Enhanced photodynamic therapy/photothermo therapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma via a tumour microenvironment-responsive self-oxygenated drug delivery system

The hypoxic nature of tumours limits the efficiency of oxygen-dependent photodynamic therapy(PDT).Hence,in this study,indocyanine green(ICG)-loaded lipid-coated zinc peroxide(ZnO_(2))nanoparticles(ZnO_(2)@Lip-ICG)was constructed to realize tumour microenvironment(TME)-responsive self-oxygen supply.Near infrared light irradiation(808 nm),the lipid outer layer of ICG acquires sufficient energy to produce heat,thereby elevating the localised temperature,which results in accelerated ZnO_(2)release and apoptosis of tumour cells.The ZnO_(2)rapidly generates O_(2)in the TME(pH 6.5),which alleviates tumour hypoxia and then enhances the PDT effect of ICG.These results demonstrate that ZnO_(2)@Lip-ICG NPs display good oxygen self-supported properties and outstanding PDT/PTT characteristics,and thus,achieve good tumour proliferation suppression.

二维铁电材料研究进展

近年来,随着微电子学的不断进步,电子器件正朝着小型化、集成化的趋势发展.但是在纳米尺度下,表面效应和尺寸效应将变得不可忽略,这便制约了传统块体铁电材料在现代工业中的应用.因此,没有小尺寸效应限制并且有着稳定自发极化的二维铁电材料成为了材料科学领域研究的重点之一.本文首先从铁电材料的分类出发,将其分为二维非范德华铁电材料和二维范德华铁电材料,并列举了各类别中已被实验报道的铁电材料,讨论了它们的发展和研究现状,并阐述了它们内在的极化机制和新奇的物理特性.这些新的二维铁电材料有望在未来的纳米级铁电应用中发挥重要的作用,使电子器件的高度集成成为可能.然后,本文综述了二维铁电器件的最新研究进展,包括铁电场效应晶体管(ferroelectric field effect transistor,FeFET)、铁电隧道结(ferroelectric tunnel junction,FTJ)和铁电突触,总结了各种器件性能,并阐述了相应的工作原理.最后,对二维铁电材料领域进行了展望,提出我们需要在理论模型、材料制备、电子器件的稳定性和界面效应等方面开展更深入研究的观点.

Alum split applications strengthened phosphorus fixation and phosphate sorption in high legacy phosphorus calcareous soil

High phosphorus(P)saturation arising from historic P inputs to protected vegetable fields(PVFs)drives high P mobilisation to waterbodies.Amendment of soils with alum has shown potential in terms of fixing labile P and protecting water quality.The present 15 month pot experiment investigated P stabilisation across single alum application(Alum-1 treatment,20 g alum/kg soil incorporated into soil before the maize was sown),alum split applications(Alum-4 treatment,5 g alum/kg soil incorporated into soil before each crop was sown i.e.4×5 g/kg)and soil only treatment(Control).Results showed that the Alum-1 treatment caused the strongest stabilisation of soil labile P after maize plant removal,whereas the P stabilisation effect was gradually weakened due to the transformation of soil non-labile P to labile P and the reduced active Al^(3+)in soil solution.For the Alum-4 treatment,soil labile P decreased gradually with each crop planting and was lower than the Alum-1 treatment at the end of the final crop removal,without any impairment on plant growth.The better P stabilisation at the end of Alum-4 treatment was closely correlated with a progressive supply of Al^(3+)and a gradual decrease of pH,which resulted in higher contents of poorlycrystalline Al,Fe and exchangeable Ca.These aspects were conducive to increasing the soil P stabilisation and phosphate sorption.In terms of management,growers in continuous cropping systems could utilise split alum applications as a strategy to alleviate P losses in high-P enriched calcareous soil.

Relevance of placental type I interferon beta regulation for pregnancy success

Pregnancy is a unique immunologic and microbial condition that requires an adequate level of awareness to provide a fast and protective response against pathogens as well as to maintain a state of tolerance to paternal antigens.Dysregulation of inflammatory pathways in the placenta triggered by pathogens is one of the main factors responsible for pregnancy complications.Type I IFNs are key molecules modulating immune responses at the level of the placenta and are crucial for protection of the pregnancy via their antiviral and immune modulatory properties.In this study,we elucidate the mechanisms controlling the basal expression of IFNβand its negative feedback.Using in vitro and in vivo animal models,we found that TLR signaling maintains basal IFNβlevels through the TLR4-MyD88-independent TBK/IRF3 signaling pathway.We describe the role of the TAM receptor Axl in the regulation of IFNβfunction in human and mouse trophoblast cells.The absence of TAM receptors in vivo is associated with fetal demise due to dysregulation of IFNβexpression and its pro-apoptotic downstream effectors.Collectively,our data describe a feedback signaling pathway controlling the expression and function of IFNβin the trophoblast that is essential for an effective response during viral and microbial infections.

Large-area flexible and transparent UV photodetector based on cross-linked Ag NW@ZnO NRs with high performance

A series of large-area,flexible and transparent ultraviolet(UV)photodetectors(PDs)based on Ag nanowire(NW)@ZnO nanorods(NRs)are fabricated by an inexpensive,facile and effective approach.These Ag NW@ZnO NRs are successfully synthesized using a two-step method in an oil bath with a high surface-to-volume ratio and good crystallinity.The PDs are fabricated by drop-coating with different drop-coating times on the surface of polyethylene terephthalate(PET)coupled with Au electrodes.By optimizing the cross-linked network of Ag NW@ZnO NRs,PD2 with a size greater than 25 mm exhibits excellent photoresponse under UV light illumination of 365 nm(1.3 m W cm^(-2))with a bias of 5 V:a high sensitivity of over 10^(3),and a much shorter rise/decay time of 2.6 s/2.3 s.Simultaneously,the detector exhibits an average transmittance of more than 70%in the visible light region,as well as good flexibility and excellent mechanical stability under a bending angle of 120°over 1000 circles bending.These integral advantages have significant potential for practical applications and mass production.

Co-delivery of luteolin and TGF-β1 plasmids with ROS-responsive virus-inspired nanoparticles for microenvironment regulation and chemo-gene therapy of intervertebral disc degeneration

Intervertebral disc degeneration(IDD)is closely related to inflammation and imbalance of synthesis/catabolism of extracellular matrix(ECM)in intervertebral disc(IVD).Considering this,luteolin(LUT),a kind of natural flavonoid with good anti-inflammatory effect and TGF-β1(a gene that promotes the regeneration of ECM)plasmid was co-loaded and co-delivered to nucleus pulposus cells(NPCs).Reactive oxygen species(ROS)responsive cationic copolymer,poly(β-amino ester)-poly(ε-caprolactone)(PBC),with high plasmid DNA(pDNA)compression affinity was synthesized.It can self-assemble into nano-sized polyplexes(pDNA@PBC)with virus-inspired structure and function through which it can transfect pDNA into NPCs with very high efficiency and negligible cytotoxicity.LUT was encapsulated in the hydrophobic core of pDNA@PBC.The co-delivery system,LUT-pTGFβ1@PBC,could enhance the cellular uptake of NPCs and manifest excellent sustained drug release in IVD.Real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)and Western blot experiments reveal that the co-delivery system could inhibit inflammation in NPCs and restore the balance of anabolism and catabolism in vitro by activating TGF/SMAD3 and inhibiting NFkB/p65.Moreover,LUT-pTGF-β1@PBC retards IDD in vivo as detected by radiological and histological methods with good biosafety in rats.LUT-pTGF-β1@PBC may be a promising option for the treatment of IDD.