Frustules, whose length spans from a few micrometers to more than a hundred micrometers, have been the subject of various modifications to improve their physical properties because of their complex porous silica structure. However, three-dimensional measurements of these changes can be challenging because of the complex 3D architecture and limitations of known methods. In this study, we present a new method that applies digital holographic microscopy (DHM) to analyze controlled etched frustules and observe real-time degradation of frustules at the single-cell level.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFStrategies for gene and nucleic acid delivery to skeletal muscles have been extensively explored to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and other neuromuscular diseases. Of these, effective intravascular delivery of naked plasmid DNA (pDNA) and nucleic acids into muscles is an attractive approach, given the high capillary density in close contact with myofibers. We developed lipid-based nanobubbles (NBs) using polyethylene-glycol-modified liposomes and an echo-contrast gas and found that these NBs could improve tissue permeability by ultrasound (US)-induced cavitation.
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