Immuno-Modulatory Effects of Microparticles Formulated from Degradable Polystyrene Analogue.

Environmental accumulation of non-degradable polystyrene (PS) microparticles from plastic waste poses potential adverse impact on marine life and human health. Herein, microparticles from a degradable PS analogue (dePS) are formulated and their immuno-modulatory characteristics are comprehensively evaluated. Both dePS copolymer and microparticles are chemically degradable under accelerated hydrolytic condition.

Modular design of a hybrid hydrogel for protease-triggered enhancement of drug delivery to regulate TNF-α production by pro-inflammatory macrophages.

Systemic drug administration has conventionally been prescribed to alleviate persistent local inflammation which is prevalent in chronic diseases. However, this approach is associated with drug-induced toxicity, particularly when the dosage exceeds that necessitated by pathological conditions of diseased tissues. Herein, we developed a modular hybrid hydrogel which could be triggered to release an anti-inflammatory drug upon exposure to elevated protease activity associated with inflammatory diseases.

An Unprecedented Knot-like G-Quadruplex Peripheral Motif.

A knot-like G-quadruplex peripheral structure is formed by a 7-nt DNA sequence DL7 (TGTTGGT), in which six out of its seven nucleobases participate in compact base-pairing interactions. Here, the solution NMR structure of a 24-nt DNA oligonucleotide containing the DL7 sequence shows the interaction between a two-layer anti-parallel G-quadruplex core and the peripheral knot-like structure, including the construction of two sharp turns in the DNA backbone. The formation of this novel structural element highlights the intricate properties of single-stranded DNA folding in presence of G-quadruplex-forming motifs.

G-quadruplex structure of an anti-proliferative DNA sequence.

AGRO100 (also known as AS1411) is a G-rich oligonucleotide that has long been established as a potent anti-cancer aptamer. However, the structure of AGRO100 remained unresolved, due to the co-existence of multiple different G-quadruplex conformations. We identified a DNA sequence named AT11, derived from AGRO100, which formed a single major G-quadruplex conformation and exhibited a similar anti-proliferative activity as AGRO100.

Platinum and palladium nanotubes based on genetically engineered elastin-mimetic fusion protein-fiber templates: synthesis and application in lithium-O₂ batteries.

The coupling of proteins with self-assembly properties and proteins that are capable of recognizing and mineralizing specific inorganic species is a promising strategy for the synthesis of nanoscale materials with controllable morphology and functionality. Herein, GPG-AG3 protein fibers with both of these properties were constructed and served as templates for the synthesis of Pt and Pd nanotubes. The protein fibers of assembled GPG-AG3 were more than 10 μm long and had diameters of 20-50 nm.