Effect of lysophospholipids on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, lipid metabolism and meat quality of fattening rabbits.

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of emulsifier lysophospholipids (LP), enzymatically modified from soy phospholipids, on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, lipid metabolism and meat quality of fattening rabbits. The LP was added in control (CON), LP1, LP2 and LP3 at 0, 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg, respectively. A total of 240 rabbits at approximately 52 d of age were divided into 4 groups with 6 replicates of 10 rabbits each.

Developing Safe Organohydrogel Sunscreens Using Polyelectrolyte-Betaine Surfactant Complexes.

Oil-in-water emulsions are extensively used in skincare products due to their improved texture, stability, and effectiveness. There is limited success in developing effective delivery systems that can selectively target the active sunscreen ingredients onto the skin surface. Herein, an organohydrogel was prepared by physical cross-linking of an oil-in-water nanoemulsion with chitosan under neutral pH conditions.

Mechanical overloading induces GPX4-regulated chondrocyte ferroptosis in osteoarthritis via Piezo1 channel facilitated calcium influx.

Introductions: Excessive mechanical stress is closely associated with cell death in various conditions. Exposure of chondrocytes to excessive mechanical loading leads to a catabolic response as well as exaggerated cell death. Ferroptosis is a recently identified form of cell death during cell aging and degeneration.

Elastomeric Liquid-Free Conductor for Iontronic Devices.

For a long time, the potential application of gel-based ionic devices was limited by the problem of liquid leakage or evaporation. Here, we utilized amorphous, irreversible and reversible cross-linked polyTA (PTA) as a matrix and lithium bis(trifluoromethane sulfonamide) (LiTFSI) as an electrolyte to prepare a stretchable (495%) and self-healing (94%) solvent-free elastomeric ionic conductor. The liquid-free ionic elastomer can be used as a stable strain sensor to monitor human activities sensitively under extreme temperatures.

Polyelectrolyte aerogels with regeneration capacity for efficient removal of particulate matters.

Hypothesis: With the rapid development of economy and global industrialization, the problem of air pollution has become a worldwide topic. The efficient filtration of airborne particulate matters (PMs) is critical for human health and environmental sustainability.

Experiments: Herein, self-supporting bio-based polyelectrolyte aerogels were prepared and acted as the advanced filters for efficient removal of PMs.

Multilayer-Stabilized Water-in-Water Emulsions.

Water-in-water (W/W) emulsions are of interest for various applications due to their inherent biocompatibility, ultralow interfacial tensions, and large interface thickness. However, it is still challenging to prepare stable W/W emulsions with tailored phase architectures compared to oil-in-water (O/W) and water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions. Here, we report a multilayer-stabilized W/W emulsion composed of poly(ethylene glycol)/dextran in the presence of DNA strands.

Multistimuli-Responsive and Antifreeze Aggregation-Induced Emission-Active Gels Based on CuNCs.

Multistimuli-responsive fluorescent gelsbased small molecular gelator by supramolecular assembly, possessing excellent dynamic and reversible characteristic, have caused much concern. In this article, aggregation-induced emission-active fluorescence gels (AIE-gels) with chirality were developed by combining Cu nanoclusters (CuNCs) and natural amino acids, l-tryptophan (l-Trp) or d-Tryptophan (d-Trp). In DMSO/HO mixed solvents, CuNCs can self-assemble to form intertwined fibersbased nanoparticles with numerous pores by introducing Zn.

Photovoltaic Energy Conversion and Storage of Micro-Supercapacitors Based on Emulsion Self-Assembly of Upconverting Nanoparticles.

With the rapid need for new kinds of portable and wearable electronics, we must look to develop flexible, small-volume, and high-performance supercapacitors that can be easily produced and stored in a sustainable way. An integrated system simultaneously converting recyclable energy to electricity and storing energy is sought after. Here we report photovoltaic energy conversion and storage integrated micro-supercapacitors (MSCs) with asymmetric, flexible, and all-solid-state performances constructed from thousands of close-packed upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) via an emulsion-based self-assembly process using oleic acid (OA)-capped upconverting nanoparticles.

