Bio-Inspired Screwed Conduits from the Microfluidic Rope-Coiling Effect for Microvessels and Bronchioles

Tubular microfibers have recently attracted extensive interest for applications in tissue engineering.However,the fabrication of tubular fibers with intricate hierarchical structures remains a major challenge.Here,we present a novel one-step microfluidic spinning method to generate bio-inspired screwed conduits(BSCs).Based on the microfluidic rope-coiling effect,a viscous hydrogel precursor is first curved into a helix stream in the channel,and then consecutively packed as a hollow structured stream and gelated into a screwed conduit(SC)via ionic and covalent crosslinking.By taking advantage of the excellent fluid-controlling ability of microfluidics,various tubes with diverse structures are fabricated via simple control over fluid velocities and multiple microfluidic device designs.The perfusability and permeability results,as well as the encapsulation and culture of human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs),human pulmonary alveolar epithelial cells(HPAs),and myogenic cells(C2C12),demonstrate that these SCs have good perfusability and permeability and the ability to induce the formation of functional biostructures.These features support the uniqueness and potential applications of these BSCs as biomimetic blood vessels and bronchiole tissues in combination with tissue microstructures,with likely application possibilities in biomedical engineering.

Ag nanoparticles sensitize IR-induced killing of cancer cells

Dear Editor, Nanosized particulate systems combining better cancer diagnosis with therapeutic effect are being designed based on the merging of nanotechnology with cellular and molecular techniques. The surface of these nanoscale carriers is often functionalized with biological molecules for stabilization and targeted delivery. The combinations of nano-core and associated functional molecules can cross the cell membrane [1], and the surface of nanomaterials （including coating and associated functional molecules） plays a critical role in determining the outcome of their interactions with cells [2, 3]. Studying the potential effects of nanomaterials in biological systems often requires the administration of nanoparticles into a cell culture system or into living organisms in vivo. It should be noted, however, that under such conditions nanopaticles are known to adsorb proteins from the biological system,

Size-dependent peroxidase-like catalytic activity of Fe_3O_4 nanoparticles

Peroxidase-like catalytic properties of Fe3O4 nanoparficles （NPs） with three different sizes, synthesized by chemical coprecipitation and sol-gel methods, were investigated by UV-vis spectrum analysis. By comparing Fe3O4 NPs with average diameters of 11, 20, and 150 nm, we found that the catalytic activity increases with the reduced nanoparticle size. The electrochemical method to characterize the catalytic activity of Fe3O4 NPs using the response currents of the reaction product and substrate was also developed.

Current applications and future prospects of nanotechnology in cancer immunotherapy

Cancer immunotherapy is an artificial stimulation of the immune system to recognize cancer cells and activate specific immune cells to target and attack cancer cells.In clinical trials, immunotherapy has recently shown impressive results in the treatment of multiple cancers.Thus, cancer immunotherapy has gained a lot of attention for its unique advantages and promising future.With extensive research on cancer immunotherapy, its safety and effectiveness has gradually been revealed.However, it is still a huge challenge to expand and drive this therapy while maintaining low toxicity, high specificity, and long-lasting efficacy.As a unique technology, nanotechnology has been applied in many fields, the advantages of which will promote the development of cancer immunotherapies.Researchers have tried to apply nanomaterials to cancer immunotherapy due to their advantageous properties,such as large specific surface areas, effective drug delivery, and controlled surface chemistry, to improve treatment efficacy.Here,we briefly introduce the current applications of nanomaterials in cancer immunotherapy, including adoptive cell therapy(ACT),therapeutic cancer vaccines, and monoclonal antibodies, and throw light on future directions of nanotechnology-based cancer immunotherapy.

Use of packed-fiber solid-phase extraction for sample clean-up and preconcentration of vitamin B_(12) before determination

A rapid and simple preconcentration step applying packed-fiber solid-phase extraction columns has been investigated to vitamin B12. The extraction performance of the new method was investigated preliminarily on vitamin functional drink. The analysis used a reversed-phase C18 column, with a photo-diode array detector at 220 nm. The samples were preconcentrated with packed-fiber solid-phase extraction columns. Good linearity was observed in vitamin functional drink. The repeatability of extraction performance, expressed as relative standard deviations, was from 3.5% to 4.3%. The limit of detection （LOD） is 5 ng mL^-1 （S/N = 3）. Finally, the method had been applied for the determination of vitamin B12 in vitamin functional drink.

