Distinct mechanisms of iron and zinc metal ions on osteo-immunomodulation of silicocarnotite bioceramics.

The immunomodulatory of implants have drawn more and more attention these years. However, the immunomodulatory of different elements on the same biomaterials have been rarely investigated. In this work, two widely used biosafety elements, iron and zinc added silicocarnotite (Ca(PO)SiO, CPS) were applied to explore the routine of elements on immune response.

Sol-gel preparation of ZrO-LiSiO ceramics and their sintering properties.

Despite zirconia (ZrO) ceramics and lithium disilicate (LiSiO) glass-ceramics have been widely applied on the market for dental restorations, composites that can combine the advantages of both are still demanded. Here we introduced a ZrO-LiSiO ceramic with minimized glass phases that fabricated through a sol-gel method and subsequent pressureless sintering. ZrO-LiSiO powders were obtained after the gel precursors were heat treated under 800 °C.

Design of a Smart Self-Healing Coating with Multiple-Responsive Superhydrophobicity and Its Application in Antibiofouling and Antibacterial Abilities.

Inspired by the restoration of the superhydrophobic surfaces after the damage in nature such as lotus leaf and clover, smart self-healing coating with controllable release of loaded healing agents is both of scientific and technological interest. Herein, a smart self-healing coating with superhydrophobicity was gained through blending UV/NIR/acid/base multiple-responsive ZnO-encapsulated mesoporous polydopamine (MPDA) microspheres (zinc oxide-encapsulated mesoporous polydopamine microspheres) with silicone latex and hydrophobic nanoparticles. The hydrophobic and micro/nanostructured ZnO-encapsulated MPDA microspheres provided UV/NIR/acid/base multiple response sources for the smart self-healing coating, combining the photocatalytic activity and acid/base solubility of ZnO nanoparticles, zwitterionic characteristic of amino-modified silicone oil (ASO), as well as the photothermal conversion abilities and charge characteristics of PDA.

Efficient antibacterial activity of hydroxyapatite through ROS generation motivated by trace Mn(iii) coupled H vacancies.

Hydroxyapatite (HA) has attracted wide attention for medical application due to its biocompatibility and bioactivity. However, the infection problems of HA remain among the leading reasons for implantation failure. Thus, it is urgent to endow HA biomaterials with antibacterial activity.

Mild generation of surface oxygen vacancies on CeO for improved CO photoreduction activity.

The vacancy defects of semiconductor photocatalysts play key roles in enhancing their photocatalytic CO reduction activity. In this work, CeO was chosen as a model catalyst and oxygen vacancies were introduced on its surface by a facile and mild oxalic acid treatment followed by moderate heating in N. Such a treatment resulted in a much increased ratio of Ce/Ce in CeO, and the oxygen vacancy-enriched CeO showed remarkably enhanced photocatalytic activity in CO reduction, with CO being the dominant reduction product, whose yield was about 8 times that on the pristine CeO.

Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Dual-Mode Chemo-Sonodynamic Therapy by Low-Energy Ultrasound.

Low-energy ultrasound (LEUS), exhibiting obvious advantages as a safe therapeutic strategy, would be promising for cancer therapy. We had synthesized a LEUS-responsive targeted drug delivery system based on functional mesoporous silica nanoparticle for cancer therapy. Paclitaxel (PTX) was loaded in mesoporous silica nanoparticles with a hydrophobic internal channel, and folic acid (FA) functionalized β-Cyclodextrin (β-CD) was capped on the surface of the nanoparticles (DESN), which acted as a cancer-targeting moiety and solubilizer.

A redox cycling-amplified electrochemical immunosensor for α-fetoprotein sensitive detection via polydopamine nanolabels.

A sandwich-type electrochemical immunosensor for sensitive detection of a tumor marker, α-fetoprotein (AFP), was fabricated by employing polydopamine-detection antibody nanoparticles (PDANPs-Ab2) as selective redox cycling-based signal amplifiers on an electrodeposited nano-gold electrode. In this research, PDANPs prepared through oxidative polymerization of dopamine were found to amplify the oxidation charge transfer of the electrochemical mediator (1,1'-ferrocene dimethanol, FDM), which was supported by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) investigation. Therefore, PDANPs were utilized as label materials of electrochemical immunosensors to enhance sensitivity for the first time.

Efficient Active Oxygen Free Radical Generated in Tumor Cell by Loading-(HCONH₂)·H₂O₂ Delivery Nanosystem with Soft-X-ray Radiotherapy.

Tumor hypoxia is known to result in radiotherapy resistance and traditional radiotherapy using super-hard X-ray irradiation can cause considerable damage to normal tissue. Therefore, formamide peroxide (FPO) with high reactive oxygen content was employed to enhance the oxygen concentration in tumor cells and increase the radio-sensitivity of low-energy soft-X-ray. To improve stability of FPO, FPO is encapsulated into polyacrylic acid (PAA)-coated hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (FPO@HMSNs-PAA).

The Effect and Osteoblast Signaling Response of Trace Silicon Doping Hydroxyapatite.

It is commonly accepted that silicon-doped hydroxyapatite (HAp) can achieve good repair effects for both spinal fusion and bone defect filling. However, the underlying mechanism by which silicon aids such beneficial effects is still not fully understood. Herein, we report on silicon-doped hydroxyapatites with excellent biocompatibility to osteoblast cells and suggest the signaling pathway involved.

Efficient free radical generation against cancer cells by low-dose X-ray irradiation with a functional SPC delivery nanosystem.

Tumor hypoxia is a negative prognostic factor in cancer radiotherapy, due in part to its role in causing resistance to radiotherapy. It has attracted extensive critical attention to radiation sensitizers by using active oxygen to improve radiotherapy outcome. Active oxygen delivery functional materials are promising candidates to transport active oxygen to tumor cells.

Functional hydroxyapatite bioceramics with excellent osteoconductivity and stern-interface induced antibacterial ability.

The biocompatibility and antibacterial properties of hydroxyapatite (HAp) bioceramics are crucial in medical applications. However, it is still a challenge to control HAp with antibacterial ability while maintaining other biological properties in the development of bioactive bone implants. Herein, we report functional silver ion substituted HAp bioceramics with excellent osteoconductivity and efficient antibacterial activity and propose a stern-interface induced antibacterial mechanism of such bioactive ceramics.

Lysosome-controlled efficient ROS overproduction against cancer cells with a high pH-responsive catalytic nanosystem.

Excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been proved to damage cancer cells efficiently. ROS overproduction is thus greatly desirable for cancer therapy. To date, ROS production is generally uncontrollable and outside cells, which always bring severe side-effects in the vasculature.

Selective intracellular free radical generation against cancer cells by bioactivation of low-dose artesunate with a functionalized mesoporous silica nanosystem.

Excessive free radicals are noxious for living organisms and lead to cell death. Destruction of malignant cells by reactive free radicals has been widely used in cancer treatment. A key consideration is how to allow targeted free radical attack on cancer cells and avoid unwanted side-effects.