Nanoemulsion fluorescent inks for anti-counterfeiting encryption with dual-mode, full-color, and long-term stability.

An oil-in-water nanoemulsion (O/W NE) is selected as the carrier to encapsulate hydrophobic dual-mode luminescent upconversion nanoparticles (UC NPs) and downconversion (DC) carbon quantum dots (CQDs) inside the oil droplets for forming water-based fluorescent inks. The NE inks conform well to the requirements of inkjet printing for anti-counterfeiting encryption applications.

Cortistatin protects against intervertebral disc degeneration through targeting mitochondrial ROS-dependent NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is a common degenerative disease that can lead to collapse or herniation of the nucleus pulposus (NP) and result in radiculopathy in patients. NP tissue and cells were isolated from patients and mice, and the expression profile of cortistatin (CST) was analysed. In addition, ageing of the NP was compared between 6-month-old WT and CST-knockout (CST) mice.

DNA thermotropic liquid crystals controlled by positively charged catanionic bilayer vesicles.

We report DNA thermotropic liquid crystal (TLC) formation by positively charged catanionic surfactant bilayer vesicles. The properties of DNA TLCs were found to be manipulated by both the chemical structures of cationic and anionic surfactants and the DNA amount. Positively charged catanionic bilayer vesicles bond to negative DNA sites resulting in the transition from vesicles to long range ordered lamellar crystals of DNA-catanionic surfactants, as confirmed by cryo- and freeze-fracture (FF) TEM observations and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements.

Colloidal clusters of icosahedrons and face-centred cubes.

Synthetically colloidal clusters with new functions and well-controlled size distribution can in principle be constructed using colloidal particles. The building units could be integrated into dense-packed and desired structured with novel functions by means of an efficient strategy or binding patterns. Here we synthesized colloidal clusters of icosahedrons and long-range ordered face-centered cubes (FCCs) via emulsion self-assembly using fluorescence upconversion nanoparticles NaGdF: Yb, Er as building blocks.

Dual pH-Responsive Polymer Nanogels with a Core-Shell Structure for Improved Cell Association.

We report the fabrication of polymer nanogels with a pH-responsive core and a pH-sheddable shell and investigate the pH-dependent cell association of the pH-responsive polymer nanogels. The pH-responsive core composed of poly(2-diisopropylaminoethyl methacrylate) (PDPA) with a p ≈ 6.2 was synthesized by using polymerization in emulsion droplets.

Vesicle transition of catanionic redox-switchable surfactants controlled by DNA with different chain lengths.

Hypothesis: Electrostatic self-assembly is used as a facile and convenient method to fabricate soft materials with synergetic novel properties. The structural transition of building blocks could easily lead to the formation of assembly structures with various morphologies. Hence, the self-assembly behavior of DNA/surfactant vesicles could be driven by DNA base pair (bp) variation and the stimulated responsiveness of vesicles.

Drug Implants of Hydrogels via Collective Behavior of Microgel Colloids for On-Demand Cancer Therapy.

In nature, the collective behaviors such as the growth of bacteria and the cooperation of insects possess great superiority and can create functional materials through diversified interactions for accomplishing complex tasks that cannot be performed by a single unit. Here we develop a new protocol for fabricating drug implants of hydrogels via the collective behavior of jagged magnetic microgels constructed by further coating Au nanorod@SiO with the thermo- and magnetic-responsive polymer shells, poly(-isopropylacrylamide--magnetic ionic liquids). The magnetism of resultant macroscale hydrogels was enhanced nearly 5-fold because of the self-organization process, presenting new evidence for the essence of magnetism generation at a molecular level.

Cortistatin binds to TNF-α receptors and protects against osteoarthritis.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative disease, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) is known to play a critical role in OA. Cortistatin (CST) is a neuropeptide discovered over 20  years ago, which plays a vital role in inflammatory reactions. However, it is unknown whether CST is involved in cartilage degeneration and OA development.

Microgels in biomaterials and nanomedicines.

Microgels are colloidal particles with crosslinked polymer networks and dimensions ranging from tens of nanometers to micrometers. Specifically, smart microgels are fascinating capable of responding to biological signals in vivo or remote triggers and making the possible for applications in biomaterials and biomedicines. Therefore, how to fundamentally design microgels is an urgent problem to be solved.

