A pDNA/rapamycin nanocomposite coating on interventional balloons for inhibiting neointimal hyperplasia.

Drug-coated balloon (DCB) is a therapeutic method that can effectively deliver antiproliferative drugs such as paclitaxel and rapamycin (RAPA) with no permanent implants left behind. However, delayed reendothelialization due to the toxicity of the delivered drugs leads to poor therapeutic effects. Here, we propose a new design of DCB coating, which incorporates both vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-encoding plasmid DNA (pDNA) that can promote endothelial repair and RAPA into protamine sulfate (PrS).

A Bioinspired Hydrogel-Elastomer Hybrid Surface for Enhanced Mechanical Properties and Lubrication.

Developing surfaces that realize lubrication and durable wear resistance under high pressure has great implications in areas ranging from electromechanical systems to advanced biomedical devices but has proven challenging. Inspired by the zonal and transitional structure of articular cartilage, we fabricate a hydrogel-elastomer hybrid surface, where the hydrogel interpenetrates into the polymer elastomer substrate as a transitional and bonding zone, that exhibits a low coefficient of friction and wear resistance under a high load. First, we entrap benzophenone within the surface of polymer substrates such as polydimethylsiloxane, polyvinylchloride, and polyurethane.

Density Functional Study of Trimetallic AuPdPt (x + y + z = 7) Clusters and Their Interactions with the O Molecule.

Density functional theory calculations were performed to investigate the structural and energetic properties of trimetallic AuPdPt clusters with x + y + z = 7. The possible stable geometrical configurations with their electronic states are determined. We analyze the chemical order, binding energies, vertical ionization potential, electron affinity, and HOMO-LUMO gaps as a function of the whole concentration range.

A theoretical investigation of the interactions between hydroxyl-functionalized ionic liquid and water/methanol/dimethyl sulfoxide.

Density functional calculations have been used to investigate the interactions of 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-methylimidazolium ([C2OHmim](+))-based ionic liquids (hydroxyl ILs) with water (H2O), methanol (CH3OH), and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). It was found that the cosolvent molecules interact with the anion and cation of each ionic liquid through different atoms, i.e.

Density functional study of hydrogen binding on gold and silver-gold clusters.

A theoretical study was carried out on the binding of hydrogen on small bimetallic Ag(m)Au(n) (m + n < or = 5) and pure Au(n) (n < or = 5) clusters with neutral, negative, and positive charge state. It is found that the composition and charge state of clusters have strong influence on the most favorable binding site. The adiabatic ionization potentials, electron affinities, and hydrogen binding energies of cluster hydrides increase with the Au content increasing for the given cluster size.