Bio-compatibility and cytotoxicity studies of water-soluble CuInS_2-ZnS-AFP fluorescence probe in liver cancer cells

BACKGROUND： The oncogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma（HCC） is not clear. The current methods of the pertinent studies are not precise and sensitive. The present study was to use liver cancer cell line to explore the bio-compatibility and cytotoxicity of ternary quantum dots（QDs） probe and to evaluate the possible application of QDs in HCC.METHODS： CuInS_2-ZnS-AFP fluorescence probe was designed and synthesized to label the liver cancer cell HepG 2. The cytotoxicity of CuInS_2-ZnS-AFP probe was evaluated by MTT experiments and flow cytometry. RESULTS： The labeling experiments indicated that CuInS_2-ZnS QDs conjugated with AFP antibody could enter HepG 2 cells effectively and emit intensive yellow fluorescence by ultraviolet excitation without changing cellular morphology. Toxicity tests suggested that the cytotoxicity of CuInS_2-ZnS-AFP probe was significantly lower than that of CdT e-ZnS-AFP probe（t test, F=0.8, T=-69.326, P〈0.001）. For CuInS_2-ZnS-AFP probe, timeeffect relationship was presented in intermediate concentration（〉20%） groups（P〈0.05） and dose-effect relationship was presented in almost all of the groups（P〈0.05）. CONCLUSION： CuInS_2-ZnS-AFP QDs probe had better biocompatibility and lower cytotoxicity compared with CdT e-ZnS-AFP probe, and could be used for imaging the living cells in vitro.

Vitamin E-derived copolymers continue the challenge to hemodialysis biomaterials

Improving material biocompatibility has been a continu-ous effort and remains a major goal of dialysis therapy. In this respect, vitamin E-modified copolymers have been used to produce a generation of biomaterials that has offered new clinical challenges and the chance of further improving the quality of synthetic hemodialyser membranes. This mini review article describes the evo-lution of these copolymers that only recently have been adopted to develop new vitamin E-modifed polysulfone hemodialysers. Biomaterial characteristics and clinical aspects of these membranes are discussed, starting from the most recent contributions that have appeared in the literature that are of interest for the community of nephrology and dialysis specialists, as well as bioma-terial scientists.

Simple and effective:Superlubricity behaviour of the G-quadruplex hydrogel with high selectivity for K^(+) ions based on the ocular environment

Hydrogels have been the subject of significant research in the field of friction due to their exceptional lubricating properties.In this study,the G-quadruplex hydrogel with high selectivity for K^(+) ions was formed by introducing a mixture of G,2-formylphenylboronic acid,and polyethylene glycol diamine into simulated artificial tears solution with high transparency,and an ultra-low coefficient of friction(COF)of about 0.004 was obtained based on the simulated ocular environment,thus achieving macroscopic superlubricity.In friction pairs simulating the ocular environment,to assess the frictional performance of the G-quadruplex hydrogel as both a lubricant and a friction pair based on the simulated ocular environment,we conducted experiments considering various factors such as concentration,sliding speed,and stress.Through these experiments,it was found that superlubricity was achieved when the G-quadruplex hydrogel was applied as lubricant or friction pair.This effect was attributed to the three-dimensional network structure and hydrophilicity of the hydrogel,which facilitated the formation of a highly bearing and flowing hydration layer,promoting macroscopic superlubricity.Compared to the G-quadruplex hydrogel with low concentration,the high concentration hydrogel(75 mM)exhibited increased mechanical strength and robustness in superlubricity.Combined with biocompatibility experiments,our synthesized G-quadruplex hydrogel has excellent biocompatibility and offers a novel approach to achieve superlubricity in ocular drug delivery.

Effects of Y on the Microstructure, Mechanical and Bio-corrosion Properties of Mg-Zn-Ca Bulk Metallic Glass

The micro-alloying effects of Y on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and bio-corrosion behavior of Mg69-xZn27Ca4Yx（x= 0, 1, 2 at.%） alloys were investigated through X-ray diffraction, compressive tests,electrochemical treatments, and immersion tests. The Mg69Zn27Ca4 alloy was found to be absolutely amorphous, and its glass-forming ability decreased with the addition of Y. The Mg68Zn27Ca4Y1 alloy exhibited an ultrahigh compressive strength above 1010 MPa as well as high capacity for plastic strain above 3.1%.Electrochemical and immersion tests revealed that these Y-doped MgeZ neC a alloys had good bio-corrosion resistance in simulated body fluid（SBF） at 37℃. The results of the cytotoxicity test showed high cell viabilities for these alloys, which means good bio-compatibility.