Preparation and Wound Repair of Injectable and Self-Healing Benzaldehyde-Modified Konjac Glucomannan Oligosaccharide/Polyglutamic Acid/ε-Polylysine Hydrogel.

Oligosaccharides always have better water solubility, higher possibilities for modification, and unique biofunctions compared with polysaccharides, but they are rarely used as the matrix of a hydrogel. Here, we prepared a composite BKOS/HPGA/PL hydrogel (BKPP hydrogel) constructed by hydrazone/imine bonds between the aldehyde groups of benzaldehyde-modified konjac glucomannan oligosaccharide (BKOS) and the primary amino groups of both hydrazide-modified polyglutamic acid (HPGA) and ε-polylysine (ε-PL). The hydrogels had both injectable and self-healing properties.

Threats of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl pollutants to susceptible populations.

Environmental exposure to per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has raised significant global health concerns due to potential hazards in healthy adults. However, the impact of PFAS on susceptible populations, including pregnant individuals, newborns, the older people, and those with underlying health conditions, has been overlooked. These susceptible groups often have physiological changes that make them less resilient to the same exposures.

Enhanced Sensing Mechanism Based on Shifting an Exceptional Point.

Non-Hermitian systems associated with exceptional points (EPs) are expected to demonstrate a giant response enhancement for various sensors. The widely investigated enhancement mechanism based on diverging from an EP should destroy the EP and further limits its applications for multiple sensing scenarios in a time sequence. To break the above limit, here, we proposed a new enhanced sensing mechanism based on shifting an EP.

Perturbation of autophagy pathways in murine alveolar macrophage by 2D TMDCs is chalcogen-dependent.

Increasing risks of incidental and occupational exposures to two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (2D TMDCs) due to their broad application in various areas raised their public health concerns. While the composition-dependent cytotoxicity of 2D TMDCs has been well-recognized, how the outer chalcogenide atoms and inner transition metal atoms differentially contribute to their perturbation on cell homeostasis at non-lethal doses remains to be identified. In the present work, we compared the autophagy induction and related mechanisms in response to WS, NbS, WSe and NbSe nanosheets exposures in MH-S murine alveolar macrophages.

Nanoplastic Exposure at Environmental Concentrations Disrupts Hepatic Lipid Metabolism through Oxidative Stress Induction and Endoplasmic Reticulum Homeostasis Perturbation.

In this study, we investigated the mechanism underlying the perturbation of hepatic lipid metabolism in response to micro/nanoplastic (MP/NP) exposure at environmentally relevant concentrations. Polystyrene (PS) MPs/NPs with different sizes (0.1, 0.

Simultaneous ground-state cooling of multiple degenerate mechanical modes through the cross-Kerr effect.

Simultaneous ground-state cooling of multiple degenerate mechanical modes is a difficult issue in optomechanical systems, owing to the existence of the dark mode effect. Here we propose a universal and scalable method to break the dark mode effect of two degenerate mechanical modes by introducing cross-Kerr (CK) nonlinearity. At most, four stable steady states can be achieved in our scheme in the presence of the CK effect, unlike the bistable behavior of the standard optomechanical system.

Demonstration of Yb-doped and Er/Yb-codoped on-chip microsphere lasers.

Rare-earth-doped on-chip microlasers are of great significance in both fundamental research and engineering. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of Yb-doped and Er/Yb-codoped on-chip microsphere lasers fabricated via sol-gel synthesis. Laser emissions were observed in a band around 1040 nm in both Yb-doped and Er/Yb-codoped resonators pumped at 980 nm and had measured ultralow thresholds of 5.

A γ-PGA/KGM-based injectable hydrogel as immunoactive and antibacterial wound dressing for skin wound repair.

