A degradable polyimide aerogel with highly efficient solar-thermal-electric effect for oil absorption, deicing, and power generation.

Photothermal materials are considered as promising materials because they can convert clean solar energy into thermal and electrical energy. However, developing degradable photothermal materials with highly efficient solar-thermal-electric energy conversion performance remains a huge challenge. Here, a superhydrophobic bio-polyimide/carbon quantum dots aerogel (S-BioPI/CQDs) is synthesized.

High-performance pyramid-SiNWs biosensor for NHgas detection.

NHis widely existed in the environment and is closely associated with various health issues. Additionally, detecting the small amounts of NHexhaled by patients with liver and kidney diseases offers potential opportunities for painless early disease diagnosis. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a convenient, rapid, and highly sensitive real-time NHmonitoring method.

Microstructure-united heterogeneous sodium alginate doped injectable hydrogel for stable hemostasis in dynamic mechanical environments.

Injectable hydrogels that can withstand compressive and tensile forces hold great promise for preventing rebleeding in dynamic mechanical environments after emergency hemostasis of wounds. However, current injectable hydrogels often lack sufficient compressive or tensile performance. Here, a microstructure-united heterogeneous injectable hydrogel (MH) was constructed.

Comprehensive and deep profiling of the plasma proteome with protein corona on zeolite NaY.

Proteomic characterization of plasma is critical for the development of novel pharmacodynamic biomarkers. However, the vast dynamic range renders the profiling of proteomes extremely challenging. Here, we synthesized zeolite NaY and developed a simple and rapid method to achieve comprehensive and deep profiling of the plasma proteome using the plasma protein corona formed on zeolite NaY.

Viscous, Hofmeister Effect-Enhanced Macromolecular Adhesives for Effective Bonding in Seawater.

Deployment of adhesives in natural seawater to in situ bonds is urgently needed in engineering fields. However, stable adhesion in natural seawater remains a challenge due to the turbulent environment and high ion concentration. Herein, we reported a viscous, macromolecular underwater adhesive enhanced by Hofmeister effect (EHUA) for practical application in dynamic seawater.

The Effect of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Combined With Brachytherapy Before Radical Hysterectomy on Stage IB2 and IIA Cervical Cancer: A Retrospective Analysis.

Objective: This study aims to retrospectively evaluate and compare the clinical efficacy in patients with stage IB2 and IIA cervical cancer, who treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with brachytherapy or not before radical hysterectomy.

Methods: The data of patients who have diagnosed with stage IB2 and IIA cervical cancer between January 2010 and December 2013 were retrieved through the Hospital Information System (HIS) of Gansu Provincial Maternal and Child Health Hospital. Patients were divided into two groups: neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with brachytherapy followed by radical hysterectomy group (NACT+BT Group) and direct radical hysterectomy group (RH Group).

Preparation of cellulose nanospheres via combining ZnCl·3HO pretreatment and p-toluenesulfonic hydrolysis as a two-step method.

Spherical nanocelluloses, also known as cellulose nanospheres (CNS), have controllable morphology and have shown advantages as green template material, emulsion stabilizer. Herein, CNS were prepared via a new two-step method, first pretreatment of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) using ZnCl·3HO and then acid hydrolysis of regenerated cellulose (RC) via p-toluenesulfonic acid (p-TsOH). The shape, size, crystallinity of MCC were changed, and nubbly RC with smallest size (942 nm) was obtained after 2 h pretreatment by ZnCl·3HO.

PMPC Modified PAMAM Dendrimer Enhances Brain Tumor-Targeted Drug Delivery.

The excellent biocompatibility drug delivery system for effective treatment of glioma is still greatly challenged by the existence of blood-brain barrier, blood-brain tumor barrier, and the tissue toxicity caused by chemotherapy drugs. In this study, poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) (PMPC) is used for the first time for modifying third-generation poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) to enhance their brain tumor-targeted drug delivery ability as well as simultaneously reducing the toxicity of PAMAM dendrimers and the tissue toxicity of the loaded doxorubicin (DOX). The cytotoxicity, the therapeutic ability in vitro, and the brain tumor-targeted ability of the PMPC modified PAMAM nanoparticles are further studied.

Boosting of the enhanced permeability and retention effect with nanocapsules improves the therapeutic effects of cetuximab.

The introduction of therapeutic antibodies (tAbs) into clinical practice has revolutionized tumor treatment strategies, but their tumor therapy efficiency is still far below expectations because of the rapid degradation and limited tumor accumulation of tAbs. : We developed a nanocapsule-based delivery system to induce the self-augmentation of the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. This system constantly penetrated across the blood-tumor barrier into the tumor while avoiding the attack of tAbs by the immune system.

Systemic Delivery of Monoclonal Antibodies to the Central Nervous System for Brain Tumor Therapy.

