Photothermal Hydrogel Composites Featuring G4-Carbon Nanomaterial Networks for Inhibition.

Microbial infections represent a significant health risk, often leading to severe complications and, in some cases, even fatalities. As a result, there is an urgent need to explore innovative drug delivery systems and alternative therapeutic techniques. The photothermal therapy has emerged as a promising antibacterial approach and is the focus of this study.

scDiffCom: a tool for differential analysis of cell-cell interactions provides a mouse atlas of aging changes in intercellular communication.

Dysregulation of intercellular communication is a hallmark of aging. To better quantify and explore changes in intercellular communication, we present scDiffCom and scAgeCom. scDiffCom is an R package, relying on approximately 5,000 curated ligand-receptor interactions, that performs differential intercellular communication analysis between two conditions from single-cell transcriptomics data.

3D-Shaped Binders of Unfolded Proteins Inducing Cancer Cell-Specific Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress In Vitro and In Vivo.

The amount of unfolded proteins is increased in cancer cells, leading to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Therefore, cancer cells are sensitive to drugs capable of further enhancing ER stress. Examples of such drugs include the clinically approved proteosome inhibitors bortezomib and carfilzomib.

Phytomediated-Assisted Preparation of Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles Using Plant Extracts and Assessment of Their Structural and Optical Properties.

Cerium oxide nanoparticles were obtained using aqueous extracts of and . X-ray diffractometry analysis confirmed the crystalline structure of the synthesized cerium oxide nanoparticles calcined at 600 °C. Scanning electron microscopy, UV-Vis reflectance and Raman spectroscopy, XPS, and fluorescence studies were utilized to interpret the morphological and optical properties of these nanoparticles.

Dynameric G-quadruplex-dextran hydrogels for cell growth applications.

Hybrid dextran-G-quartet produces tunable biocompatible three-dimensional thixotropic hydrogels, able to support cell growth.

Chitosan-Mediated Environment-Friendly Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles with Enhanced Photonic Reactivity.

We developed a very simple, efficient and environment-friendly synthesis method for the manufacturing of high-performance chitosan-capped gold nanoparticles that could be used for biosensing applications. Gold nanoparticles were prepared through the spontaneous reduction of chloroauric acid by chitosan, which was used as both a reducing and a stabilizing agent. The samples were heated to a temperature of 60 °C under ultrasonic conditions.

Investigating the Vibrational, Magnetic and Dielectric Properties, and Antioxidant Activity of Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles.

Dielectric, magnetic and Raman measurements of cerium oxide nanoparticles obtained by the precipitation method are discussed. Morphological study was performed by scanning electron microscopy, confirming the formation of nanoparticles of 5-27 nm. The Raman spectra exhibited a strong band around 465 cm, corresponding to the symmetrical stretching mode of the Ce-O8 vibrational unit.

Training in Hypoxia at Alternating High Altitudes Is a Factor Favoring the Increase in Sports Performance.

Training above 1800 m causes increases in hemoglobin, erythropoietin and VO2max values in the bodies of athletes. The purpose of this study is to prove that living at an altitude of 1850 m and training at 2200 m (LHTH+) is more effective than living and training at 2000 m (LHTH). Ten endurance athletes (age 21.

Room Temperature Deposition of Nanocrystalline SiC Thin Films by DCMS/HiPIMS Co-Sputtering Technique.

Due to an attractive combination of chemical and physical properties, silicon carbide (SiC) thin films are excellent candidates for coatings to be used in harsh environment applications or as protective coatings in heat exchanger applications. This work reports the deposition of near-stoichiometric and nanocrystalline SiC thin films, at room temperature, on silicon (100) substrates using a DCMS/HiPIMS co-sputtering technique (DCMS-direct current magnetron sputtering; HiPIMS-high-power impulse magnetron sputtering). Their structural and mechanical properties were analyzed as a function of the process gas pressure.

Matching the Cellulose/Silica Films Surface Properties for Design of Biomaterials That Modulate Extracellular Matrix.

The surface properties of composite films are important to know for many applications from the industrial domain to the medical domain. The physical and chemical characteristics of film/membrane surfaces are totally different from those of the bulk due to the surface segregation of the low surface energy components. Thus, the surfaces of cellulose acetate/silica composite films are analyzed in order to obtain information on the morphology, topography and wettability through atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and contact angle investigations.

Toxicity Assessment of Long-Term Exposure to Non-Thermal Plasma Activated Water in Mice.

Non-thermal plasma activated water (PAW) has recently emerged as a powerful antimicrobial agent. Despite numerous potential bio-medical applications, studies concerning toxicity in live animals, especially after long-term exposure, are scarce. Our study aimed to assess the effects of long-term watering with PAW on the health of CD1 mice.

Systems biology analysis of lung fibrosis-related genes in the bleomycin mouse model.

Tissue fibrosis is a major driver of pathology in aging and is involved in numerous age-related diseases. The lungs are particularly susceptible to fibrotic pathology which is currently difficult to treat. The mouse bleomycin-induced fibrosis model was developed to investigate lung fibrosis and widely used over the years.

Injectable Thixotropic β-Cyclodextrin-Functionalized Hydrogels Based on Guanosine Quartet Assembly.

Facile method for the preparation of β-cyclodextrin-functionalized hydrogels based on guanosine quartet assembly was described. A series of seven hydrogels were prepared by linking β-cyclodextrin molecules with guanosine moieties in different ratios through benzene-1,4-diboronic acid linker in the presence of potassium hydroxide. The potassium ions acted as a reticulation agent by forming guanosine quartets, leading to the formation of self-sustained transparent hydrogels.