Magnetic brain stimulation using iron oxide nanoparticle-mediated selective treatment of the left prelimbic cortex as a novel strategy to rapidly improve depressive-like symptoms in mice

Magnetic brain stimulation has greatly contributed to the advancement of neuroscience.However,challenges remain in the power of penetration and precision of magnetic stimulation,especially in small animals.Here,a novel combined magnetic stimulation system(c-MSS)was established for brain stimulation in mice.The c-MSS uses a mild magnetic pulse sequence and injection of superparamagnetic iron oxide(SPIO)nanodrugs to elevate local cortical susceptibility.After imaging of the SPIO nanoparticles in the left prelimbic(Pr L)cortex in mice,we determined their safety and physical characteristics.Depressive-like behavior was established in mice using a chronic unpredictable mild stress(CUMS)model.SPIO nanodrugs were then delivered precisely to the left Pr L cortex using in situ injection.A 0.1 T magnetic field(adjustable frequency)was used for magnetic stimulation(5 min/session,two sessions daily).Biomarkers representing therapeutic effects were measured before and after c-MSS intervention.Results showed that c-MSS rapidly improved depressive-like symptoms in CUMS mice after stimulation with a 10 Hz field for 5 d,combined with increased brainderived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)and inactivation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal(HPA)axis function,which enhanced neuronal activity due to SPIO nanoparticle-mediated effects.The c-MSS was safe and effective,representing a novel approach in the selective stimulation of arbitrary cortical targets in small animals,playing a bioelectric role in neural circuit regulation,including antidepressant effects in CUMS mice.This expands the potential applications of magnetic stimulation and progresses brain research towards clinical application.

Design of a ZnO/Poly(vinylidene fluoride)inverse opal film for photon localization-assisted full solar spectrum photocatalysis

Owing to its photonic band gap(PBG)and slow light effects,aniline black(AB)-poly(vinylidene fluoride)(PVDF)inverse opal(IO)photonic crystal(PC)was constructed to promote the utility of light and realize photothermal synergetic catalysis.As a highly efficient reaction platform with the capability of restricting heat,a microreactor was introduced to further amplify the photothermal effects of near infrared(NIR)radiation.The photocatalytic efficiency of ZnO/0.5AB-PVDF IO(Z0.5A)increases 1.63-fold compared to that of pure ZnO film under a full solar spectrum,indicating the effectiveness of synergetic promotion by slow light and photothermal effects.Moreover,a 5.85-fold increase is achieved by combining Z0.5A with a microreactor compared to the film in a beaker.The photon localization effect of PVDF IO was further exemplified by finite-difference time-domain(FDTD)calculations.In conclusion,photonic crystal-microreactor enhanced photothermal catalysis has immense potential for alleviating the deteriorating water environment.

Organoids revealed:morphological analysis of the profound next generation in-vitro model with artificial intelligence

In modern terminology,“organoids”refer to cells that grow in a specific three-dimensional(3D)environment in vitro,sharing similar structures with their source organs or tissues.Observing themorphology or growth characteristics of organoids through a microscope is a commonly used method of organoid analysis.However,it is difficult,time-consuming,and inaccurate to screen and analyze organoids only manually,a problem which cannot be easily solved with traditional technology.Artificial intelligence(AI)technology has proven to be effective in many biological and medical research fields,especially in the analysis of single-cell or hematoxylin/eosin stained tissue slices.When used to analyze organoids,AI should also provide more efficient,quantitative,accurate,and fast solutions.In this review,we will first briefly outline the application areas of organoids and then discuss the shortcomings of traditional organoid measurement and analysis methods.Secondly,we will summarize the development from machine learning to deep learning and the advantages of the latter,and then describe how to utilize a convolutional neural network to solve the challenges in organoid observation and analysis.Finally,we will discuss the limitations of current AI used in organoid research,as well as opportunities and future research directions.