As an essential component of immunotherapy, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have emerged as a class of powerful therapeutics for treatment of a broad range of diseases. For central nervous system (CNS) diseases, however, the efficacy remains limited due to their inability to enter the CNS. A platform technology is reported here that enables effective delivery of mAbs to the CNS for brain tumor therapy.

Improved antifouling properties of photobioreactors by surface grafted sulfobetaine polymers.

To improve the antifouling (AF) properties of photobioreactors (PBR) for microalgal cultivation, using trihydroxymethyl aminomethane (tris) as the linking agent, a series of polyethylene (PE) films grafted with sulfobetaine (PE-SBMA) with grafting density ranging from 23.11 to 112 μg cm were prepared through surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP). It was found that the contact angle of PE-SBMA films decreased with the increase in the grafting density.

Blood Exosomes Endowed with Magnetic and Targeting Properties for Cancer Therapy.

Exosomes are a class of naturally occurring nanoparticles that are secreted endogenously by mammalian cells. Clinical applications for exosomes remain a challenge because of their unsuitable donors, low scalability, and insufficient targeting ability. In this study, we developed a dual-functional exosome-based superparamagnetic nanoparticle cluster as a targeted drug delivery vehicle for cancer therapy.

Star-branched amphiphilic PLA-b-PDMAEMA copolymers for co-delivery of miR-21 inhibitor and doxorubicin to treat glioma.

The combined treatment of chemotherapeutant and microRNA (miR) has been proven to be a viable strategy for enhancing chemosensitivity due to its synergistic effect for tumor therapy. However, the co-delivery of drugs and genes remains a major challenge as they lack efficient co-delivery carriers. In this study, three amphiphilic star-branched copolymers comprising polylactic acid (PLA) and polydimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (PDMAEMA) with AB3, (AB3)2,and (AB3)3 molecular architectures were synthesized respectively by a combination of ring-opening polymerization, atom transfer radical polymerization, and click chemistry via an "arm-first" approach.

Sequence-dependent synergistic inhibition of human glioma cell lines by combined temozolomide and miR-21 inhibitor gene therapy.

Down-regulation of microRNA-21 (miR-21) can induce cell apoptosis and reverse drug resistance in cancer treatments. In this study, we explored the most effective schedule of the miR-21 inhibitor (miR-21i) and Temozolomide (TMZ) combined treatment in human glioma cells. Three tumor cell lines, U251 phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) mutant, LN229 (PTEN wild-type), and U87 (PTEN loss of function), were subjected to evaluate the antitumor effects of deigned treatments (a predose of miR-21i for 4/8 h and then a subsequent TMZ treatment, a predose of TMZ for 4/8 h and then a subsequent miR-21i treatment, or a concomitant treatment) in vitro.

Hollow poly(MPC-g-PEG-b-PLA) graft copolymer microcapsule as a potential drug carrier.

In this article, an amphiphilic graft copolymer composed of poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) (PMPC) as the hydrophilic backbone, poly(L-lactic acid) (PLA) as the hydrophobic side-chains and polyethylene glycol (PEG) as the spacer was synthesized. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the graft copolymer could self-assemble into hollow microcapsules when dialyzed in aqueous solution and particle sizes ranged from 200 to 300 nm, while the graft copolymer formed core-shell microspheres with the absence of PEG spacer. X-ray photoelectron microscope showed that MPC polymers were located at the surface of the microcapsules.

Inhibition of C6 glioma in vivo by combination chemotherapy of implantation of polymer wafer and intracarotid perfusion of transferrin-decorated nanoparticles.

The objective of this study was to develop a combination chemotherapy of implantation of a 3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU)-loaded wafer and intracarotid perfusion of BCNU-loaded nanoparticles for glioma treatment in vivo. BCNU-loaded poly(D,L-lactic acid) (PLA) nanoparticles coated with transferrin (Tf) were prepared by a solvent evaporation/diffusion method using Tf as the emulsifier. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Bratton-Marshall colorimetric assay and zeta-potential analysis confirmed the existence of Tf on the nanoparticles and their functional activities.

Body mass index, recreational physical activity and female urinary incontinence in Gansu, China.

Objective: To elucidate the influence of recreational physical activity, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference on the risk of specific types of urinary incontinence.

Study Design: We conducted a population-based cross-sectional survey in Gansu, China among 2603 women aged 20 years or older.

Results: The study found that BMI was positively associated with urinary incontinence (P for trend=0.

Development of transferrin functionalized poly(ethylene glycol)/poly(lactic acid) amphiphilic block copolymeric micelles as a potential delivery system targeting brain glioma.

The aim of present study is to conceive a biodegradable poly(ethylene glycol)-polylactide (PEG-PLA) copolymer nanoparticle which can be surface biofunctionalized with ligands via biotin-avidin interactions and used as a potential drug delivery carrier targeting to brain glioma in vivo. For this aim, a new method was employed to synthesize biotinylated PEG-PLA copolymers, i.e.