Bioengineered materials with selective antimicrobial toxicity in biomedicine

Fungi and bacteria afflict humans with innumerous pathogen-related infections and ailments.Most of the commonly employed microbicidal agents target commensal and pathogenic microorganisms without discrimination.To distinguish and fight the pathogenic species out of the microflora,novel antimicrobials have been developed that selectively target specific bacteria and fungi.The cell wall features and antimicrobial mechanisms that these microorganisms involved in are highlighted in the present review.This is followed by reviewing the design of antimicrobials that selectively combat a specific community of microbes including Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains as well as fungi.Finally,recent advances in the antimicrobial immunomodulation strategy that enables treating microorganism infections with high specificity are reviewed.These basic tenets will enable the avid reader to design novel approaches and compounds for antibacterial and antifungal applications.

Direct production of hydrogen peroxide over bimetallic CoPd catalysts:Investigation of the effect of Co addition and calcination temperature

A series of CoPd/KIT-6 bimetallic catalysts with various Co:Pd molar ratios at different calcination temperatures were prepared and used for the direct synthesis of H_(2)O_(2) from H_(2) and O_(2).These catalysts were characterized by nitrogen adsorption-desorption,low and wide-angle X-ray diffraction(XRD),X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS),transmission electron microscopy(TEM),scanning electron microscopy(SEM),elemental mapping and energy-dispersive X-ray(EDX)methods.It was found that the particle size,electronic interactions,morphology,and textural properties of these catalysts as well as their catalytic activity in the reaction of H_(2) with O_(2) were affected by Co addition and different calcination temperatures.Also,the results showed that while the H_(2)O_(2) selectivity depends on Pd^(2+) species,the H_(2) conversion is related to Pd0 active sites.Among these catalysts,CoPd/KIT-6 calcined at 350℃(CoPd/KIT-350 catalyst)showed the best catalytic activity with 50%of H_(2)O_(2) selectivity and 51%conversion of H_(2).

Sodium Diffuses from Glass Substrates through P1 Lines and Passivates Defects in Perovskite Solar Modules

Most thin-film photovoltaic modules are constructed on soda-lime glass(SLG)substrates containing alkali oxides,such as Na_(2)O.Na may diffuse from SLG into a module's active layers through P1 lines,an area between a module's constituent cells where the substrate-side charge transport layer(CTL)is in direct contact with SLG.Na diffusion from SLG is known to cause several important effects inⅡ-Ⅵand chalcogenide solar modules,but it has not been studied in perovskite solar modules(PSMs).In this work,we use complementary microscopy and spectroscopy techniques to show that Na diffusion occurs in the fabrication process of PSMs.Na diffuses vertically inside P1 lines and then laterally from P1 lines into the active area for up to 360 pm.We propose that this process is driven by the high temperatures the devices are exposed to during CTL and perovskite annealing.The diffused Na preferentially binds with Br,forming Br-poor,l-rich perovskite and a species rich in Na and Br(Na-Br)close to P1 lines.Na-Br passivates defect sites,reducing non-radiative recombination in the perovskite and boosting its luminescence by up to 5×.Na-Br is observed to be stable after 12 weeks of device storage,suggesting long-lasting effects of Na diffusion.Our results not only point to a potential avenue to increase PSM performance but also highlight the possibility of unabated Na diffusion throughout a module's lifetime,especially if accelerated by the electric field and elevated temperatures achievable during device operation.

Cold ischemia time in liver transplantation:An overview

The standard approach to organ preservation in liver transplantation is by static cold storage and the time between the cross-clamping of a graft in a donor and its reperfusion in the recipient is defined as cold ischemia time(CIT).This simple definition reveals a multifactorial time frame that depends on donor hepatectomy time,transit time,and recipient surgery time,and is one of the most important donor-related risk factors which may influence the graft and recipient’s survival.Recently,the growing demand for the use of marginal liver grafts has prompted scientific exploration to analyze ischemia time factors and develop different organ preservation strategies.This review details the CIT definition and analyzes its different factors.It also explores the most recent strategies developed to implement each timestamp of CIT and to protect the graft from ischemic injury.

