Biofunctionalized semiconductor quantum dots for virus detection

Virus is a kind of microorganism and possesses simple structure and contains one nucleic acid,which must be replicated using the host cell system.It causes large-scale infectious diseases and poses serious threats to the health,social well-being,and economic conditions of millions of people worldwide.Therefore,there is an urgent need to develop novel strategies for accurate diagnosis of virus infection to prevent disease transmission.Quantum dots(QDs)are typical fluorescence nanomaterials with high quantum yield,broad absorbance range,narrow and size-dependent emission,and good stability.QDs-based nanotechnology has been found to be effective method with rapid response,easy operation,high sensitivity,and good specificity,and has been widely applied for the detection of different viruses.However,until now,no systematic and critical review has been published on this important research area.Hence,in this review,we aim to provide a comprehensive coverage of various QDs-based virus detection methods.The fundamental investigations have been reviewed,including information related to the synthesis and biofunctionalization of QDs,QDs-based viral nucleic acid detection strategies,and QDs-based immunoassays.The challenges and perspectives regarding the potential application of QDs for virus detection is also discussed.

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Seeding on Biofunctionalized Calcium Phosphate Cements

Induced pluripotent stem ceils （iPSCs） have great potential due to their proliferation and differentiation capability. The objectives of this study were to generate iPSC-derived mesenchymal stem cells （iPSC-MSCs）, and investigate iPSC-MSC proliferation and osteogenic differentiation on calcium phosphate cement （CPC） containing biofunctional agents for the first time. Human iPSCs were derived from marrow CD34＋ cells which were reprogrammed by a single episomal vector, iPSCs were cultured to form embryoid bodies （EBs）, and MSCs migrated out of EBs. Five biofunctional agents were incorporated into CPC： RGD （Arg-Gly-Asp） peptides, fibronectin （Fn）, fibronectin-like engineered polymer protein （FEPP）, extracellular matrix Geltrex, and platelet concentrate, iPSC-MSCs were seeded on five biofunctionalized CPCs： CPC-RGD, CPC-Fn, CPC- FEPP, CPC-Geltrex, and CPC-Platelets. iPSC-MSCs on biofunctional CPCs had enhanced proliferation, actin fiber expression, osteogenic differentiation and mineralization, compared to control. Cell proliferation was greatly increased on biofunctional CPCs. iPSC-MSCs underwent osteogenic differentiation with increased alkaline phosphatase, Runx2 and coUagen-I expressions. Mineral synthesis by iPSC-MSCs on CPC-Platelets was 3-fold that of CPC control. In conclusion, iPSCs showed high potential for bone engineering, iPSC- MSCs on biofunctionalized CPCs had cell proliferation and bone mineralization that were much better than traditional CPC. iPSC-MSC-CPC constructs are promising to promote bone regeneration in craniofacial/ orthopedic repairs.

Biofunctionalized composite scaffold to potentiate osteoconduction,angiogenesis,and favorable metabolic microenvironment for osteonecrosis therapy

Osteonecrosis is a common orthopedic disease in clinic,resulting in joint collapse if no appropriate treatment is performed in time.Core decompression is a general treatment modality for early osteonecrosis.However,effective bone regeneration in the necrotic area is still a significant challenge.This study developed a biofunctionalized composite scaffold(PLGA/nHA30VEGF)for osteonecrosis therapy through potentiation of osteoconduction,angiogenesis,and a favorable metabolic microenvironment.The composite scaffold had a porosity of 87.7%and compressive strength of 8.9 MPa.PLGA/nHA30VEGF had an average pore size of 227.6μm and a water contact angle of 56.5◦with a sustained release profile of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF).After the implantation of PLGA/nHA30VEGF,various osteogenic and angiogenic biomarkers were upregulated by 2-9 fold compared with no treatment.Additionally,the metabolomic and lipidomic profiling studies demonstrated that PLGA/nHA30VEGF effectively regulated the multiple metabolites and more than 20 inordinate metabolic pathways in osteonecrosis.The excellent performances reveal that the biofunctionalized composite scaffold provides an advanced adjuvant therapy modality for osteonecrosis.

