A splice-switch oligonucleotide loaded self-cleavable DNA nanogel.

A self-cleavable DNA nanogel loaded with splice-switch oligonucleotide (SSO) has been developed. Under acidic conditions (pH 5.0), cleavage of the acid-labile chemical linker and generation of the i-motif structure led to the disintegration of the DNA nanogel and efficient release of SSO in its unaltered native state.

Self-Promoted Hydroxyl Radical Releasing Magnetic Zn@Fe Particles.

Semiconductor photocatalysts, such as TiO and ZnO, have garnered significant attention for their ability to generate hydroxyl radicals, offering various practical applications. However, the reliance on UV light to facilitate electron-hole separation for hydroxyl radical production poses limitations. In this study, a novel approach is presented utilizing Zn@Fe core/shell particles capable of generating hydroxyl radicals without external energy input.

Redox Active Zn@MOFs as Spontaneous Reactive Oxygen Species Releasing Antimicrobials.

The rapid development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among infectious pathogens has become a major threat and challenge in healthcare systems globally. A strategy distinct from minimizing the overuse of antimicrobials involves the development of novel antimicrobials with a mode of action that prevents the development of AMR microbial strains. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are formed as a natural byproduct of the cellular aerobic metabolism.

A Self-Immolative DNA Nanogel Vaccine toward Cancer Immunotherapy.

The development of precisely engineered vehicles for intracellular delivery and the controlled release of payloads remains a challenge. DNA-based nanomaterials offer a promising solution based on the A-T-G-C alphabet-dictated predictable assembly and high programmability. Herein, we present a self-immolative DNA nanogel vaccine, which can be tracelessly released in the intracellular compartments and activate the immune response.

Neural cell membrane-coated DNA nanogels as a potential target-specific drug delivery tool for the central nervous system.

A major bottleneck in drug/gene delivery to enhance tissue regeneration after injuries is to achieve targeted delivery to the cells of interest. Unfortunately, we have not been able to attain effective targeted drug delivery in tissues due to the lack of efficient delivery platforms. Since specific cell-cell interactions exist to impart the unique structure and functionality of tissues and organs, we hypothesize that such specific cellular interactions may also be harnessed for drug delivery applications in the form of cell membrane coatings.

Toxicity and efficacy of green tea catechin derivative-based micellar nanocomplexes for anticancer protein delivery.

Toxicity towards non-tumor cells during anticancer therapy can be reduced by using nanoscale systems for anticancer drug delivery. Usually only the loaded drug has anticancer activity. Recently, micellar nanocomplexes (MNCs) comprising green tea catechin derivatives for the delivery of the anticancer proteins, such as Herceptin, have been developed.

Ultrasmall Coinage Metal Nanoclusters as Promising Theranostic Probes for Biomedical Applications.

Ultrasmall coinage metal nanoclusters (NCs, <3 nm) have emerged as a novel class of theranostic probes due to their atomically precise size and engineered physicochemical properties. The rapid advances in the design and applications of metal NC-based theranostic probes are made possible by the atomic-level engineering of metal NCs. This Perspective article examines (i) how the functions of metal NCs are engineered for theranostic applications, (ii) how a metal NC-based theranostic probe is designed and how its physicochemical properties affect the theranostic performance, and (iii) how metal NCs are used to diagnose and treat various diseases.

Enhancing Protein Adsorption for Improved Lateral Flow Assay on Cellulose Paper by Depleting Inert Additive Films Using Reactive Plasma.

Paper-based platforms are ideal for on-site surveillance of infectious diseases in low-resource settings due to their simplicity, self-containment, and low cost. The two most popular materials used in paper-based platforms are nitrocellulose and cellulose. The nitrocellulose membrane has a high protein binding affinity, but its high price is an issue.

A Strong Acid-Induced DNA Hydrogel Based on pH-Reconfigurable A-Motif Duplex.

Under a pH value lower than the pK of adenine (3.5), adenine-rich sequences (A-strand) form a unique parallel A-motif duplex due to the protonation of A-strand. At a pH above 3.

Directly interface microreaction tube and test strip for the detection of Salmonella in food with combined isothermal amplification and lateral flow assay.

Salmonella is a common foodborne bacterial pathogen that leads to severe illness or even death. The recommended method for Salmonella detection relies on the culture and has a long turnaround time of up to ∼1 week. In this study, we have developed a molecular assay that detects Salmonella in food by targeting the invA gene using loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and lateral flow assay (LFA).

CRISPR-based systems for sensitive and rapid on-site COVID-19 diagnostics.

The COVID-19 pandemic has strained healthcare systems. Sensitive, specific, and timely COVID-19 diagnosis is crucial for effective medical intervention and transmission control. RT-PCR is the most sensitive/specific, but requires costly equipment and trained personnel in centralized laboratories, which are inaccessible to resource-limited areas.

Acid-Resistant and Physiological pH-Responsive DNA Hydrogel Composed of A-Motif and i-Motif toward Oral Insulin Delivery.

An acid-resistant DNA hydrogel that is stable in an extremely acidic environment with pH as low as 1.2 has not been reported before, largely due to the instability of DNA-hybridized structures. To achieve this, adenine (A)-rich and cytosine (C)-rich oligonucleotides are rationally designed and integrated to form copolymers with acrylamide monomers free-radical polymerization.

