A multifunctional chitosan based porous membrane for pH-responsive antibacterial activity and promotion of infected wound healing.

Unsatisfactory mechanical and antibacterial properties restricted the solo use of chitosan (CS) as a wound dressing. In this work, a novel CS/hydroxyapatite/ZIF-8 (CS/HAp/ZIF-8, CHZ-10) porous membrane was facilely constructed by loading of ZIF-8 on CS/HAp. The advantages of the three compositions were rationally integrated, and the multifunctionality and practicality of this CS-based dressing were improved.

Design of hepadnavirus core protein-based chimeric virus-like particles carrying epitopes from respiratory syncytial virus.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the most important pathogens causing respiratory tract infection in humans, especially in infants and the elderly. The identification and structural resolution of the potent neutralizing epitopes on RSV fusion (F) protein enable an "epitope-focused" vaccine design. However, the display of RSV F epitope II on the surface of the widely-used human hepatitis B virus core antigen (HBcAg) has failed to induce neutralizing antibody response in mice.

Enhancing peroxidase-like activity of AuNPs through headspace reaction: A signal amplification strategy for colorimetric and fluorescent sensing of trace Hg.

Background: Recently, headspace single-drop microextraction (HS-SDME) has attracted some attention for developing sensitive and selective colorimetric assays due to its excellent capability to reduce matrix interference and enrich analytes. However, the single droplet limits direct visual observation of color change and its quantitative measurement suffers from reduced optical path length. Therefore, amplifying the detection signals in both volume and intensity is an important and challenging task for improving the sensitivity, stability, and accuracy of such colorimetric analysis.

Concentration- and Self-Catalysis-Dominated Rapid Synthesis of Multifunctional UiO-66(Ce) for Dual-Mode Sensing of Tetracycline.

Simple and rapid synthesis of multifunctional metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) at room temperature (RT) with their multifunction controllable is still appealing for further expansion of the practical applications of MOFs. Herein, in this work, rapid RT synthesis of a multifunctional UiO-66(Ce) [M-UiO-66(Ce)] with both oxidase-like activity and fluorescence emission properties was facilely achieved within 15 min through a straightforward reactant concentration modulation and self-catalytic postmodification strategy. Appropriate concentrations of cerium ammonium nitrate or 1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid (BDC) were beneficial for the synthesis of UiO-66(Ce) with better crystallization.

Self-calibrated HAp:Tb-EDTA paper-based probe with dual emission ratio fluorescence for binary visual and fluorescent detection of anthrax biomarker.

Development of the portable device is significant for sensitive and rapid detection of an anthrax biomarker dipicolinic acid (DPA), existing in the B. anthracis. In this work, a novel HAp:Tb-EDTA paper-based ratiometric fluorescent sensor was obtained by a simple one-pot method for rapid and sensitive DPA detection.

Tb-Based Off-On Fluorescent Platform for Multicolor and Dosage-Sensitive Visualization of Bacterial Spore Marker.

Developing a novel strategy for the sensitive and rapid detection of pathogenic bacterial spores in field or on-site settings will be helpful in minimizing their potential threats to human health, environmental safety, and food safety. In this study, Tb was combined with glutathione (GSH)-modified copper nanoclusters (CuNCs), and an aggregation-induced emission (AIE) fluorescent probe based on Tb-GSH-CuNCs was fabricated for dipicolinic acid (DPA, a pathogenic bacterial spore marker) sensing. Making use of the competitive binding of Tb between GSH-CuNCs and DPA, a multicolor sensing of DPA was facilely realized without introducing fluorescent materials as the reference.

Improved Aluminum Adjuvants Eliciting Stronger Immune Response When Mixed with Hepatitis B Virus Surface Antigens.

Adjuvants can regulate the immune response triggered by vaccines. Traditional aluminum adjuvants can induce humoral immunity, but they lack the ability to effectively induce Th1 cellular immunity, which is not conducive to the development of vaccines with improved protective effects. Aluminum adjuvants from different sources may have different physicochemical properties, and therefore, completely different immune responses can be triggered.

A New Nano Adjuvant of PF3 Used for an Enhanced Hepatitis B Vaccine.

Recombinant protein vaccines, with highly pure ingredients and good safety, are gradually replacing some attenuated and inactivated vaccines in clinical practice. However, since their low immunogenicity of the recombinant proteins, adjuvants are often needed to enhance immune response after vaccination. Aluminum adjuvant has been widely used in some vaccines for decades, it can induce strong humoral immunity, but the deficiency of cellular immunity limits its application for some vaccines.

A facile photochemical strategy for the synthesis of high-performance amorphous MoS nanoparticles.

It is difficult to avoid the formation of polysulfides by traditional chemical methods, and the synthesis of high purity amorphous MoS nanomaterials under ambient conditions is still a challenging task. Here we present a new and facile photochemical strategy for the synthesis of amorphous MoS nanomaterials, which is achieved by irradiating a mixed solution containing ammonium molybdate, formic acid and sodium sulfide simply with a Xe lamp for 3 min. The mechanism study reveals that the key step in this synthesis is the photolysis of formic acid to produce free radicals which can rapidly reduce Mo to Mo, which then combines with S to form MoS and inhibits the formation of S-S by preventing S from participating in the reduction reaction.

A colorimetric assay for the determination of trace arsenic based on in-situ formation of AuNPs with synergistic effect of arsine and iodide.

In this work, we propose a colorimetric assay for the determination of trace arsenic based on in-situ formation of AuNPs with the synergistic effect of arsine (AsH) and iodide. AsH, generated by hydride generation of As in the sample or standard solution, enters into the HAuCl solution containing polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and KI, and then reacts rapidly to form AuNPs, resulting in the solution color changing from light yellow to pink. Hydride generation applied here not only produces a strong reducing agent AsH, but also effectively reduces matrix interference.

Optical Density Value and Ratio as Novel Indexes for Nanoemulsion Sterile Filtration Process Control or Characterization.

Sterile filtration is an effective method to remove any microorganisms present during nanoemulsion preparation. However, it lacks effective control parameters. Here, we established a simple and rapid approach for the process control of nanoemulsion sterile filtration by utilizing optical density detection as a process control parameter.

Systemic and mucosal humoral immune responses induced by the JY-adjuvanted nasal spray H7N9 vaccine in mice.

Since the first case of human avian influenza A (H7N9) virus infection in 2013, five H7N9 epidemics have occurred in China, all of which caused severe diseases, including pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome, and the fatality rates of these epidemics were as high as 30-40%. To control the prevalence of H7N9 influenza, an effective vaccine is urgently needed. In the present study, we used chitosan and recombinant human interleukin-2 as an adjuvant (JY) to promote the systemic and mucosal immune responses induced by the H7N9 vaccine.

Tuning the properties of the metal-organic framework UiO-67-bpy via post-synthetic N-quaternization of pyridine sites.

A new UiO-67-type zirconium metal organic framework (MOF) material UiO-67-bpy-Me (bpy = 2,2-bipyridine-4,4'-dicarboxylic acid, Me = methyl) was prepared by N-quaternization of the pyridine sites in UiO-67-bpy. After N-quaternization, the pristine neutral framework turned cationic while its high thermal and chemical stabilities were primarily preserved. Fast and enhanced anionic dye adsorption was observed in UiO-67-bpy-Me.