Artesunate protects against a mouse model of cerulein and lipopolysaccharide‑induced acute pancreatitis by inhibiting TLR4‑dependent autophagy.

Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) is a severe clinical condition associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome that follows systemic inflammatory response syndrome is the leading cause of SAP‑related death. Since the inflammatory mechanism of SAP remains unclear, there is currently a lack of effective drugs available for its treatment.

Vitamin D receptor (VDR) on the cell membrane of mouse macrophages participates in the formation of lipopolysaccharide tolerance: mVDR is related to the effect of artesunate to reverse LPS tolerance.

It is unclear whether membrane vitamin D receptor (mVDR) exists on the macrophage membrane or whether mVDR is associated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) tolerance. Herein, we report that interfering with caveolae and caveolae-dependent lipid rafts inhibited the formation of LPS tolerance. VDR was detected as co-localized with membrane molecular markers.

Low-Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound Promotes Osteogenic Potential of iPSC-Derived MSCs but Fails to Simplify the iPSC-EB-MSC Differentiation Process.

Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived mesenchymal stem cells (iMSCs) are a promising cell source for bone tissue engineering. However, iMSCs have less osteogenic potential than BMSCs, and the classical iPSC-EB-iMSC process to derive iMSCs from iPSCs is too laborious as it involves multiple steps. Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) is a safe therapeutic modality used to promote osteogenic differentiation of stem cells.

Artesunate protects immunosuppression mice induced by glucocorticoids via enhancing pro-inflammatory cytokines release and bacterial clearance.

Glucocorticoids are commonly used in clinic, but the immunosuppression seriously hinders their usage. Herein, immunomodulatory effect of artesunate (AS) on hydrocortisone (HC)-induced immunosuppression was investigated. HC-induced immunosuppression mice (HC mice) were established by intramuscular administration with HC (20 mg/kg) once a day for 5 consecutive days.

A graphene oxide-gold nanostar hybrid based-paper biosensor for label-free SERS detection of serum bilirubin for diagnosis of jaundice.

We report a paper-based surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) biosensor integrating the enrichment capability, namely enPSERS biosensor, for the sensitive, label-free detection of free bilirubin in blood serum for the accurate diagnosis of jaundice and its related diseases. This biosensor comprises multifunctional graphene oxide-plasmonic gold nanostar (GO-GNS) hybrids decorated on the filter paper, which integrates the high sensitivity of SERS detection, enrichment for serum bilirubin and fluorescence superquenching capability of GO-GNS hybrids for sensitive detection of serum bilirubin. The study of adsorption kinetics reveals that both electrostatic and π-π interactions between the GO-GNS hybrids and targets are responsible for the enrichment of bilirubin, and the adsorption process follows the pseudo-second-order kinetic model.

In Situ Raman Spectroscopic Studies of Thermal Stability of All-Inorganic Cesium Lead Halide (CsPbX, X = Cl, Br, I) Perovskite Nanocrystals.

Thermal degradation becomes the main obstacle for industrial applications of all-inorganic cesium lead halide (CsPbX, X = Cl, Br, I) perovskite optoelectronic devices. A complete understanding of thermal degradation of CsPbX perovskites is required but greatly challenging for achieving optoelectronic devices with long-term stability, particularly under extreme settings. Herein, we present an in situ spectroscopic study of thermal stability of CsPbX nanocrystals between the cryogenic temperature and high temperature.

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) nanoprobes for ratiometric detection of cancer cells.

We report a ratiometric strategy for detection of different types of breast cancer cells by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), which simultaneously quantifies the levels of dual biomarkers distinctly expressed on cancer cells to consequently achieve their expression ratio. Two SERS nanoprobes that are encoded with distinct SERS signatures are conjugated with urokinase plasminogen activation receptor (uPAR)- and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeting peptides. The SERS imaging of single live cells can accurately quantify the cellular biomarker expression difference from the SERS intensity ratio and is further employed for cancer cell screening.