Eu-Controlled Fluorescent Bilayer Vesicles.

By appropriate substitution, polyoxometalates (POMs) can be modified to be organic-inorganic supramolecules (OISMs) that are nonaqueous or water soluble and form aggregates in solution. Here, we report a new OISM, (TBA)POM-PPCT, that can self-assemble to form bilayer vesicles controlled by Eu in nonaqueous solution. Dynamic light scattering, transmission and scanning electron microscopy techniques, and atomic force microscopy clearly demonstrated the controllable formation of stable bilayer vesicles with an average hydrodynamic radius of about 510 nm.

Magnetic networks of carbon quantum dots and Ag particles.

Self-assembly exploits a facile non-covalent way to couple structurally different building blocks for creating soft materials with synergetic novel properties and functions. Taking advantage of magneto-properties from magnetic surfactants as well as versatile functional ligand formed by carbon quantum dots with cysteine (cys-CQDs), the magnetic network materials were firstly constructed by using magnetic surfactants and cys-CQDs as self-assembly building blocks. Counterions of Br, [GdClBr], [HoClBr] in surfactants could control the morphology of magnetic network structures, and the concentration of magnetic surfactants manoeuvres a versatile scenario of self-assembly behavior.

Plasmonic microgels of Au nanorods: Self-assembly and applications in chemophotothermo-synergistic cancer therapy.

Plasmonic microgels (PMgels) of the self-assembled gold nanorods (Au NRs) with side-by-side piles in ionic liquid microgels were prepared. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images revealed unique self-growth and self-arrangement of Au NRs in the microgel systems. The fabrication of PMgels occurs through co-assembling Au NRs and an ionic liquid microgel system, therefore differs from the fabrication of conventional plasmonic hybrid nanocomposites.

Metal-Organic Gels of Catechol-Based Ligands with Ni(II) Acetate for Dye Adsorption.

Metal organic gels (MOGs) are a class of supramolecular complexes, which have attracted widespread interest because of the coupled advantages of inorganic and organic building blocks. A new compound terminated with catechol was synthesized. This new compound can be used to coordinate with Ni to form MOGs.

Self-Assembled Magnetic Viruslike Particles for Encapsulation and Delivery of Deoxyribonucleic Acid.

Developing nontoxic artificial carriers for stimuli-responsive capture, transport, and delivery of biomolecules is of immense scientific interest. Herein, for the first time, we synthesize a double-tailed cationic surfactant, (CH)(CH)N[FeClBr], which possesses magnetic properties [magnetic surfactants (Mag-Surfs)]. The time-dependent formation of virus-shaped hybrid mixed assemblies of polyoxometalates (POMs) {MoFe}/Mag-Surf with hollow-shell structures is followed.

Nanocapsules of Magnetic Au Self-Assembly for DNA Migration and Secondary Self-Assembly.

To endow valuable responsiveness to self-assemblies of Au nanoparticles (Au NPs), the magnetic Au nanoparticles (Au NPs)/CH(CH)N[CeClBr] (CTACe) mixtures were first prepared by using an emulsion self-assembly of a magnetic surfactant, CH(CH)N[CeClBr]. A versatile morphology of self-assemblies of Au NPs could be controlled by the counterions in surfactants including [CeClBr], [FeClBr], and Br as well as solvent. In particular, the magnetic counterion, [CeClBr], can induce self-growth of Au NPs in an emulsion self-assembly process due to the oxidability of [CeClBr].

Near-Infrared-Light-Responsive Magnetic DNA Microgels for Photon- and Magneto-Manipulated Cancer Therapy.

Functional DNA molecules have been introduced into polymer-based nanocarrier systems to incorporate chemotherapy drugs for cancer therapy. Here is the first report of dual-responsive microgels composed of a core of Au nanorods and a shell of magnetic ionic liquid and DNA moieties in the cross-linking network simultaneously, as effective drug delivery vectors. TEM images indicated a magnetic polymer shell has an analogous "doughnut" shape which loosely surround the AuNRs core.