Evaluation of the ZnO Nanopillar Surface for Disinfection Applications.

Much attention has been devoted to the synthesis and antimicrobial studies of nanopatterned surfaces. However, factors contributing to their potential and eventual application, such as large-scale synthesis, material durability, and biocompatibility, are often neglected in such studies. In this paper, the ZnO nanopillar surface is found to be amenable to synthesis in large forms and stable upon exposure to highly accelerated lifetime tests (HALT) without any detrimental effect on its antimicrobial activity.

Engineered NS1 for Sensitive, Specific Zika Virus Diagnosis from Patient Serology.

Dengue virus (DENV) and Zika virus (ZIKV) belong to the Flaviviridae family of viruses spread by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in tropical and subtropical areas. Accurate diagnostic tests to differentiate the 2 infections are necessary for patient management and disease control. Using characterized ZIKV and DENV patient plasma in a blind manner, we validated an ELISA and a rapid immunochromatographic test for ZIKV detection.

Assessing Toxicity with Human Cell-Based In Vitro Methods.

In toxicology, there is a strong push towards replacing animal experiments with alternative methods, which include cell-based in vitro methods for the assessment of adverse health effects in humans. High-throughput methods are of central interest due to the large and steadily growing numbers of compounds that require assessment. Tremendous progress has been made during the last decade in developing and applying such methods.

Miscible-Solvent-Assisted Two-Phase Synthesis of Monolayer-Ligand-Protected Metal Nanoclusters with Various Sizes.

Effective yet versatile synthetic strategies for size-tunable metal nanoclusters (NCs) are scarce. This has hampered the development of this unique class of nanomaterials. Here, a general protocol is reported for the synthesis of high-quality metal NCs protected by a variety of organic ligands (e.

Carrier-Enhanced Anticancer Efficacy of Sunitinib-Loaded Green Tea-Based Micellar Nanocomplex beyond Tumor-Targeted Delivery.

Although a few nanomedicines have been approved for clinical use in cancer treatment, that recognizes improved patient safety through targeted delivery, their improved efficacy over conventional drugs has remained marginal. One of the typical drawbacks of nanocarriers for cancer therapy is a low drug-loading capacity that leads to insufficient efficacy and requires an increase in dosage and/or frequency of administration, which in turn increases carrier toxicity. In contrast, elevating drug-loading would cause the risk of nanocarrier instability, resulting in low efficacy and off-target toxicity.

pH-Degradable imidazolium oligomers as antimicrobial materials with tuneable loss of activity.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become a global public health threat. One of the major causes of AMR development is the accumulation of low levels of antimicrobials in the environment. To tackle this problem, novel antimicrobial agents that do not leave active residues after treatment are needed.

Molecular Swings as Highly Active Ion Transporters.

Ions are transported across membrane mostly via carrier or channel mechanisms. Herein, a unique class of molecular-machine-inspired membrane transporters, termed molecular swings is reported that utilize a previously unexplored swing mechanism for promoting ion transport in a highly efficient manner. In particular, the molecular swing, which carries a 15-crown-5 unit as the ion-binding and transporting unit, exhibits extremely high ion-transport activities with EC values of 46 nm (a channel:lipid molar ratio of 1:4800 or 0.

Sieve-through vertical flow platform for efficient liquid exchange in particle-based assays.

Particle-based assays are widely used in many biomedical applications. However, the performance of particle-based systems is often compromised by the carry-over contamination caused by the residual reagents during the liquid-exchange process. We have developed a sieve-through platform that utilizes a porous membrane to sieve out the particles, and an absorbent pad to remove the waste liquid by capillary force.

ZIF nano-dagger coated gauze for antibiotic-free wound dressing.

Nano-dagger coated gauze was bactericidal against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, with log reduction >7 for Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus).

Molecular characterization of circulating colorectal tumor cells defines genetic signatures for individualized cancer care.

Studies on circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have largely focused on platform development and CTC enumeration rather than on the genomic characterization of CTCs. To address this, we performed targeted sequencing of CTCs of colorectal cancer patients and compared the mutations with the matched primary tumors. We collected preoperative blood and matched primary tumor samples from 48 colorectal cancer patients.

Generalized Synthesis of Metal Oxide Nanosheets and Their Application as Li-Ion Battery Anodes.

Metal oxide nanosheets have attracted great attention in various fields, such as energy storage, catalysis, and sensors. Current synthesis methods of metal oxide nanosheets are laborious and not scalable. Herein, a facile and scalable method for the synthesis of metal oxide nanosheets is presented, which requires neither hydro-/solvothermal conditions nor postsynthesis template removal.

Comparison of Circulating Tumour Cells and Circulating Cell-Free Epstein-Barr Virus DNA in Patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Undergoing Radiotherapy.

Quantification of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is commonly used in clinical settings as a circulating biomarker in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), but there has been no comparison with circulating tumour cells (CTCs). Our study aims to compare the performance of CTC enumeration against EBV cfDNA quantitation through digital PCR (dPCR) and quantitative PCR. 74 plasma samples from 46 NPC patients at baseline and one month after radiotherapy with or without concurrent chemotherapy were analysed.