Epitaxial Growth and Characteristics of Nonpolar a-Plane InGaN Films with Blue-Green-Red Emission and Entire In Content Range

Nonpolar(1120)plane In_(x)Ga_(1-x)N epilayers comprising the entire In content(x)range were successfully grown on nanoscale Ga N islands by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition.The structural and optical properties were studied intensively.It was found that the surface morphology was gradually smoothed when x increased from 0.06 to 0.33,even though the crystalline quality was gradually declined,which was accompanied by the appearance of phase separation in the In_(x)Ga_(1-x)N layer.Photoluminescence wavelengths of 478 and 674 nm for blue and red light were achieved for x varied from 0.06 to 0.33.Furthermore,the corresponding average lifetime(τ_(1/e))of carriers for the nonpolar In Ga N film was decreased from 406 ps to 267 ps,indicating that a high-speed modulation bandwidth can be expected for nonpolar In Ga N-based light-emitting diodes.Moreover,the bowing coefficient(b)of the(1120)plane In Ga N was determined to be 1.91 e V for the bandgap energy as a function of x.

Influence of spinal cord injury on core regions of motor function

Functional electrical stimulation is an effective way to rebuild hindlimb motor function after spinal cord injury.However,no site map exists to serve as a reference for implanting stimulator electrodes.In this study,rat models of thoracic spinal nerve 9 contusion were established by a heavy-impact method and rat models of T6/8/9 spinal cord injury were established by a transection method.Intraspinal microstimulation was performed to record motion types,site coordinates,and threshold currents induced by stimulation.After transection(complete injury),the core region of hip flexion migrated from the T13 to T12 vertebral segment,and the core region of hip extension migrated from the L1 to T13 vertebral segment.Migration was affected by post-transection time,but not transection segment.Moreover,the longer the post-transection time,the longer the distance of migration.This study provides a reference for spinal electrode implantation after spinal cord injury.This study was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Nantong University,China(approval No.20190225-008)on February 26,2019.

Evaluation of a novel hybrid bioartificial liver based on a multi-layer flat-plate bioreactor

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a hybrid bioartificial liver (HBAL) system in the treatment of acute liver failure. METHODS: Canine models with acute liver failure were introduced with intravenous administration of D-galactosamine. The animals were divided into: the HBAL treatment group (n = 8), in which the canines received a 3-h treatment of HBAL; the bioartificial liver (BAL) treatment group (n = 8), in which the canines received a 3-h treatment of BAL; the non-bioartificial liver (NBAL) treatment group (n = 8), in which the canines received a 3-h treatment of NBAL; the control group (n = 8), in which the canines received no additional treatment. Biochemical parameters and survival time were determined. Levels of xenoantibodies, RNA of porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) and reverse transcriptase (RT) activity in the plasma were detected. RESULTS: Biochemical parameters were significantly decreased in all treatment groups. The TBIL level in the HBAL group was lower than that in other groups (2.19 ± 0.55 mmol/L vs 24.2 ± 6.45 mmol/L, 12.47 ± 3.62 mmol/L, 3.77 ± 1.83 mmol/L, P < 0.05). The prothrombin time (PT) in the BAL and HBAL groups was significantly shorter than the NBAL and control groups (18.47 ± 4.41 s, 15.5 ± 1.56 s vs 28.67 ± 5.71 s, 21.71 ± 3.4 s, P < 0.05), and the PT in the HBAL group was shortest of all the groups. The albumin in the BAL and HBAL groups significantly increased and a significantly higher level was observed in the HBAL group compared with the BAL group (27.7 ± 1.7 g/L vs 25.24 ± 1.93 g/L). In the HBAL group, the ammonia levels significantly decreased from 54.37 ± 6.86 to 37.75 ± 6.09 after treatment (P < 0.05); there were significant difference in ammonia levels between other the groups (P < 0.05). The levels of antibodies were similar before and after treatment. The PERV RNA and the RT activity in the canine plasma were all negative. CONCLUSION: The HBAL showed great efficiency and safety in the treatment of acute liver failure.

Endonuclease-rolling circle amplification-based method for sensitive analysis of DNA-binding protein

A sensitive approach for the qualitative detection of DNA-binding protein on the microarray was developed. DNA complexes in which a partial duplex region is formed from a biotin-primer and a circle single strand DNA （ssDNA） were spotted on a microarray. The endonuclease recognition site （ERS） and the DNA-binding sites （DBS） were arranged side by side within the duplex region. The working principle of the detection system is described as follows： when the DNA-binding protein capture the DBS, the endonuclease could not attach to the ERS, and the immobilized primer in the DNA complex could be extended along the circle ssDNA by rolling circle amplification （RCA）. When no protein protects the DBS, the ERS could be attacked by the endonuclease and subsequently no rolling circle amplification occurs. Thereby we can detect the sequence specific DNA-binding activity with high-sensitivity due to the signal amplification of RCA.

