Research Article Acetic acid-mediated rapid cubic-to-hexagonal(α-β)phase transformation for ultra-bright lanthanide-dopedβ-NaYF_(4)nanobioprobes

Hexagonal-phase NaYF_(4)(β-NaYF_(4))has been acknowledged to be one of the most efficient doping hosts to prepare bright lanthanide-doped luminescent nano-bioprobes for various biomedical applications.However,to date,it remains a great challenge to synthesize ultra-bright lanthanide-dopedβ-NaYF_(4)nano-bioprobes under a low reaction temperature by using conventional synthetic methods.Herein,we first develop an acetic acid(HAc)-mediated coprecipitation method for the preparation of ultrabright lanthanide-dopedβ-NaYF_(4)nanoprobes under a low reaction temperature at 200℃.Based on a series of comparative spectroscopic investigations,we show that the use of HAc in the reaction environment can not only promote the rapidα-βphase transformation of NaYF_(4)host at 200℃ within 1 h but also boost the absolute photoluminescence quantum yield(PLQY)of NaYF_(4)nanocrystals to 30.68%for near-infrared emission and to 3.79%for upconversion luminescence,both of which are amongst the highest values for diverse lanthanide-doped luminescent nanocrystals ever reported.By virtue of their superior nearinfrared luminescence,we achieve optical-guided dynamic vasculature imaging in vivo of the whole body at a high spatial resolution(23.8μm)under 980 nm excitation,indicating its potential for the diagnosis and treatment evaluation of vasculaturerelated diseases.

Effects of different aperture-sized type I collagen/silk fibroin scaffolds on the proliferation and differentiation of human dental pulp cells

This study aimed at evaluate the effects of different aperture-sized type I collagen/silk fibroin(CSF)scaffolds on the proliferation and differentiation of human dental pulp cells(HDPCs).The CSF scaffolds were designed with 3D mapping software Solidworks.Three different aperture-sized scaffolds(CSF1-CSF3)were prepared by low-temperature deposition 3D printing technology.The morphology was observed by scanning electron microscope(SEM)and optical coherence tomography.The porosity,hydrophilicity and mechanical capacity of the scaffold were detected,respectively.HDPCs(third passage,1105 cells)were seeded into each scaffold and investigated by SEM,CCK-8,alkaline phosphatase(ALP)activity and HE staining.The CSF scaffolds had porous structures with macropores and micropores.The macropore size of CSF1 to CSF3 was 421627 lm,579636 lm and 707643 lm,respectively.The porosity was 69.862.2%,80.162.8%and 86.563.3%,respectively.All these scaffolds enhanced the adhesion and proliferation of HDPCs.The ALP activity in the CSF1 group was higher than that in the CSF3 groups(P<0.01).HE staining showed HDPCs grew in multilayer within the scaffolds.CSF scaffolds significantly improved the adhesion and ALP activity of HDPCs.CSF scaffolds were promising candidates in dentine-pulp complex regeneration.

An amelogenin-based peptide hydrogel promoted the odontogenic differentiation of human dental pulp cells

Amelogenin can induce odontogenic differentiation of human dental pulp cells(HDPCs),which has great potential and advantages in dentine-pulp complex regeneration.However,the unstability of amelogenin limits its further application.This study constructed amelogenin self-assembling peptide hydrogels(L-gel or D-gel)by heating-cooling technique,investigated the effects of these hydrogels on the odontogenic differentiation of HDPCs and explored the underneath mechanism.The critical aggregation concentration,conformation,morphology,mechanical property and biological stability of the hydrogels were characterized,respectively.The effects of the hydrogels on the odontogenic differentiation of HDPCs were evaluated via alkaline phosphatase activity measurement,quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction,western blot,Alizarin red staining and scanning electron microscope.The mechanism was explored via signaling pathway experiments.Results showed that both the L-gel and D-gel stimulated the odontogenic differentiation of HDPCs on both Day 7 and Day 14,while the D-gel showed the highest enhancement effects.Meanwhile,the D-gel promoted calcium accumulation and mineralized matrix deposition on Day 21.The D-gel activated MAPK-ERK1/2 pathways in HDPCs and induced the odontogenic differentiation via ERK1/2 and transforming growth factor/smad pathways.Overall,our study demonstrated that the amelogenin peptide hydrogel stimulated the odontogenic differentiation and enhanced mineralization,which held big potential in the dentine-pulp complex regeneration.