Cepharanthine enhance radiosensitization of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells through inhibition of DNA damage repair

Objective: Recent reports suggest that Cepharanthine(CEP),a natural alkaloid extracted from the roots of Stephania Cepharanthine Hayata,can inhibit the proliferation of various cancer cells,but few studies focus on its radiosensitization in nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC)cells. The aim of this study was to explore the radiosensitization effect and the potential mechanisms of CEP on nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell lines CNE-1 and CNE-2. Methods: The NPC cell lines CNE-1 and CNE-2 were treated with CEP(IC50)for 48 h before irration(IR);clonogenic survival was then assessed. The apoptosis and cell cycle progression were using flow cytometry.The DNA damage repair and cycle-regulating proteins were evaluated by Western blot analysis. Results: CEP could inhibit cell growth in both cell lines. The combination of CEP and radiation promote cell cycle G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis in CNE-1 and CNE-2 cells.DNA damage repair analysis showed that CEP has an inhibitory effect on DNA repair of CNE-1 and CNE-2 cells after radiation.Conclusion: CEP enhances tumor radioresponse through multiple mechanisms that may involve the halted cell cycle progression at G2/M phase and the inhibition of DNA repair after exposure to radiation.

Point-of-Care Testing Using Three Dimensional Optical Biosensor Based on Microfluidic Technology

We have presented a three dimensional optical protein chip that fulfills the demanding for point-of-care diagnostics in terms of ease-of-use (one step assay), miniaturization (5 μl). The artful combination of magnetic nanoparticles on chip and total internal reflection imaging (TIRI) technology permits the sensitive and rapid detection of hs-CRP (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein). The whole test was complete within 10 min using “all in one step” assay with a limit of detection of 0.1 ng/mL hs-CRP. The measuring range for hs-CRP could be extended to 10 ng/mL. The chip can also be used to detect more parameters in blood samples.

Flexible Tactile Electronic Skin Sensor with 3D Force Detection Based on Porous CNTs/PDMS Nanocomposites

Flexible tactile sensors have broad applications in human physiological monitoring,robotic operation and human-machine interaction.However,the research of wearable and flexible tactile sensors with high sensitivity,wide sensing range and ability to detect three-dimensional(3D)force is still very challenging.Herein,a flexible tactile electronic skin sensor based on carbon nanotubes(CNTs)/polydimethylsiloxane(PDMS)nanocomposites is presented for 3D contact force detection.The 3D forces were acquired from combination of four specially designed cells in a sensing element.Contributed from the double-sided rough porous structure and specific surface morphology of nanocomposites,the piezoresistive sensor possesses high sensitivity of 12.1 kPa?1 within the range of 600 Pa and 0.68 kPa?1 in the regime exceeding 1 kPa for normal pressure,as well as 59.9 N?1 in the scope of<0.05 N and>2.3 N?1 in the region of<0.6 N for tangential force with ultra-low response time of 3.1 ms.In addition,multi-functional detection in human body monitoring was employed with single sensing cell and the sensor array was integrated into a robotic arm for objects grasping control,indicating the capacities in intelligent robot applications.

Stable PbS colloidal quantum dot inks enable blade‑coating infrared solar cells

Infrared solar cells are more efective than normal bandgap solar cells at reducing the spectral loss in the near-infrared region,thus also at broadening the absorption spectra and improving power conversion efciency.PbS colloidal quantum dots(QDs)with tunable bandgap are ideal infrared photovoltaic materials.However,QD solar cell production sufers from small-areabased spin-coating fabrication methods and unstable QD ink.Herein,the QD ink stability mechanism was fully investigated according to Lewis acid–base theory and colloid stability theory.We further studied a mixed solvent system using dimethylformamide and butylamine,compatible with the scalable manufacture of method-blade coating.Based on the ink system,100 cm2 of uniform and dense near-infrared PbS QDs(~0.96 eV)flm was successfully prepared by blade coating.The average efciencies of above absorber-based devices reached 11.14%under AM1.5G illumination,and the 800 nm-fltered efciency achieved 4.28%.Both were the top values among blade coating method based devices.The newly developed ink showed excellent stability,and the device performance based on the ink stored for 7 h was similar to that of fresh ink.The matched solvent system for stable PbS QD ink represents a crucial step toward large area blade coating photoelectric devices.