Influence of chitosan nanofiber scaffold on porcine endogenous retroviral expression and infectivity in pig hepatocytes

AIM: To investigate the influence of chitosan nanofiber scaffold on the production and infectivity of porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) expressed by porcine hepatocytes. METHODS: Freshly isolated porcine hepatocytes were cultured with or without chitosan nanofiber scaffold (defined as Nano group and Hep group) for 7 d. The daily collection of culture medium was used to detect reverse transcriptase (RT) activity with RT activity assaykits and PERV RNA by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real time PCR with the PERV specific primers. And Western blotting was performed with the lysates of daily retrieved cells to determine the PERV protein gag p30. Besides, the in-vitro infectivity of the supernatant was tested by incubating the human embryo kidney 293 (HEK293) cells. RESULTS: The similar changing trends between two groups were observed in real time PCR, RT activity assay and Western blotting. Two peaks of PERV expression at 10H and Day 2 were found and followed by a regular decline. No significant difference was found between two groups except the significantly high level of PERV RNA at Day 6 and PERV protein at Day 5 in Nano group than that in Hep group. And in the in-vitro infection experiment, no HEK293 cell was infected by the supernatant. CONCLUSION: Chitosan nanofiber scaffold might prolong the PERV secreting time in pig hepatocytes but would not obviously influence its productive amount and infectivity, so it could be applied in the bioartificial liver without the increased risk of the virus transmission.

Review: Progress in the Preparation of Iron Based Magnetic Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications

With unique physical properties, chemical properties, and biological effects, magnetic nanomaterials are important functional materials in many fields. In the past decades, iron based magnetic nanomaterials have attracted much attention in the biomedicine field due to their superior magnetic properties and great potential in biomedical applications. In particular, magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles(MIONPs) have been playing a crucial role in the biomedicine field because of their diagnostic and therapeutic functions. Meanwhile, MIONPs are benign, low toxic, biocompatible, and biodegradable, so they are the only inorganic magnetic nanomaterials approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration(FDA) for clinical use at present. In this review, we mainly introduce the progress in the preparation of iron based magnetic nanomaterials for biomedical applications, including pure iron nanoparticles, iron-based alloy nanoparticles, and MIONPs, with a focus on MIONPs. Also, we summarize the preparation methods of MIONPs and point out the importance of their developments.

Antibacterial Properties of Novel Bacterial Cellulose Nanofiber Containing Silver Nanoparticles

In this work,we describe a novel facile method to prepare long one-dimensional hybrid nanofibers by using hydrated bacterial cellulose nanofibers(BCF)as a template.Silver(Ag)nanoparticles with an average diameter of 1.5 nm were well dispersed on BCF via a simple in situ chemical-reduction between AgNO3and NaBH4at a relatively low temperature.A growth mechanism is proposed that Ag nanoparticles are uniformly anchored onto BCF by coordination with BC-containing hydroxyl groups.The bare BCF and as-prepared Ag/BCF hybrid nanofibers were characterized by several techniques including transmission electron microscopy,X-ray diffraction,thermogravimetric analyses,and ultraviolet-visible(UV-Vis)absorption spectra.The antibacterial properties of Ag/BCF hybrid nanofibers against Escherichia coli(E.coli,Gram-negative)and Staphylococcu saureus(S.saureus,Gram-positive)bacteria were evaluated by using modified Kirby Bauer method and colony forming count method.The results show that Ag nanoparticles are well dispersed on BCF surface via in situ chemical-reduction.The Ag/BCF hybrid nanofiber presents strong antibacterial property and thus offers its candidature for use as functional antimicrobial agents.