Injectable hydrogels, of which the cover area and volume can be flexibly adjusted according to the shape and depth of the wound, are considered to be an ideal material for wound dressing. Konjac glucomannan (KGM) is a natural polysaccharide with immunomodulatory capability, while γ-polyglutamic acid (γ-PGA) is a single chain polyamino acid with moisturizing, water-retention and antibacterial properties. This work intended to combine the advantages of the two materials to prepare an injectable hydrogel (P-OK) by mixing the adipic acid dihydrazide (ADH) modified γ-PGA with oxidized KGM.

Scalable higher-order exceptional surface with passive resonators.

The sensitivity of perturbation sensing can be effectively enhanced with higher-order exceptional points due to the nonlinear response to frequency splitting. However, experimental implementation is challenging since all the parameters need to be precisely prepared. The emergence of an exceptional surface (ES) improves the robustness of the system to the external environment, while maintaining the same sensitivity.

κ/β-Carrageenan oligosaccharides promoting polarization of LPS-activated macrophage and their potential in diabetes wound healing.

Here we prepared a low-degree-sulfated κ/β-carrageenan oligosaccharide (L-DS-KOS) by DMSO-methanol desulfation method, and fabricated a sponge dressing for the wound healing of diabetic rats. The immunomodulatory effects of L-DS-KOS on M1-like macrophages were evaluated. Results showed that L-DS-KOS could effectively promote the secretion of anti-inflammatory factors and accelerate polarization of LPS-activated macrophages from M1 to M2 type.

Anti-Parasitic Activity of Cherry Tomato Peel Powders.

Trichomoniasis in humans, caused by the protozoal parasite is the most common non-viral sexually transmitted disease, while causes trichomonosis, an infection of the gastrointestinal tract and diarrhea in farm animals and domesticated cats. As part of an effort to determine the inhibitory effects of plant-based extracts and pure compounds, seven commercially available cherry tomato varieties were hand-peeled, freeze-dried, and pounded into powders. The anti-trichomonad inhibitory activities of these peel powders at 0.

A carrageenan/agarose composite sponge and its immunomodulatory activities toward RAW264.7.

A kind of commercial hybrid carrageenan (HC)/agarose composite sponge containing κ-, μ-, ι-, and ν-carrageenan, which could turn into hydrogel and release carrageenan at human body temperature was fabricated for immune stimulation and modulation. Release behavior demonstrated that the hybrid carrageenan contained sponge was mechanically stable and could release carrageenan constantly. RT-PCR and ELISA experiments showed that the leaching liquor of the sponge could stimulate RAW264.

Manipulation of optomechanically induced transparency and absorption by indirectly coupling to an auxiliary cavity mode.

We theoretically study the optomechanically induced transparency (OMIT) and absorption (OMIA) phenomena in a single microcavity optomechanical system, assisted by an indirectly coupled auxiliary cavity mode. We show that the interference effect between the two optical modes plays an important role and can be used to control the multiple-pathway induced destructive or constructive interference effect. The three-pathway interference could induce an absorption dip within the transparent window in the red sideband driving regime, while we can switch back and forth between OMIT and OMIA with the four-pathway interference.

Let-7c-5p inhibits cell proliferation and induces cell apoptosis by targeting ERCC6 in breast cancer.

In this study, we found that let-7c-5p expression was clearly downregulated in breast cancer tissues compared with that of corresponding adjacent tissues. Furthermore, overexpression of let-7c-5p in MCF-7 breast cancer cells could significantly inhibit cell proliferation and induce cell apoptosis. The target genes of let-7c-5p were predicted by the way of bioinformatics, and validated by dual luciferase reporter assay and western blotting demonstrating that excision repair cross complementing 6 (ERCC6) gene was a direct target.

Genome-wide screen identifies a novel prognostic signature for breast cancer survival.

Large genomic datasets in combination with clinical data can be used as an unbiased tool to identify genes important in patient survival and discover potential therapeutic targets. We used a genome-wide screen to identify 587 genes significantly and robustly deregulated across four independent breast cancer (BC) datasets compared to normal breast tissue. Gene expression of 381 genes was significantly associated with relapse-free survival (RFS) in BC patients.

