Gold nanorod-based poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) with manganese dioxide core-shell structured multifunctional nanoplatform for cancer theranostic applications.

Recently, photothermal therapy has become a promising strategy in tumor treatment. However, the therapeutic effect was seriously hampered by the low tissue penetration of laser. Therefore, in this study, radiofrequency (RF) with better tissue penetration was used for tumor hyperthermia.

High oral bioavailability of 2-methoxyestradiol in PEG-PLGA micelles-microspheres for cancer therapy.

The development of effective oral preparations of 2-methoxyestradiol (2-ME) has been a worldwide problem. In this study, breakthrough progress has been made in oral delivery of 2-ME by encapsulating 2-ME micelles in pH-responsive microspheres. 2-ME micelles with small particle size (58nm) and high drug loading (7.

A pH-responsive prodrug delivery system of 10-HCPT for controlled release and tumor targeting.

We synthesized a pH-responsive conjugate of 10-hydroxycamptothecin-thiosemicarbazide-linear polyethylene glycol 2000 (PEG2000). The conjugate was confirmed by matrix-assisted laser desorption time of flight mass spectrometry, H NMR, and C NMR. The water solubility of the prodrug was increased by over 3,000 times; much longer body circulation time, higher tumor-targeting ability, and reduced toxicity were observed, compared with commercial 10-HCPT injection.

Shallow Acceptor State in Mg-Doped CuAlO and Its Effect on Electrical and Optical Properties: An Experimental and First-Principles Study.

Shallow acceptor states in Mg-doped CuAlO and their effect on structural, electrical, and optical properties are investigated by combining first-principles calculations and experiments. First-principles calculations demonstrate that Mg substituting at the Al site in CuAlO plays the role of shallow acceptor and has a low formation energy, suggesting that Mg doping can increase hole concentration and improve the conductivity of CuAlO. Hall effect measurements indicate that the hole concentration of the Mg-doped CuAlO thin film is 2 orders of magnitude higher than that of undoped CuAlO.

Covalent self-assembled nanoparticles with pH-dependent enhanced tumor retention and drug release for improving tumor therapeutic efficiency.

Developing a smart drug delivery system with enhanced tumor retention at the tumor site, and rapid intracellular drug release promises to improve the therapeutic index and mitigate side effects. To this end, covalent phenylboronic acid (PBA)-based self-assembly nanoparticles (BNPs) consisting of pH-responsive cores and detachable poloxamer 188 shells were constructed for loading doxorubicin (DOX) in a simple process. The poloxamer 188 coating could be easily detached when the breakage of the borate ester bonds in the external nanocores was initially triggered in the tumor extracellular weak acid environment.

Copper sulfide nanoparticle-based localized drug delivery system as an effective cancer synergistic treatment and theranostic platform.

Unlabelled: Localized cancer treatment with combination therapy has attracted increasing attention for effective inhibition of tumor growth. In this work, we introduced diffusion molecular retention (DMR) tumor targeting effect, a new strategy that employed transferrin (Tf) modified hollow mesoporous CuS nanoparticles (HMCuS NPs) to undergo extensive diffuse through the interstitium and tumor retention after a peritumoral (PT) injection. Herein, HMCuS NPs with strong near-infrared (NIR) absorption and photothermal conversion efficiency could serve as not only a drug carrier but also a powerful contrast agent for photoacoustic imaging to guide chemo-phototherapy.

Wavelength-Tunable Electroluminescent Light Sources from Individual Ga-Doped ZnO Microwires.

Electrically driven wavelength-tunable light emission from biased individual Ga-doped ZnO microwires (ZnO:Ga MWs) is demonstrated. Single crystalline ZnO:Ga MWs with different Ga-doping concentrations have been synthesized using a one-step chemical vapor deposition method. Strong electrically driven light emission from individual ZnO:Ga MW based devices is realized with tunable colors, and the emission region is localized toward the center of the wires.

Identifying community healthcare supports for the elderly and the factors affecting their aging care model preference: evidence from three districts of Beijing.

Background: The Chinese tradition of filial piety, which prioritized family-based care for the elderly, is transitioning and elders can no longer necessarily rely on their children. The purpose of this study was to identify community support for the elderly, and analyze the factors that affect which model of old-age care elderly people dwelling in communities prefer.

Methods: We used the database "Health and Social Support of Elderly Population in Community".

Cit/CuS@FeO-based and enzyme-responsive magnetic nanoparticles for tumor chemotherapy, photothermal, and photodynamic therapy.

