Polyvalent Glycomimetic-Gold Nanoparticles Revealing Critical Roles of Glycan Display on Multivalent Lectin-Glycan Interaction Biophysics and Antiviral Properties.

Multivalent lectin-glycan interactions (MLGIs) are widespread and vital for biology, making them attractive therapeutic targets. Unfortunately, the structural and biophysical mechanisms of several key MLGIs remain poorly understood, limiting our ability to design spatially matched glycoconjugates as potential therapeutics against specific MLGIs. We have recently demonstrated that natural oligomannose-coated nanoparticles are powerful probes for MLGIs.

Probing the pH-dependency of DC-SIGN/R multivalent lectin-glycan interactions using polyvalent glycan-gold nanoparticles.

The dendritic cell tetrameric lectin, DC-SIGN, and its closely related endothelial cell lectin, DC-SIGNR (collectively abbreviated as DC-SIGN/R) play a key role in the binding and transmission of deadly viruses, including Ebola, HIV, HCV, and SARS-CoV-2. Their virus binding/release processes involve a gradually acidifying environment following the natural intracellular trafficking pathways. Therefore, understanding DC-SIGN/R's pH-dependent binding properties with glycan ligands is of great importance.

Unexpected Cascade Dehydrogenation Triggered by Pd/Cu-Catalyzed C(sp)-H Arylation/Intramolecular C-N Coupling of Amides: Facile Access to 1,2-Dihydroquinolines.

In this work, we successfully explored an unexpected dehydrogenation triggered by Pd/Cu-catalyzed C(sp)-H arylation and intramolecular C-N coupling of amides to synthesize the bioactive 1,2-dihydroquinoline scaffold with good regioselectivity and good compatibility of functional groups. This strategy provides an alternative route to realize molecular complexity and diversity from simple and readily available molecules via multiple C-H bond activation. Preliminary mechanistic studies demonstrated that β,γ-dehydrogenation is triggered by the arylation of the C(sp)-H bond and the intramolecular C-N coupling.

Effects of hydroxyethyl starch and gelatin on the risk of acute kidney injury following orthotopic liver transplantation: A multicenter retrospective comparative clinical study.

Objectives: This multicenter retrospective study aimed to compare the effects of HES and gelatin (GEL) on the risk of post-OLT AKI.

Method: A total of 1,672 patients undergoing OLT were enrolled from major transplant centers in China between 2005 and 2013. These patients were divided into three groups: GEL, hydroxyethyl starch (HES), and GEL + HES group.

HBC-nanofiber hydrogel scaffolds with 3D printed internal microchannels for enhanced cartilage differentiation.

Articular cartilage injuries are a major orthopedic problem. Cartilage repair is a long-standing challenge due to the limited self-regenerative capability of cartilage. Tissue engineering offers a new and effective approach to cartilage repair.

CT/MR Dual-Modality Imaging Tracking of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Labeled with a Au/GdNC@SiO Nanotracer in Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have shown potential as an innovative treatment for pulmonary fibrosis (PF), due to their capability to ameliorate the inflammation and moderate the deterioration of PF. The fate of the stem cells transplanted into the lung, including survival, migration, homing, and functions, however, has not been fully understood yet. In this paper, we report the development of a computed tomography/magnetic resonance (CT/MR) dual-modal nanotracer, gold/gadolinium nanoclusters overcoated with a silica shell (Au/GdNC@SiO), for noninvasive labeling and tracking of the transplanted human MSCs (hMSCs) in a PF model.

CT/NIRF dual-modal imaging tracking and therapeutic efficacy of transplanted mesenchymal stem cells labeled with Au nanoparticles in silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have shown promising therapeutic effects in cell-based therapies and regenerative medicine. Efficient tracking of MSCs is an urgent clinical need that will help us to understand their behavior after transplantation and allow adjustment of therapeutic strategies. However, no clinically approved tracers are currently available, which limits the clinical translation of stem cell therapy.

Long-term in vivo CT tracking of mesenchymal stem cells labeled with Au@BSA@PLL nanotracers.

Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) transplantation has attracted considerable interest for the treatment of pulmonary injury. Noninvasive and long-term tracking of hMSCs after transplantation in vivo, which is important for our understanding of the stem cell therapy, still remains a big challenge. Herein, we report on the development of a novel gold nanoparticle-based nanotracer to track by CT imaging the transplantation of hMSCs in vivo.

CT/Bioluminescence Dual-Modal Imaging Tracking of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs), due to their immune regulation and collateral secretion effects, are currently explored for potential therapy of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Understanding the migration, homing, functions, and survival of transplanted hMSCs in vivo is critical to successful IPF treatment. Therefore, it is highly desired to develop noninvasive and effective imaging technologies to track the transplanted hMSCs, providing experimental basis for improving the efficacy of hMSCs in the treatment of IPF.

Release of methylene blue from graphene oxide-coated electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds to modulate functions of neural progenitor cells.

Transplantation of neural progenitor cells (NPCs) can repair the damaged neurons and therefore holds significant promise as a new treatment strategy for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Development of functional scaffolds for the growth, proliferation, and differentiation of NPCs offers a useful approach for AD therapy. In our study, the functional scaffolds were obtained by fabrication of a poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanofibrous mat by the electrospinning technique, followed by coating of a layer of graphene oxide (GO) and then physisorption of methylene blue (MB) under mild conditions.

Neurokinin-1 receptor antagonism improves postoperative neurocognitive disorder in mice.

Postoperative neurocognitive disorder (PND) is a major complication in surgical patients, especially the elderly, leading to mild memory impairment after surgery. The underlying pathophysiology remains unknown, although neuroinflammation and blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption have been increasingly implicated in PND. Emerging evidence suggests that neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1R), the principal target of proinflammatory neuropeptide substance P (SP), plays a pivotal role in modulating neuroinflammation and BBB integrity.

HP-β-CD Functionalized FeO/CNPs-Based Theranostic Nanoplatform for pH/NIR Responsive Drug Release and MR/NIRFL Imaging-Guided Synergetic Chemo/Photothermal Therapy of Tumor.

The combination of chemotherapy and photothermal therapy has aroused great interest due to its better antitumor effect than either single therapy alone. Herein, we report on the development of hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin functionalized FeO/carbon nanoparticles (HFCNPs) for pH/near-infrared (NIR) responsive drug release, magnetic resonance/NIR fluorescence (MR/NIRFL) imaging-guided combined chemo/photothermal therapy. The high doxorubicin (DOX) loading capacity (61.

Predictive Value of Serum Creatinine, Blood Urea Nitrogen, Uric Acid, and β-Microglobulin in the Evaluation of Acute Kidney Injury after Orthotopic Liver Transplantation.

Background: As a major complication after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), the occurrence of acute kidney injury (AKI) is frequently defined by serum creatinine (Cr); however, the accuracy of commonly used blood urea nitrogen (BUN), uric acid (UA), and β-microglobulin (β-MG) remains to be explored. This retrospective study compared the accuracy of these parameters for post-OLT AKI evaluation.

Methods: Patients who underwent OLT in three centers between July 2003 and December 2013 were enrolled.