Antibacterial Chitosan-Based Double-Network Hydrogel Patch Loaded with Antioxidant Ceria Nanoparticles and Betamethasone to Treat Psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder characterized by keratinocyte hyperproliferation, oxidative stress, and immune dysregulation. In this study, we developed a multifunctional, double-network hydrogel, composed of chitosan and poly(acrylic acid), embedded with cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeNPs) and betamethasone. The hydrogel harnesses the redox-catalytic properties of CeNPs to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) while ensuring sustained betamethasone release for antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects.

Tendon-mimicking anisotropic alginate-based double-network composite hydrogels with enhanced mechanical properties and high impact absorption.

Tendons are anisotropic tissues with exceptional mechanical properties, which result from their unique anisotropic structure and mechanical behavior under stress. While research has focused on replicating anisotropic structures and mechanical properties of tendons, fewer studies have examined their specific mechanical behaviors. Here, we present a simple method for creating calcium-crosslinked alginate-based double-network hydrogels that mimics tendons by exhibiting anisotropic structure, high mechanical strength and toughness, and a distinctive "toe region" when stretched.

Autocatalytic Ceria Nanoparticle-Embedded Tilapia Collagen Hydrogels as Enhanced Antioxidative and Long-Lasting Dermal Fillers for Photoaged Skin.

Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation significantly contribute to photoaging by increasing the level of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), accelerating collagen degradation. Commercial dermal fillers offer temporary wrinkle reduction via volume enhancement. In this study, we propose tilapia-derived collagen hydrogels embedded with ceria nanoparticles (Ce@Col gels) as long-lasting dermal fillers for UVB-induced photoaging.

Mesoporous polydopamine nanoparticle-based tolerogenic vaccine induces antigen-specific immune tolerance to prevent and treat autoimmune multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disorder derived from autoreactive immune system attacking the protective myelin sheath that surrounds nerves in the central nervous system (CNS). Here, a tolerogenic nanovaccine for generating an antigen-specific immune tolerance for treating MS is proposed. It consisted of a mesoporous polydopamine (mPDA) nanoparticle, characterized by high reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging property, loaded with MS-derived autoantigen.

HO Self-Supplying CaO Nanoplatform Induces Ca Overload Combined with Chemodynamic Therapy to Enhance Cancer Immunotherapy.

Integrating chemodynamic therapy (CDT) with Ca overload offers a potent strategy for enhancing cancer immunotherapy. However, the effectiveness of this approach is significantly constrained by the scarce availability of HO in solid tumors. Here, we engineered a nanoplatform based on CaO nanoparticles (NPs) capable of encapsulating curcumin (CUR) and self-supplying HO for synergistic CDT-augmented antitumor immunotherapy (CaO@CUR@ZIF-Cu, denoted as CCZC).

AC Loss Measurement in NbSn Coil for a New Fast Switching-field MR Concept Magnet.

The ability to perform magnetic resonance (MR) imaging or spectroscopy at significantly different magnetic field strengths during scanning holds great potential for expanding the range of contrast parameter options and obtaining high "superthermal" spin polarization for increased signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) or measuring certain spins at what would otherwise be impractically high RF frequencies. Enabling measurements at multiple field strengths heretofore has required either rapidly altering the strength of a resistive magnet with pulsed currents or shuttling the specimen between two field regions. We propose a novel approach to switching-field MR that we expect to be practical for live animal and ultimately human imaging.

High Cellular Internalization of Virus-Like Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles Enhances Adaptive Antigen-Specific Immune Responses against Cancer.

Effective activation of an antigen-specific immune response hinges upon the intracellular delivery of cancer antigens to antigen-presenting cells (APCs), marking the initial stride in cancer vaccine development. Leveraging biomimetic topological morphology, we employed virus-like mesoporous silica nanoparticles (VMSNs) coloaded with antigens and toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) agonists to craft a potent cancer vaccine. Our VMSNs could be efficiently internalized by APCs to a greater extent than their nonviral structured counterparts, thereby promoting the activation of APCs by upregulating the TLR9 pathway and cross-presenting ovalbumin (OVA) epitopes.

Administration of ROS-Scavenging Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles Simply Mixed with Autoantigenic Peptides Induce Antigen-Specific Immune Tolerance against Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis.

The scavenging ability of cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeNPs) for reactive oxygen species has been intensively studied in the field of catalysis. However, the immunological impact of these particles has not yet been thoroughly investigated, despite intensive research indicating that modulation of the reactive oxygen species could potentially regulate cell fate and adaptive immune responses. In this study, we examined the intrinsic capability of CeNPs to induce tolerogenic dendritic cells via their reactive oxygen species-scavenging effect when the autoantigenic peptides were simply mixed with CeNPs.

Lignin-Based Antioxidant Hydrogel Patch for the Management of Atopic Dermatitis by Mitigating Oxidative Stress in the Skin.

Atopic dermatitis (AD), a chronic skin condition characterized by itching, redness, and inflammation, is closely associated with heightened levels of endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the skin. ROS can contribute to the onset and progression of AD through oxidative stress, which leads to the release of proinflammatory cytokines, T-cell differentiation, and the exacerbation of skin symptoms. In this study, we aim to develop a therapeutic antioxidant hydrogel patch for the potential treatment of AD using lignin, a biomass waste material.

Impartial feature selection using multi-agent reinforcement learning for adverse glycemic event prediction.