Unravelling the ion transport and the interphase properties of a mixed olivine cathode for Na-ion battery

The replacement of Li by Na in an analogue battery to the commercial Li-ion one appears a sustainable strategy to overcome the several concerns triggered by the increased demand for the electrochemical energy storage.However,the apparently simple change of the alkali metal represents a challenging step which requires notable and dedicated studies.Therefore,we investigate herein the features of a NaFe_(0.6)Mn_(0.4)PO_(4)(NFMP)cathode with triphylite structure achieved from the conversion of a LiFe_(0.6)Mn_(0.4)PO_(4)(LFMP)olivine for application in Na-ion battery.The work initially characterizes the structure,morphology and performances in sodium cell of NFMP,achieving a maximum capacity exceeding 100 mAh g^(−1)at a temperature of 55℃,adequate rate capability,and suitable retention confirmed by ex-situ measurements.Subsequently,the study compares in parallel key parameters of the NFMP and LFMP such as Na^(+)/Li^(+)ions diffusion,interfacial characteristics,and reaction mechanism in Na/Li cells using various electrochemical techniques.The data reveal that relatively limited modifications of NFMP chemistry,structure and morphology compared to LFMP greatly impact the reaction mechanism,kinetics and electrochemical features.These changes are ascribed to the different physical and chemical features of the two compounds,the slower mobility of Na^(+)with respect to Li^(+),and a more resistive electrode/electrolyte interphase of sodium compared with lithium.Relevantly,the study reveals analogue trends of the charge transfer resistance and the ion diffusion coefficient in NFMP and LFMP during the electrochemical process in half-cell.Hence,the NFMP achieved herein is suggested as a possible candidate for application in a low-cost,efficient,and environmentally friendly Na-ion battery.

Long non-coding RNAs era in liver cancer

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is one of the most common malignancies leading to high mortality rates in the general population and the sixth most common cancer worldwide. HCC is characterized by deregulation of multiple genes and signalling pathways. These genetic effects can involve both protein coding genes as well as non-coding RNA genes. Long noncoding RNAs(lnc RNAs) are transcripts longer than 200 nt, constituting a subpopulation of nc RNAs. Their biological effects are not well understood comparedto small non-coding RNA(micro RNAs), but they have been recently recognized to exert a crucial role in the regulation of gene expression and modulation of signalling pathways. Notably, several studies indicated that lnc RNAs contribute to the pathogenesis and progression of HCC. Investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying lnc RNAs expression opens potential applications in diagnosis and treatment of liver disease. This editorial provides three examples(MALAT-1 metastasis associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript, HULC highly upregulated in liver cancer and HOTAIR HOX transcript antisense intergenic RNA) of well-known lnc RNAs upregulated in HCC, whose mechanisms of action are known, and for which therapeutic applications are delineated. Targeting of lnc RNAs using several approaches(siR NA-mediated silencing or changing their secondary structure) offers new possibility to treat HCC.

Comparisons between glucose analogue 2-deoxy-2-(^(18)F)fluoro-D-glucose and ^(18)F-sodium fluoride positron emission tomography/computed tomography in breast cancer patients with bone lesions

AIM: To compare 2-deoxy-2-(18F)fluoro-D-glucose(18F-FDG) and 18F-sodium (18F-NaF) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) accuracy in breast cancer patients with clinically/radiologically suspected or known bone metastases.METHODS: A total of 45 consecutive patients with breast cancer and the presence or clinical/biochemical or radiological suspicion of bone metastatic disease underwent 18F-FDG and 18F-fluoride PET/CT. Imaging results were compared with histopathology when available, or clinical and radiological follow-up of at least 1 year. For each technique we calculated: Sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), overall accuracy, positive and negative predictive values, error rate, and Youden’s index. McNemar’s χ2 test was used to test the difference in sensitivity and specificity between the two diagnostic methods. All analyses were computed on a patient basis, and then on a lesion basis, with consideration ofthe density of independent lesions on the co-registered CT (sclerotic, lytic, mixed, no-lesions) and the divergent site of disease (skull, spine, ribs, extremities, pelvis). The impact of adding 18F-NaF PET/CT to the work-up of patients was also measured in terms of change in their management due to 18F-NaF PET/CT findings.RESULTS: The two imaging methods of 18F-FDG and 18F-fluoride PET/CT were significantly different at the patient-based analysis: Accuracy was 86.7% and 84.4%, respectively (McNemar’s χ2 = 6.23, df = 1, P = 0.01). Overall, 244 bone lesions were detected in our analysis. The overall accuracy of the two methods was significantly different at lesion-based analysis (McNemar’s χ2 = 93.4, df = 1, P < 0.0001). In the lesion density-based and site-based analysis, 18F-FDG PET/CT provided more accurate results in the detection of CT-negative metastasis (P < 0.002) and vertebral localizations (P < 0.002); 18F-NaF PET/CT was more accurate in detecting sclerotic (P < 0.005) and rib lesions (P < 0.04). 18F-NaF PET/CT led to a change of management in 3 of the 45 patients (6.6%) by revealing findings that were not detected at 18F-FDG PET/CT.CONCLUSION: 18F-FDG PET/CT is a reliable imaging tool in the detection of bone metastasis in most cases, with a diagnostic accuracy that is slightly, but significantly, superior to that of 18F-NaF PET/CT in the general population of breast cancer patients. However, the extremely high sensitivity of 18F-fluoride PET/CT can exploit its diagnostic potential in specific clinical settings (i.e., small CT-evident sclerotic lesions, high clinical suspicious of relapse, and negative 18F-FDG PET and conventional imaging).