Safe and efficient drug delivery in a controllable fashion, especially remote and repeatable switch of on-demand drug release, is the subject of widespread attention. A kind of magnetic nanoparticles (DOX-Cit/CuS@FeO-NPs) simultaneously consisted of Cit/CuS@FeO and doxorubicin (DOX) was presented. The drug release from DOX-Cit/CuS@FeO-NPs could be successfully triggered by the presence of gelatinase, showing great promise for tumor-targeted drug release through an enzymatic degradation mechanism.

Highly Wavelength-Selective Enhancement of Responsivity in Ag Nanoparticle-Modified ZnO UV Photodetector.

We proposed and demonstrated Ag nanoparticles (NPs)-decorated ZnO photodetectors for UV light sensing. After decoration of their surface with random Ag NPs, the dark current density of ZnO UV photodetectors decreases obviously. Moreover, the device exhibits an obvious increase in peak responsivity at around 380 nm, which can be attributed to the narrow-band quadrupole plasmon resonance of Ag NPs in the UV range.

Epigallocatechin gallate based magnetic gold nanoshells nanoplatform for cancer theranostic applications.

Recently, gold nanomaterials and iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) have attracted much attention due to their unique physical, chemical and biological properties. In this study, polyethyleneimine (PEI)-modified FeO NPs (inner cores) were first prepared, and then gold shells (AuNSs) were innovatively formed on the cores using epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) as the reducing agent to obtain FeO-PEI@AuNSs-EGCG core-shell NPs. After PEG modification, the FeO-PEI@AuNSs-EGCG/PEG nanoplatform was completed.

Multifunctional nanoplatform for enhanced photodynamic cancer therapy and magnetic resonance imaging.

Co-delivery of photosensitizers and synergistic agents by one single nanoplatform is interesting for enhancing photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer. Here, a multifunctional nanoplatform for enhanced photodynamic therapy and magnetic resonance imaging of cancer was constructed. The poly (lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) loaded with hematoporphyrin monomethyl ether (HMME) were coated with multifunctional manganese dioxide (MnO) shells, which were designed as PLGA/HMME@MnO NPs.

Postnatal alteration of monocarboxylate transporter 1 expression in the rat corpus callosum.

In the central nervous system (CNS), monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1) is expressed in astrocytes and endothelial cells but also in oligodendroglia. Oligodendroglia support neurons and axons through lactate transportation by MCT1. Limited information is available on the MCT1 expression changes in candidate cells in the developing rat brain, especially in corpus callosum which is the most vulnerable area in demyelinating diseases.

An Intelligent and Tumor-Responsive Fe Donor and Fe-Dependent Drugs Cotransport System.

Fe plays an essential role for artemisinin (ART)-based drugs in anticancer therapy. As a result, it is important to realize these two agents' cotransport for improving antitumor efficacy. We utilized a kind of alternating magnetic field (AMF) and tumor-responsive material-mesoporous FeO (mFeO)-to encapsulate ART.

Folic acid-modified and functionalized CuS nanocrystal-based nanoparticles for combined tumor chemo- and photothermal therapy.

Recent studies have identified that CuS nanocrystal (CuS NCs) could be used as a new class of promising photo-thermal agents due to their excellent plasmonic absorption abilities in a wide near-infrared (NIR) region. However, most of nanocarriers lack target capacity for combining chemotherapy and photothermal therapy effects. Herein, we reported chitosan (CS)-encapsulated and folic acid (FA)-modified nanoparticles (NPs) simultaneously loading with functionalized CuS NCs and docetaxel (DTX) (FA-DTX-PVP/CuS-NPs).

Programmed near-infrared light-responsive drug delivery system for combined magnetic tumor-targeting magnetic resonance imaging and chemo-phototherapy.

Unlabelled: In this study, an intelligent drug delivery system was developed by capping doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded hollow mesoporous CuS nanoparticles (HMCuS NPs) with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs). Under near infrared (NIR) light irradiation, the versatile HMCuS NPs could exploit the merits of both photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) simultaneously. Herein, the multifunctional IONPs as gatekeeper with the enhanced capping efficiency were supposed to realize "zero premature release" and minimize the adverse side effects during the drug delivery in vivo.

A gold nanostar based multi-functional tumor-targeting nanoplatform for tumor theranostic applications.

Recently, gold nanomaterials have attracted extensive attention due to their unique physical, chemical and biological properties. In this study, gold nanostars (GNSTs) were synthesized first and functionalized with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polyethylenimine (PEI). We found that GNSTs and their derivatives can be used as radiofrequency (RF) sensitizers for hyperthermia due to their special star shaped structure.