Dual responsive zein hydrogel membrane with selective protein adsorption and sustained release property.

Drug-loaded hydrogels have been paid increasing attentions in biomedical fields. As a sort of natural plant protein, zein generally cannot form hydrogel with high water retention because of its predominant hydrophobicity, which will limit its application as biomaterial. In this paper, zein electrospun fibrous membranes (ZEFM) are fabricated through a chemical modification of zein using citric acid and acetic anhydride.

Effects of sulfate group in red seaweed polysaccharides on anticoagulant activity and cytotoxicity.

In this paper, the structural effects of two main red seaweed polysaccharides (agarose and carrageenan) and their sulfated derivatives on the anticoagulant activity and cytotoxicity were investigated. The substitution position rather than the substitution degree of sulfate groups shows the biggest impact on both the anticoagulant activity and the cell proliferation. Among them, C-2 of 3,6-anhydro-α-d-Galp is the most favorable position for substitution, whereas C-6 of β-d-Galp is the most disadvantageous.

Coaxial electrospun zein nanofibrous membrane for sustained release.

Zein nanofibrous membranes for sustained release have been prepared by coaxial electrospinning. Core-sheath structure has been successfully fabricated using zein as both the core and sheath component. Impact of solvent and solution concentration on the morphology of the resulting fibers was investigated.

Proteomics analysis reveals diabetic kidney as a ketogenic organ in type 2 diabetes.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease. To date, the molecular mechanisms of DN remain largely unclear. The present study aimed to identify and characterize novel proteins involved in the development of DN by a proteomic approach.

Immobilization of type-I collagen and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) onto poly (HEMA-co-MMA) hydrogel surface and its cytotoxicity study.

Type-I collagen and bFGF were immobilized onto the surface of poly (HEMA-co-MMA) hydrogel by grafting and coating methods to improve its cytotoxicity. The multi-layered structure of the biocompatible layer was confirmed by FTIR, AFM and static water contact angles. The layers were stable in body-like environment (pH 7.

Recent progress in protein imprinting technology.

Protein-imprinted materials have drawn great attention nowadays for their promising application in biotechnology and biomedical engineering. Despite the success of molecular imprinting technique of small molecules in chemical and biomedical industry, imprinting of large molecules especially biomacromolecules remains a challenge. In recent years, however, a number of significant protein imprints have been reported, some of which may have great potential in applications for chromatography and biosensors.

Agar/collagen membrane as skin dressing for wounds.

Agar, a highly hydrophilic polymer, has a special gel property and favorable biocompatibility, but moderate intension strength in an aqueous condition and a low degradation rate. In order to tailor both properties of mechanical intension and degradation, type I collagen was composited with agar in a certain ratio by drying at 50 degrees C or by a freeze-dry process. Glutaraldehyde was chosen as a crosslinking agent, and the most favorable condition for crosslinking was that the weight ratio of agar to glutaraldehyde was 66.

On comparison of mixture models for closed population capture-recapture studies.

A mixture model is a natural choice to deal with individual heterogeneity in capture-recapture studies. Pledger (2000, Biometrics 56, 434-442; 2005, Biometrics 61, 868-876) advertised the use of the two-point mixture model. Dorazio and Royle (2003, Biometrics 59, 351-364; 2005, Biometrics 61, 874-876) suggested that the beta-binomial model has advantages.

Agarose/collagen composite scaffold as an anti-adhesive sheet.

The objective of this work was to find a new material or new technology to achieve satisfactory post-surgery anti-adhesion. An agarose/collagen composite sheet was developed to prevent mesenchymal cells and extracellular matrix from adhering on the lesion site, in which agarose formed uniaxial channels that hindered penetration and intercommunication of cells among pores in a 3D sheet. The tensile strength of the composite sheet in the designed ratio of agarose and collagen was over 17 MPa in dry and 2 MPa in wet, which was suitable and convenient to be sewed or operated on in other general surgery.