Approaches to promoting bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell osteogenesis on orthopedic implant surface

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs)play a critical role in the osseointegration of bone and orthopedic implant.However,osseointegration between the Ti-based implants and the surrounding bone tissue must be improved due to titanium’s inherent defects.Surface modification stands out as a versatile technique to create instructive biomaterials that can actively direct stem cell fate.Here,we summarize the current approaches to promoting BMSC osteogenesis on the surface of titanium and its alloys.We will highlight the utilization of the unique properties of titanium and its alloys in promoting tissue regeneration,and discuss recent advances in understanding their role in regenerative medicine.We aim to provide a systematic and comprehensive review of approaches to promoting BMSC osteogenesis on the orthopedic implant surface.

Biointerface engineering nanoplatforms for cancer-targeted drug delivery

Over the past decade,nanoparticle-based therapeutic modalities have become promising strategies in cancer therapy.Selective delivery of anticancer drugs to the lesion sites is critical for elimination of the tumor and an improved prognosis.Innovative design and advanced biointerface engineering have promoted the development of various nanocarriers for optimized drug delivery.Keeping in mind the biological framework of the tumormicroenvironment,biomembrane-camouflaged nanoplatforms have been a research focus,reflecting their superiority in cancer targeting.In this review,we summarize the development of various biomimetic cell membrane-camouflaged nanoplatforms for cancertargeted drug delivery,which are classified according to the membranes fromdifferent cells.The challenges and opportunities of the advanced biointerface engineering drug delivery nanosystems in cancer therapy are discussed.

Research and development of Cordyceps in Taiwan

Cordyceps is treasured entomopathogenic fungi that have been used as antitumor,immunomodulating,antioxidant,and pro-sexual agent.Cordyceps,also called DongChongXiaCao in Chinese,Yartsa Gunbu(Tibetan),means winter worm-summer grass.Natural Cordyceps sinensis with parasitic hosts is difficult to be collected and the recent findings on its potential pharmacological functions,resulted in skyrocketing prices.Therefore,finding a mass-production method or an alternative for C.sinensis products is a top-priority task.In this review,we describe current status of Cordyceps research and its recent developments in Taiwan.The content and pharmacological activities of four major industrial species of Cordyceps(C.sinensis,Cordyceps militaris,Cordyceps cicadae and Cordyceps sobolifera)used in Taiwan,were reviewed.Moreover,we highlighted the effect of using different methods of fermentation and production on the morphology and chemical content of Cordyceps sp.Finally,we summarized the bottle-necks and challenges facing Cordyceps research as well as we proposed future road map for Cordyceps industry in Taiwan.

Study on preparation and properties ofbiofunctionally gradient coatingsw ith m agnetron cosputtering

In this paper diamond like carbon (DLC) /stainless steel biofunctionally gradient coatings have been prepared with two target magnetron cosputtering to solve the poor adhesion of DLC having excellent haemocompatibility to implant stainless steel having high strength and toughness.It has been Known from the experimental results that the adhesion of DLC coated to implant stainless steel have been significantly improved with the gradient interlayers,and biofuntionally gradient materials having excellent haemocompatibilty,strength and toughness have been prepared successively.

Biofunctionalization of metallic implants by calcium phosphate coatings

Metallic materials have been extensively applied in clinical practice due to their unique mechanical properties and durability.Recent years have witnessed broad interests and advances on surface functionalization of metallic implants for high-performance biofunctions.Calcium phosphates(CaPs)are the major inorganic component of bone tissues,and thus owning inherent biocompatibility and osseointegration properties.As such,they have been widely used in clinical orthopedics and dentistry.The new emergence of surface functionalization on metallic implants with CaP coatings shows promise for a combination of mechanical properties from metals and various biofunctions from CaPs.This review provides a brief summary of state-of-art of surface biofunctionalization on implantable metals by CaP coatings.We first glance over different types of CaPs with their coating methods and in vitro and in vivo performances,and then give insight into the representative biofunctions,i.e.osteointegration,corrosion resistance and biodegradation control,and antibacterial property,provided by CaP coatings for metallic implant materials.