Ultrasensitive Self-Powered Solar-Blind Deep-Ultraviolet Photodetector Based on All-Solid-State Polyaniline/MgZnO Bilayer.

A high sensitivity self-powered solar-blind photodetector is successfully constructed based on the polyaniline/MgZnO bilayer. The maximum responsivity of the photodetector is 160 μA W at 250 nm under 0 V bias. The device also exhibits a high on/off ratio of ≈10 under 250 nm illumination at a relatively weak light intensity of 130 μW cm without any power.

Acute toxicity assessment of explosive-contaminated soil extracting solution by luminescent bacteria assays.

Explosive-contaminated soil is harmful to people's health and the local ecosystem. The acute toxicity of its extracting solution was tested by bacterial luminescence assay using three kinds of luminescent bacteria to characterize the toxicity of the soil. An orthogonal test L (4) was designed to optimize the soil extracting conditions.

Single-walled carbon nanotube-loaded doxorubicin and Gd-DTPA for targeted drug delivery and magnetic resonance imaging.

An aspargine-glycine-arginine (NGR) peptide modified single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) system, developed by a simple non-covalent approach, could be loaded with the anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent gadolinium-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA). This DOX- and Gd-DTPA-loaded NGR functionalized SWCNTs (DOX/NGR-SWCNTs/Gd-DPTA) retained both cytotoxicity of DOX and MRI contrast effect of Gd-DPTA. This drug delivery system showed excellent stability in physiological solutions.

[Modified (Wu's) esophagectomy for a huge thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma 18.3 cm in length].

An esophageal squamous cell carcinoma measuring 18.3 cm in length and 5 cm in diameter was found in the mediastinum of a 53-year man. The patient underwent a modified 3-stage esophagectomy and an esophagogastrostomy at the cervical level (Wu's method).

Smart nanocomposite hydrogels based on azo crosslinked graphene oxide for oral colon-specific drug delivery.

A safe and efficient nanocomposite hydrogel for colon cancer drug delivery was synthesized using pH-sensitive and biocompatible graphene oxide (GO) containing azoaromatic crosslinks as well as poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) (GO-N=N-GO/PVA composite hydrogels). Curcumin (CUR), an anti-cancer drug, was encapsulated successfully into the hydrogel through a freezing and thawing process. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy were performed to confirm the formation and morphological properties of the nanocomposite hydrogel.

In vitro and in vivo chemo-phototherapy of magnetic TiO2 drug delivery system formed by pH-sensitive coordination bond.

To achieve tumor-specific delivery of doxorubicin, TiO@FeO/PEI/delivery of doxorubicin conjugates were designed and synthesized. FeO could act as magnetically responsive carriers and enhance the visible light photodynamic activities of TiO Delivery of doxorubicin was conjugated via coordination bond. The drug release rate at pH 5.

Influencing Mechanism of the Selenization Temperature and Time on the Power Conversion Efficiency of Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4-Based Solar Cells.

Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 (CZTSSe) films were deposited on the Mo-coated glass substrates, and the CZTSSe-based solar cells were successfully fabricated by a facile solution method and postselenization technique. The influencing mechanisms of the selenization temperature and time on the power conversion efficiency (PCE), short-circuit current density (Jsc), open-circuit voltage (Voc), and fill factor (FF) of the solar cell are systematically investigated by studying the change of the shunt conductance (Gsh), series resistance (Rs), diode ideal factor (n), and reversion saturation current density (J0) with structure and crystal quality of the CZTSSe film and CZTSSe/Mo interface selenized at various temperatures and times. It is found that a Mo(S1-x,Sex)2 (MSSe) layer with hexagonal structure exists at the CZTSSe/Mo interface at the temperature of 500 °C, and its thickness increases with increasing selenization temperature and time.

Fullerene (C60)-based tumor-targeting nanoparticles with "off-on" state for enhanced treatment of cancer.

The traditional drug delivery systems always suffer from the unexpected drug release during circulation and the sluggish release of drug in target site. To address the problem, an "off-on" type drug delivery system with precise control was developed in this study. Doxorubicin (DOX) was covalently conjugated to fullerene (C60) nanoaggregates via a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-sensitive thioketal linker (C60-DOX NPs), and then the hydrophilic shell (Distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-PEG-CNGRCK2HK3HK11, DSPE-PEG-NGR) was attached to the outer surface of C60-DOX, giving it (C60-DOX-NGR NP) excellent stability in physiological solutions and active tumor-targeting capacity.