Microplastic polyethylene induced inner ear dysfunction in murine model.

While the hazardous effects of microplastics (MPs) are increasingly reported, it remains uncertain if MPs induce inner ear dysfunction. Nonetheless, prevalence of inner ear dysfunction was observed across all age groups. In this study, we investigated whether MP polyethylene affect inner ear function in a murine model.

Stability of Engineered Micro or Nanobubbles for Biomedical Applications.

A micro/nanobubble (MNB) refers to a bubble structure sized in a micrometer or nanometer scale, in which the core is separated from the external environment and is normally made of gas. Recently, it has been confirmed that MNBs can be widely used in angiography, drug delivery, and treatment. Thus, MNBs are attracting attention as they are capable of constructing a new contrast agent or drug delivery system.

Self-Assembling β-Glucan Nanomedicine for the Delivery of siRNA.

We aimed to design and manufacture a transporter capable of delivering small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) into the skin without causing any damage. β-glucans are unique chiral polysaccharides with well-defined immunological properties and supramolecular wrapping ability. However, the chiral properties of these polymers have hardly been applied in drug delivery systems.

Study and Evaluation of the Potential of Lipid Nanocarriers for Transdermal Delivery of siRNA.

The topical delivery of siRNA-based therapies has opened new avenues for the treatment of skin disorders. The use of siRNA as a therapeutic, however, is limited due to its rapid degradation and poor cellular uptake. Furthermore, the top layer of skin, the stratum corneum, is a major barrier to the delivery of topical agents.

Development of Antibiofilm Nanocomposites: Ag/Cu Bimetallic Nanoparticles Synthesized on the Surface of Graphene Oxide Nanosheets.

There are numerous issues associated with bacteria, particularly biofilms, which exhibit a strong resistance to antibiotics. This is currently considered an urgent global issue owing to the lack of effective treatments. Graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets are two-dimensional carbon materials that are available as a substrate for metal nanoparticles and have a lower release rate of metal ions than free metal nanoparticles by regulating the oxidation of metal nanoparticles, which is known to reduce the cytotoxicity caused by the free metal nanoparticles.

Array-Based Screening of Silver Nanoparticle Mineralization Peptides.

The use of biomolecules in nanomaterial synthesis has received increasing attention, because they can function as a medium to produce inorganic materials in ambient conditions. Short peptides are putative ligands that interact with metallic surfaces, as they have the potential to control the synthesis of nanoscale materials. Silver nanoparticle (AgNP) mineralization using peptides has been investigated; however, further comprehensive analysis must be carried out, because the design of peptide mediated-AgNP properties is still highly challenging.

Effective delivery of mycophenolic acid by oxygen nanobubbles for modulating immunosuppression.

Immunosuppressive drugs are crucial for preventing acute graft rejection or autoimmune diseases. They are generally small molecules that require suitable drug carriers for ensuring stability, bioavailability, and longer half-life. Mycophenolic acid (MPA) is an extensively studied immunosuppressive drug.

NIR Laser-Responsive PNIPAM and Gold Nanorod Composites for the Engineering of Thermally Reactive Drug Delivery Nanomedicine.

When ingesting a drug on its own or injecting it directly into tissue, its concentration increases immediately within the body, which often exacerbates the side effects and increases its toxicity. To solve this problem, we synthesized the thermally reactive polymer poly(-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) using reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization and prepared nanocarriers by binding PNIPAM to gold nanorods (GRs), with the anticancer agent doxorubicin (DOX) used as a model drug. PNIPAM changes from hydrophilic to hydrophobic at temperatures above its lower critical solution temperature, which represents a coil-to-globule volume phase transition.

Effective Delivery of Anti-Cancer Drug Molecules with Shape Transforming Liquid Metal Particles.

Liquid metals are being studied intensively because of their potential as a drug delivery system. Eutectic gallium-indium (EGaIn) alloy liquid metals have a low melting point, low toxicity, and excellent tissue permeability. These properties may enable them to be vascular embolic agents that can be deformed by light or heat.

Biological Responses of Onion-Shaped Carbon Nanoparticles.

Nanodiamonds are emerging as new nanoscale materials because of their chemical stability, excellent crystallinity, and unique optical properties. In this study, the structure of nanodiamonds was engineered to produce carbon nano-onion particles (CNOs) with multiple layers. Following a series of physicochemical characterizations of the CNOs, various evaluations for biological responses were conducted for potential biotechnological applications of the CNOs.

Surface Composition and Preparation Method for Oxygen Nanobubbles for Drug Delivery and Ultrasound Imaging Applications.

Phospholipids have been widely investigated for the preparation of liposomes, and micro and nanobubbles. They comprise biocompatible and biodegradable molecules and offer simple preparation with a variety of functions in diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Phospholipids require emulsifiers and surfactants to assemble in the form of bubbles.

A theoretical model to predict the low-frequency sound absorption of a helmholtz resonator array.

A theoretical method based on mutual radiation impedance is proposed to compute the sound absorption performance of a Helmholtz resonator array in the low-frequency range. Any configuration of resonator arrangement can be allowed in the method, while all the resonators may or may not be identical. Comparisons of the theoretical predictions with those done by the past studies or experiments show that the present method can accurately predict the absorption performance in more general cases.