Calculated Optical Properties of Dielectric Shell Coated Gold Nanorods

Optical absorption spectra of dielectric shell coated gold nanorods are simulated using the discrete dipole ap- proximation method. The influence of the aspect ratio, shell thickness, dielectric constant of the shell, and surrounding medium on the longitudinal resonance mode is investigated. It is found that the coated dielectric shell does not affect the trend in the dependence of resonance position on the aspect ratio, while it broadens the resonant line width and reduces the sensitivity of plasmon resonance in response to changes of the surrounding medium. F^arthermore, the difference of dielectric constants between the shell and surrounding medium plays an important role in determining the resonance position. The screening effect of the dielectric shell tends to be less apparent for a thicker shell thickness.Optical absorption spectra of dielectric shell coated gold nanorods are simulated using the discrete dipole ap- proximation method. The influence of the aspect ratio, shell thickness, dielectric constant of the shell, and surrounding medium on the longitudinal resonance mode is investigated. It is found that the coated dielectric shell does not affect the trend in the dependence of resonance position on the aspect ratio, while it broadens the resonant line width and reduces the sensitivity of plasmon resonance in response to changes of the surrounding medium. F^urthermore, the difference of dielectric constants between the shell and surrounding medium plays an important role in determining the resonance position. The screening effect of the dielectric shell tends to be less apparent for a thicker shell thickness.

Microfluidics for Medical Additive Manufacturing

Additive manufacturing plays a vital role in the food,mechanical,pharmaceutical,and medical fields.Within these fields,medical additive manufacturing has led to especially obvious improvements in medical instruments,prostheses,implants,and so forth,based on the advantages of cost-effectiveness,customizability,and quick manufacturing.With the features of precise structural control,high throughput,and good component manipulation,microfluidic techniques present distinctive benefits in medical additive manufacturing and have been applied in the areas of drug discovery,tissue engineering,and organs on chips.Thus,a comprehensive review of microfluidic techniques for medical additive manufacturing is useful for scientists with various backgrounds.Herein,we review recent progress in the development of microfluidic techniques for medical additive manufacturing.We evaluate the distinctive benefits associated with microfluidic technologies for medical additive manufacturing with respect to the fabrication of droplet/fiber templates with different structures.Extensive applications of microfluidic techniques for medical additive manufacturing are emphasized,such as cell guidance,three-dimensional(3D)cell culture,tissue assembly,and cell-based therapy.Finally,we present challenges in and future perspectives on the development of microfluidics for medical additive manufacturing.

Microelectronic neural bridging of toad nerves to restore leg function

The present study used a microelectronic neural bridge comprised of electrode arrays for neural signal detection, functional electrical stimulation, and a microelectronic circuit including signal amplifying, processing, and functional electrical stimulation to bridge two separate nerves, and to restore the lost function of one nerve. The left leg of one spinal toad was subjected to external mechanical stimulation and functional electrical stimulation driving. The function of the left leg of one spinal toad was regenerated to the corresponding leg of another spinal toad using a microelectronic neural bridge. Oscilloscope tracings showed that the electromyographic signals from controlled spinal toads were generated by neural signals that controlled the spinal toad, and there was a delay between signals. This study demonstrates that microelectronic neural bridging can be used to restore neural function between different injured nerves.

Temperature-dependent photoluminescence of highly luminescent water-soluble CdTe quantum dots

Highly luminescent water-soluble CdTe quantum dots （QDs） have been synthesized with an electrogenerated precursor. The obtained CdTe QDs can possess good crystallizability, high quantum yield （QY） and favorable stability. Furthermore, a detection system is designed firstly for the investigation of the temperature-dependent PL of the QDs. ？2009 Yu Zhang. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Chinese Chemical Society. All rights reserved.

Soft Tissue Deformation Model Based on Marquardt Algorithm and Enrichment Function

In order to solve the problem of high computing cost and low simulation accuracy caused by discontinuity of incision in traditional meshless model,this paper proposes a soft tissue deformation model based on the Marquardt algorithm and enrichment function.The model is based on the element-free Galerkin method,in which Kelvin viscoelastic model and adjustment function are integrated.Marquardt algorithm is applied to fit the relation between force and displacement caused by surface deformation,and the enrichment function is applied to deal with the discontinuity in the meshless method.To verify the validity of the model,the Sensable Phantom Omni force tactile interactive device is used to simulate the deformations of stomach and heart.Experimental results show that the proposed model improves the real-time performance and accuracy of soft tissue deformation simulation,which provides a new perspective for the application of the meshless method in virtual surgery.