Stem cell-based 3D brain organoids for mimicking, investigating, and challenging Alzheimer's diseases

Alzheimer's disease(AD) is a progressive and irreversible neurodegene rative disorder that causes a decline of cognitive functions and a deterioration of behavioral and social performances. According to current estimations, AD is considered the prevalent cause of dementia, accounting for 60% and 80% of cases every year.

Correlation between impedance spectroscopy and bubble-induced mass transport in the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide

In the electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide, high currents need to be employed to obtain large production rates, thus implying that mass transport of reactants and products is of crucial importance.This aspect can be investigated by employing a model that depicts the local environment for the reduction reactions. Simultaneously, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, despite being a versatile technique, has rarely been adopted for studying the mass transport features during the carbon dioxide(CO_(2))electroreduction. In this work, this aspect is deeply analyzed by correlating the results of impedance spectroscopy characterization with those obtained by a bubble-induced mass transport modeling under controlled diffusion conditions on a gold rotating disk electrode. The effects of potential and rotation rate on the local environment are also clarified. In particular, it has been found that CO_(2) depletion occurs at high kinetics when the rotation is absent, giving rise to an increment of the competing hydrogen evolution reaction. This feature reflects in an enlargement of the diffusion resistance, which overcomes the charge transport one.

Engineering Microneedle Patches for Improved Penetration:Analysis,Skin Models and Factors Affecting Needle Insertion

Transdermal microneedle(MN)patches are a promising tool used to transport a wide variety of active compounds into the skin.To serve as a substitute for common hypodermic needles,MNs must pierce the human stratum corneum(~10 to 20μm),without rupturing or bending during penetration.This ensures that the cargo is released at the predetermined place and time.Therefore,the ability of MN patches to sufficiently pierce the skin is a crucial requirement.In the current review,the pain signal and its management during application of MNs and typical hypodermic needles are presented and compared.This is followed by a discussion on mechanical analysis and skin models used for insertion tests before application to clinical practice.Factors that affect insertion(e.g.,geometry,material composition and cross-linking of MNs),along with recent advancements in developed strategies(e.g.,insertion responsive patches and 3D printed biomimetic MNs using two-photon lithography)to improve the skin penetration are highlighted to provide a backdrop for future research.

Recent advances in chemically defined and tunable hydrogel platforms for organoid culture

Recent developments in organoid culture technologies have made it possible to closely recapitulate intrinsic characteristics of different tissues under in vitro conditions.These organoids act as a translational bridge between the traditional 2D/3D cultures and the in vivo models for studying the tissue development processes,disease modeling,and drug screening.Matrigel and tissue-specific extracellular matrix have been shown to support organoid development,efficiently;however,their chemically undefined nature,non-tunable properties,and associated batch-to-batch variations often limit reproducibility of the assembly process.In this regard,chemically defined platforms offer wider opportunities to optimize and recreate tissue-specific microenvironment.The present review delineates the current research trends in this sphere,focusing on material perspective and the target tissues(e.g.,neural,liver,pancreatic,renal,and intestinal).The review winds up with a discussion on the current limitations and future perspective to provide a basis for future research.

Glycans to improve efficacy and solubility of protein aggregation inhibitors

Misfolding and subsequent aberrant selfassembly of certain proteins into toxic amyloid deposits are hallmarks of various diseases,most notably neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease(AD)and Parkinson’s disease(Chiti and Dobson,2017).Aromatic residues in amyloidogenic proteins have been shown to be key factors in protein oligomerization and fibrilization,mostly driven byπ-πinteractions.Together with aromaticity,post-translational modifications can greatly affect a protein’s solubility and conformation and,as a consequence,its propensity to aggregate.

Prevascularized Micro‑/Nano‑Sized Spheroid/Bead Aggregates for Vascular Tissue Engineering

Efficient strategies to promote microvascularization in vascular tissue engineering,a central priority in regenerative medicine,are still scarce;nano-and micro-sized aggregates and spheres or beads harboring primitive microvascular beds are promising methods in vascular tissue engineering.Capillaries are the smallest type and in numerous blood vessels,which are distributed densely in cardiovascular system.To mimic this microvascular network,specific cell components and proangiogenic factors are required.Herein,advanced biofabrication methods in microvascular engineering,including extrusion-based and droplet-based bioprinting,Kenzan,and biogripper approaches,are deliberated with emphasis on the newest works in prevascular nano-and micro-sized aggregates and microspheres/microbeads.