Bioactive polypeptide hydrogels modified with RGD and N-cadherin mimetic peptide promote chondrogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells

Cell-material and cell-cell interactions represent two crucial aspects of the regulation of cell behavior.In the present study,poly(L-glutamic acid)(PLG)hydrogels were prepared by catalyst-free click crosslinking via a strain-promoted azide-alkyne cycloaddition(SPAAC)reaction between azido-grafted PLG(PLG-N3)and azadibenzocyclooctyne-grafted PLG(PLG-ADIBO).The bioactive peptides c(RGDfK)and N-cadherin mimetic peptide(N-Cad)were both conjugated to the PLG hydrogel(denoted PLG+RGD/N-Cad)in order to regulate cell-material and cell-cell interactions.Gelation time and storage modulus of the hydrogels were tunable through variations in the concentration of polypeptide precursors.The hydrogels degraded gradually in the presence of proteinases.The viability of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs)was maintained when cultured with extracts of the hydrogels or encapsulated within the hydrogels.Degradation was observed within 10 weeks following the subcutaneous injection of hydrogel solution in rats,displaying excellent histocompatibility in vivo.The introduction of RGD into the PLG hydrogel promoted the adhesion of BMSCs onto the hydrogels.Moreover,when encapsulated within the PLG+RGD/NCad hydrogel,BMSCs secreted cartilage-specific matrix,in addition to chondrogenic gene and protein expression being significantly enhanced in comparison with BMSCs encapsulated in hydrogels without N-Cad modification.These findings suggest that these biodegradable,bioactive polypeptide hydrogels have great potential for use in 3D cell culture and in cartilage tissue engineering.

Biofunctional magnesium coating of implant materials by physical vapour deposition

The lack of bioactivity of conventional medical materials leads to low osseointegration ability that may result in the occurrence of aseptic loosening in the clinic.To achieve high osseointegration,surface modifications with multiple biofunctions including degradability,osteogenesis,angiogenesis and antibacterial properties are required.However,the functions of conventional bioactive coatings are limited.Thus novel biofunctional magnesium(Mg)coatings are believed to be promising candidates for surface modification of implant materials for use in bone tissue repair.By physical vapour deposition,many previous researchers have deposited Mg coatings with high purity and granular microstructure on titanium alloys,polyetheretherketone,steels,Mg alloys and silicon.It was found that the Mg coatings with high-purity could considerably control the degradation rate in the initial stage of Mg alloy implantation,which is the most important problem for the application of Mg alloy implants.In addition,Mg coating on titanium(Ti)implant materials has been extensively studied both in vitro and in vivo,and the results indicated that their corrosion behaviour and biocompatibility are promising.Mg coatings continuously release Mg ions during the degradation process,and the alkaline environment caused by Mg degradation has obvious antibacterial effects.Meanwhile,the Mg coating has beneficial effects on osteogenesis and osseointegration,and increases the new bone-regenerating ability.Mg coatings also exhibit favourable osteogenic and angiogenic properties in vitro and increased long-term bone formation and early vascularization in vivo.Inhibitory effects of Mg coatings on osteoclasts have also been proven,which play a great role in osteoporotic patients.In addition,in order to obtain more biofunctions,other alloying elements such as copper have been added to the Mg coatings.Thus,Mg-coated Ti acquired biofunctions including degradability,osteogenesis,angiogenesis and antibacterial properties.These novel multi-functional Mg coatings are expected to significantly enhance the long-term safety of bone implants for the benefit of patients.This paper gives a brief review of studies of the microstructure,degradation behaviours and biofunctions of Mg coatings,and directions for future research are also proposed.