3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) End-Group Functionalized Poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL): Self-Assembly in Organic Solvents and Its Coincidentally Observed Peculiar Behavior in Thin Film and Protonated Media.

End-group functionalization of homopolymers is a valuable way to produce high-fidelity nanostructured and functional soft materials when the structures obtained have the capacity for self-assembly (SA) encoded in their structural details. Herein, an end-functionalized PCL with a π-conjugated EDOT moiety, (), designed exclusively from hydrophobic domains, as a functional "hydrophobic amphiphile", was synthesized in the bulk ROP of ε-caprolactone. The experimental results obtained by spectroscopic methods, including NMR, UV-vis, and fluorescence, using DLS and by AFM, confirm that in solvents with extremely different polarities (chloroform and acetonitrile), presents an interaction- and structure-based bias, which is strong and selective enough to exert control over supramolecular packing, both in dispersions and in the film state.

Antibacterial Polysiloxane Polymers and Coatings for Cochlear Implants.

Within this study, new materials were synthesized and characterized based on polysiloxane modified with different ratios of -acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) and crosslinked via UV-assisted thiol-ene addition, in order to obtain efficient membranes able to resist bacterial adherence and biofilm formation. These membranes were subjected to in vitro testing for microbial adherence against using standardized tests. WISTAR rats were implanted for 4 weeks with crosslinked siloxane samples without and with NAC.

Evaluation of Local Mechanical and Chemical Properties via AFM as a Tool for Understanding the Formation Mechanism of Pulsed UV Laser-Nanoinduced Patterns on Azo-Naphthalene-Based Polyimide Films.

Aromatic polyimides containing side azo-naphthalene groups have been investigated regarding their capacity of generating surface relief gratings (SRGs) under pulsed UV laser irradiation through phase masks, using different fluencies and pulse numbers. The process of the material photo-fluidization and the supramolecular re-organization of the surface were investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM). At first, an AFM nanoscale topographical analysis of the induced SRGs was performed in terms of morphology and tridimensional amplitude, spatial, hybrid, and functional parameters.

Primary autoimmune neutropenia of infancy and childhood in a cohort of patients from western Romania.

Neutropenia is commonly diagnosed in pediatric clinics. Due to the special vulnerability of neutropenic patients, the assessment of the etiopathogenic background of neutropenia is mandatory. In this retrospective cross-sectional cohort study, we aimed to establish the status of primary autoimmune neutropenia (AIN) from the point of view of its clinical and biological features and its outcome in a cohort of pediatric patients.

Machine Learning Analysis of Longevity-Associated Gene Expression Landscapes in Mammals.

One of the important questions in aging research is how differences in transcriptomics are associated with the longevity of various species. Unfortunately, at the level of individual genes, the links between expression in different organs and maximum lifespan (MLS) are yet to be fully understood. Analyses are complicated further by the fact that MLS is highly associated with other confounding factors (metabolic rate, gestation period, body mass, etc.

Raman Spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction, and Scanning Electron Microscopy as Noninvasive Methods for Microstructural Alterations in Psoriatic Nails.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with immune system dysfunction that can affect nails, with a negative impact on patient life quality. Usually, nail psoriasis is associated with skin psoriasis and is therefore relatively simple to diagnose. However, up to 10% of nail psoriasis occurs isolated and may be difficult to diagnose by means of current methods (nail biopsy, dermoscopy, video dermoscopy, capillaroscopy, ultrasound of the nails, etc.

Cyclodextrin Encapsulated pH Sensitive Dyes as Fluorescent Cellular Probes: Self-Aggregation and In Vitro Assessments.

We have designed and synthesized a series of novel, supramolecular, long-lived fluorescent probes based on the host-guest inclusion complexes formation between fluorescent indolizinyl-pyridinium salts and β-cyclodextrin. Fluorescence and electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry experiments, supported by theoretical molecular docking studies, were utilized in the monitoring of the inclusion complexes formation, evidencing the appearance of corresponding 1:1 and 1:2 species. Additionally, the influence of the guest molecule over the aggregation processes of the cyclodextrin inclusion complexes was investigated by transmission electron microscopy.

NHF-derived carbon dots: prevalidation approach in breast cancer treatment.

Metastatic breast cancer dominates the female cancer-related mortality. Tumour-associated molecules represents a crucial for early disease detection and identification of novel therapeutic targets. Nanomaterial technologies provide promising novel approaches to disease diagnostics and therapeutics.

Fe(III) doped carbon nanodots with intense green photoluminescence and dispersion medium dependent emission.

The preparation and investigation of Fe(III) doped carbon nanodots (CNDs) with intense green photoluminescence and emission dependence on the dispersion medium are reported. Their unusual photoluminescence is especially highlighted in water where the initial blue emission is gradually shifted to intense deep green, while in other common solvents (chloroform, acetone etc.) this behavior has not been observed.

Duodenoscope-Associated Infections beyond the Elevator Channel: Alternative Causes for Difficult Reprocessing.

Objectives: Duodenoscopes have been widely used for both diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) procedures, but recently, numerous outbreaks of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) infections have been reported which has led to extensive research for their possible causes. Consequently, the aim of this study is to search for possible duodenoscope surface damages that could provide an alternative and plausible source of infections.

Materials And Methods: In order to assess both outer and inner surfaces, a duodenoscope was dismantled and samples were taken from the outer resin polymer and from the air/water, elevator, and working (biopsy) channels that were characterized by FTIR, DSC, TGA, AFM, SEM techniques and the antimicrobial activity were tested.