We developed an attention model to predict future adverse glycemic events 30 min in advance based on the observation of past glycemic values over a 35 min period. The proposed model effectively encodes insulin administration and meal intake time using Time2Vec (T2V) for glucose prediction. The proposed impartial feature selection algorithm is designed to distribute rewards proportionally according to agent contributions.

Polydopamine-Coated Silk Fiber with Controllable Length for Enhanced Hemostatic Application.

The development of highly effective hemostatic materials with high biocompatibility and outstanding performance is vital to the field of biomaterials. In this study, we develop a hemostatic fiber material that exhibits high biocompatibility and excellent performance. By incorporating polydopamine (PDA) into the alkaline treatment of silk fibroin (SF), we achieve PDA-coated SF fibers with lengths that can be controlled by the alkaline concentration.

Tilapia-Derived Granular Hydrogel as a 3D Scaffold Promoting Rapid Wound Healing.

The skin, a crucial organ that protects the body, is vulnerable to external damage. Traditional tissue regeneration methods, including bulk hydrogels, aim to facilitate wound healing by interacting with host cells and providing a conducive environment. However, the nanoscale porosity of conventional hydrogels limits cell penetration and tissue regeneration.

Machine learning-based optimization of contract renewal predictions in Korea Baseball organization.

The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) introduced the foreign player system in 1998 to enhance league competitiveness. In 2014, the number of foreign players increased to three per team. Since then, the ten KBO teams have routinely included two foreign pitchers and one batter.

Hysteresis-Free, Elastic, and Tough Hydrogel with Stretch-Rate Independence and High Stability in Physiological Conditions.

Many existing synthetic hydrogels are inappropriate for repetitive motions because of large hysteresis, and their mechanical properties in warm and saline physiological conditions remain understudied. In this study, a stretch-rate-independent, hysteresis-free, elastic, and tough nanocomposite hydrogel that can maintain its mechanical properties in phosphate-buffered saline of 37 °C similar to warm and saline conditions of the human body is developed. The strength, stiffness, and toughness of the hydrogel are simultaneously reinforced by biomimetic silica nanoparticles with a surface of embedded circular polyamine chains.

Bridging the Catalytic Turnover Gap Between Single-Atom Iron Nanozymes and Natural Enzymes by Engineering the First and Second Shell Coordination.

Single-atom nanozymes (SAzymes) constitute a promising category of enzyme-mimicking materials with outstanding catalytic performance. The performance of SAzymes improves through modification of the coordination environments around the metal center. However, the catalytic turnover rates of SAzymes, which are key measures of the effectiveness of active site modifications, remain lower than those of natural enzymes, especially in peroxidase-reactions.

ROS-Scavenging Lignin-Based Tolerogenic Nanoparticle Vaccine for Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating autoimmune disease, in which the immune system attacks myelin. Although systemic immunosuppressive agents have been used to treat MS, long-term treatment with these drugs causes undesirable side effects such as altered glucose metabolism, insomnia, and hypertension. Herein, we propose a tolerogenic therapeutic vaccine to treat MS based on lignin nanoparticles (LNP) with intrinsic reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging capacity derived from their phenolic moieties.

Orally Administrated Inflamed Colon-Targeted Nanotherapeutics for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Treatment by Oxidative Stress Level Modulation in Colitis.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by an inappropriate and persistent inflammatory immune response and is often accompanied by excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. For effective IBD treatment, there is a high demand for safe and targeted therapy that can be orally administered. In this study, we aimed to propose the use of inflamed colon-targeted antioxidant nanotherapeutics (ICANs) for oxidative stress level modulation in colitis.

Trend of Developing Aqueous Liquid and Gel Electrolytes for Sustainable, Safe, and High-Performance Li-Ion Batteries.

Current lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) rely on organic liquid electrolytes that pose significant risks due to their flammability and toxicity. The potential for environmental pollution and explosions resulting from battery damage or fracture is a critical concern. Water-based (aqueous) electrolytes have been receiving attention as an alternative to organic electrolytes.

A new record of the genus Leonardi (Hemiptera, Coccomorpha, Diaspididae) in South Korea.

Background: The genus Leonardi, 1900 belongs to the family Diaspididae, and five species of have been recorded worldwide. In this study, (Green, 1905), which attacks bamboos, is newly recorded in South Korea. The colonies of were collected on a bamboo forest located in Gajwa-dong, Jinju-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea (35.

Effect of Tempering Temperature on Hydrogen Embrittlement of SCM440 Tempered Martensitic Steel.

The effect of tempering temperature on the hydrogen embrittlement characteristics of SCM440 tempered martensitic steels was investigated in terms of their microstructure and hydrogen desorption behavior. The microstructures were characterized using scanning and transmission electron microscopy, as well as X-ray diffraction and electron backscattered diffraction analysis. Thermal desorption analysis (TDA) was performed to examine the amount and trapping behavior of hydrogen.

Control of Tire Wear Particulate Matter through Tire Tread Prescription.

This study aims to analyze tire wear particulate matter (TWP) from tread rubber with different formulations and to compare the concentration of TWP with different wear devices. The TWP generated during the abrasion of truck and bus radial (TBR) tires were examined, and the effect of using different types of rubber and carbon black (CB) were investigated. When natural rubber (NR) was solely used as the tire tread rubber material, there was a higher concentration of 5-10 µm TWP.