ray computed tomography (CT) imaging remains a major challenge. Here, we investigated a green chemistry-based synthesis of lymph node-targeted mannan-capped gold nanoparticles (M-GNPs) as a CT contrast agent. In this study, mannan was used as a reducing and stabilizing agent for gold nanoparticles (AuNPs).

Cu-Labeled Repebody Molecules for Imaging of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Expressing Tumors.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a member of the erbB family of receptors and is overexpressed in many tumor types. A repebody is a newly designed nonantibody protein scaffold for tumor targeting that contains leucine-rich repeat modules. In this study, 3 Cu-labeled anti-EGFR repebodies with different chelators were synthesized, and their biologic characteristics were assessed in cultured cells and tumor-bearing mice.

Black Pigment Gallstone Inspired Platinum-Chelated Bilirubin Nanoparticles for Combined Photoacoustic Imaging and Photothermal Therapy of Cancers.

Bilirubin (BR), a bile pigment that exerts potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, is also a major constituent of black pigment gallstones found in bile ducts under certain pathological conditions. Inspired by the intrinsic metal-chelating power of BR found in gallstones, herein we report a cisplatin-chelated BR-based nanoparticle (cisPt@BRNP) for use as a new photonic nanomedicine for combined photoacoustic imaging and photothermal therapy of cancers. The cisPt@BRNPs were prepared by simply mixing cisplatin with BRNPs, yielding ca.

A High-Affinity Repebody for Molecular Imaging of EGFR-Expressing Malignant Tumors.

The accurate detection of disease-related biomarkers is crucial for the early diagnosis and management of disease in personalized medicine. Here, we present a molecular imaging of human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-expressing malignant tumors using an EGFR-specific repebody composed of leucine-rich repeat (LRR) modules. The repebody was labeled with either a fluorescent dye or radioisotope, and used for imaging of EGFR-expressing malignant tumors using an optical method and positron emission tomography.

Engineering of monobody conjugates for human EphA2-specific optical imaging.

In a previous study, we developed an E1 monobody specific for the tumor biomarker hEphA2 [PLoS ONE (2015) 10(7): e0132976]. E1 showed potential as a molecular probe for in vitro and in vivo targeting of cancers overexpressing hEphA2. In the present study, we constructed expression vectors for E1 conjugated to optical reporters such as Renilla luciferase variant 8 (Rluc8) or enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and purified such recombinant proteins by affinity chromatography in E.

Comparative evaluation of the algorithms for parametric mapping of the novel myocardial PET imaging agent F-FPTP.

Objective: (F-fluoropentyl)triphenylphosphonium salt (F-FPTP) is a new promising myocardial PET imaging tracer. It shows high accumulation in cardiomyocytes and rapid clearance from liver. We performed compartmental analysis of F-FPTP PET images in rat and evaluated two linear analyses: linear least-squares (LLS) and a basis function method (BFM) for generating parametric images.

Coronary flow reserve and relative flow reserve measured by N-13 ammonia PET for characterization of coronary artery disease.

Objective: We evaluated the relationships between coronary flow reserve (CFR) and relative flow reserve (RFR) measured by N-13 ammonia positron emission tomography (PET) for characterization of epicardial coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: Sixty-nine consecutive stable angina patients underwent N-13 ammonia PET, coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA), and if necessary, invasive coronary angiography (CAG) within 2 weeks. Myocardial blood flow (MBF), CFR, RFR, and coronary vascular resistance of the reference arterial territory (CVR) were measured by N-13 ammonia PET.

The role of TLR9 in stress-dependent autophagy formation.

Autophagy is a self-degradation process that is important for balancing energy sources at critical times in development and in response to nutrient stress. Recently, it was report that autophagy is controlled by recognizing conserved pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), including toll-like receptors (TLRs). However, the molecular mechanism of TLRs in autophagy is not well understood.

Tumor homing indocyanine green encapsulated micelles for near infrared and photoacoustic imaging of tumors.

Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) is an emerging analytical modality that is under intense preclinical development for the early diagnosis of various medical conditions, including cancer. However, the lack of specific tumor targeting by various contrast agents used in PAI obstructs its clinical applications. In this study, we developed indocyanine green (ICG)-encapsulated micelles specific for the CD 44 receptor and used in near infrared and photoacoustic imaging of tumors.