Immunomodulatory nanodiamond aggregate-based platform for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

We previously demonstrated that octadecylamine-functionalized nanodiamond (ND-ODA) and dexamethasone (Dex)-adsorbed ND-ODA (ND-ODA-Dex) promoted anti-inflammatory and pro-regenerative behavior in human macrophages . In this study, we performed a pilot study to investigate if these immunomodulatory effects translate when used as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis in mice. Following local injection in limbs of mice with collagen type II-induced arthritis, microcomputed tomography showed that mice treated with a low dose of ND-ODA and ND-ODA-Dex did not experience bone loss to the levels observed in non-treated arthritic controls.

Anti-inflammatory effects of octadecylamine-functionalized nanodiamond on primary human macrophages.

Chronic inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis are characterized by excessive pro-inflammatory or "M1" activation of macrophages, the primary cells of the innate immune system. Current treatments include delivery of glucocorticoids (e.g.

Nanodiamonds suppress the growth of lithium dendrites.

Lithium metal has been regarded as the future anode material for high-energy-density rechargeable batteries due to its favorable combination of negative electrochemical potential and high theoretical capacity. However, uncontrolled lithium deposition during lithium plating/stripping results in low Coulombic efficiency and severe safety hazards. Herein, we report that nanodiamonds work as an electrolyte additive to co-deposit with lithium ions and produce dendrite-free lithium deposits.

Maintenance of Clinical Endpoints After Discharge from a Pharmacist-Managed Risk Reduction Clinic at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Background: Diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension are complex chronic disease states that often require close monitoring and frequent follow-up to achieve and maintain therapeutic control as determined by hemoglobin A1c (A1c), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and blood pressure (BP). At the Charles George Veterans Affairs Medical Center (CGVAMC), physicians may refer their patients to the on-site pharmacist-managed Risk Reduction Clinic (RRC). Patients are discharged from the RRC once patient-specific therapeutic goals have been met for diabetes, dyslipidemia, and/or hypertension.

Sheath-flow microfluidic approach for combined surface enhanced Raman scattering and electrochemical detection.

The combination of hydrodynamic focusing with embedded capillaries in a microfluidic device is shown to enable both surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and electrochemical characterization of analytes at nanomolar concentrations in flow. The approach utilizes a versatile polystyrene device that contains an encapsulated microelectrode and fluidic tubing, which is shown to enable straightforward hydrodynamic focusing onto the electrode surface to improve detection. A polydimethyslsiloxane (PDMS) microchannel positioned over both the embedded tubing and SERS active electrode (aligned ∼200 μm from each other) generates a sheath flow that confines the analyte molecules eluting from the embedded tubing over the SERS electrode, increasing the interaction between the Riboflavin (vitamin B2) and the SERS active electrode.

Fabrication and Characterization of All-Polystyrene Microfluidic Devices with Integrated Electrodes and Tubing.

A new method of fabricating all-polystyrene devices with integrated electrodes and fluidic tubing is described. As opposed to expensive polystyrene (PS) fabrication techniques that use hot embossing and bonding with a heated lab press, this approach involves solvent-based etching of channels and lamination-based bonding of a PS cover, all of which do not need to occur in a clean room. PS has been studied as an alternative microchip substrate to PDMS, as it is more hydrophilic, biologically compatible in terms of cell adhesion, and less prone to absorption of hydrophobic molecules.

Distribution and ecology of cyanobacteria in the rocky littoral of an english lake district water body, devoke water.

Cyanobacteria were sampled along two vertical and two horizontal transects in the littoral of Devoke Water, English Lake District. Profiles of cyanobacterium diversity and abundance showed that both attained a maximum close to the water line, but declined rapidly 20-40 cm above it. The distribution of individual species with height together with species and site ordinations showed that several taxa occurred in well-defined zones.

Enhanced electrochemical performance of hydrous RuO2/mesoporous carbon nanocomposites via nitrogen doping.

Hydrous RuO2 nanoparticles have been uniformly deposited onto nitrogen-enriched mesoporous carbons (NMCs) via a facile hydrothermal method. The nitrogen doping in the carbon framework not only provides reversible pseudocapacitance but also guides uniform deposition of RuO2 nanoparticles. As a result, an extremely high specific capacitance of 1733 F/g per RuO2, comparable to the theoretic capacitance of RuO2, is reached when 4.

Adsorption of drugs on nanodiamond: toward development of a drug delivery platform.

Nanodiamond particles produced by detonation synthesis and having ∼5 nm diameter possess unique properties, including low cell toxicity, biocompatibility, stable structure, and highly tailorable surface chemistry, which render them an attractive material for developing drug delivery systems. Although the potential for nanodiamonds in delivery and sustained release of anticancer drugs has been recently demonstrated, very little is known about the details of adsorption/desorption equilibria of these and other drugs on/from nanodiamonds with different purity, surface chemistry, and agglomeration state. Since adsorption is the basic mechanism most commonly used for the loading of drugs onto nanodiamond, the fundamental studies into the details of adsorption and desorption on nanodiamond are critically important for the rational design of the nanodiamond drug delivery systems capable of targeted delivery and triggered release, while minimizing potential leaks of dangerous drugs.

Socioeconomic distribution of emissions and resource use in Ireland.

This paper aims to determine emissions polluted directly and indirectly by an average person, for each household type, across a wide range of emissions. There are five household type categories: location, income decile, household composition, size and number of disabled residents. Ireland's Sustainable Development Model (ISus) is used which allows the analysis of direct and indirect sources of pollution per household as the model is based on an input-output methodology.

Deaggregation of nanodiamond powders using salt- and sugar-assisted milling.

Diamond particles of 5-10 nm in size can be produced in large quantities by denonating oxygen-lean explosives in a closed chamber. They have numerous useful properties and are used in applications ranging from lubricants to drug delivery. Aggregation of diamond nanoparticles is limiting wider use of this important carbon nanomaterial because most applications require single separated particles.

High temperature ecosystems and their chemical interactions with their environment.

Phototrophic thermal ecosystems consist of microbial mats whose composition is largely determined by water temperature, dissolved oxygen, sulfide and pH. Mats exposed to sunlight consist of an upper zone of phototrophic bacteria and cyanobacteria and an undermat of heterotrophic bacteria. There is little or no net accumulation of reduced carbon and a quasi-equilibrium is established between the synthesis and oxidation of reduced carbon.

Field relationships between scytonemin density, growth, and irradiance in cyanobacteria occurring in low illumination regimes.

In situ measurements of ultraviolet (UV) irradiance, carbon fixation, and scytonemin pigmentation were made on Scytonema populations from contrasting localities in England. Significant negative correlations were obtained between the following variate pairs: pigmentation and UV irradiance; pigmentation and carbon fixation rate. A significant positive correlation was found between pigmentation and sheath thickness.

Distribution of DNA and RNA content in the bone marrow and alveolar macrophages of rats after subchronic inhalation of formaldehyde.

The technique of flow cytometry was used to monitor the cell-cycle distribution of DNA and RNA in selected tissues of rats that were subchronically exposed to formaldehyde (HCHO) inhalation. Male Sprague-Dawley rats inhaled HCHO vapor concentrations of 0, 0.5, 3, or 15 ppm for 6 hr/day, 5 days/week, for up to 24 weeks.