Engineering biomimetic intestinal topological features in 3D tissue models: retrospects and prospects

Conventional 2D intestinal models cannot precisely recapitulate biomimetic features in vitro and thus are unsuitable for various pharmacokinetic applications,development of disease models,and understanding the host-microbiome interactions.Thus,recently,efforts have been directed toward recreating in vitro models with intestine-associated unique 3D crypt-villus(for small intestine)or crypt-lumen(for large intestine)architectures.This review comprehensively delineates the current advancements in this research area in terms of the different microfabrication technologies(photolithography,laser ablation,and 3D bioprinting)employed and the physiological relevance of the obtained models in mimicking the features of native intestinal tissue.A major thrust of the manuscript is also on highlighting the dynamic interplay between intestinal cells(both the stem cells and differentiated ones)and different biophysical,biochemical,and mechanobiological cues along with interaction with other cell types and intestinal microbiome,providing goals for the future developments in this sphere.The article also manifests an outlook toward the application of induced pluripotent stem cells in the context of intestinal tissue models.On a concluding note,challenges and prospects for clinical translation of 3D patterned intestinal tissue models have been discussed.

量子棒及其异质结的超低频拉曼光谱及有限元分析

硫族化镉纳米微晶由于具有发光效率高和发射波长可调谐等优良性质在光电器件中有重要的应用,CdSe/CdS点-棒异质结量子点是典型代表之一。本文中通过非共振拉曼方法探测了该量子点在5~50cm-1的声学声子模,利用不同模式的偏振特性,清晰地指认了球状核壳异质结量子点的扭转模式和径向呼吸模、棒状和点-棒异质结量子点的伸缩模和径向呼吸模等,并观察到了棒状量子点和点-棒异质结量子点的电子拉曼散射。同时发现点-棒异质结量子点的径向呼吸模较尺寸相当的纳米棒量子点发生红移。利用有限元方法形象模拟各量子点声学模的振动形式,并发现点-棒异质结量子点呼吸模振动的局域性。随后,引入局域有效声速的概念,利用改进的Lamb定律,成功解释了该红移是由CdSe核区域声速的减小所导致的,并再次验证该呼吸模局域在核附近区域。该研究对于表征和研究量子点中的限制性声学模具有重要意义,声学模和光学跃迁均局域在量子点附近区域的特性,对调控其激子-声子耦合和相关的光学性质具有重要指导意义。

Trajectory planning for biped robot walking on uneven terrain - Taking stepping as an example

According to the features of movements of humanoid robot, a control system for humanoid robot walking on uneven terrain is present. Constraints of stepping over stairs are analyzed and the trajectories of feet are calculated by intelligent computing methods. To overcome the shortcomings resulted from directly controlling the robot by neural network （NN） and fuzzy logic controller （FLC）, a revised particle swarm optimization （PSO） algorithm is proposed to train the weights of NN and rules of FLC. Simulations and experiments on different control methods are achieved for a detailed comparison. The results show that using the proposed methods can obtain better control effect.

Advanced optical microscopy methods for in vivo imaging of sub-cellular structures in thick biological tissuesl

Optical microscopy has become an indispensable tool for visualizing sub-cellular structures andbiological processes.However,scattering in biological tissues is a major obstacle that preventshigh-resolution images from being obtained from deep regions of tissue.We review commontechniques,such as multiphoton microscopy(MPM)and optical coherence microscopy(OCM),for diffraction limited imaging beyond an imaging depth of 0.5 mm.Novel implementations havebeen emerging in recent years giving higher imaging speed,deeper penetration,and better imagequality.Focal modulation microscopy(FMM)is a novel method that combines confocal spatialfltering with focal modulation to reject out-of-focus background.FMM has demonstrated animaging depth comparable to those of MPM and OCM,near-real-time image acquisition,and thecapability for multiple contrast mechanisms.

小胶质细胞控制成年小鼠海马中的谷氨酸能突触

小胶质细胞是调节大脑突触发育和可塑性的重要细胞类型,但其影响突触的正常功能的机制尚不清楚。在本研究中,我们通过PLX5622造成小胶质细胞耗竭,并观察其对成年野生型小鼠海马CA3-CA1突触的影响。在小胶质细胞耗竭后,与树突棘密度降低相关的自发和诱发谷氨酸能活动的减少,出现未成熟突触特征以及突触的可塑性提高。小胶质细胞耗竭的小鼠在新物体识别任务的获取方面表现出缺陷。海马星形胶质细胞出现增生,但并没有神经炎症反应。在Cx3cr1-/-小鼠中,PLX不能导致海马出现上述改变。这说明CX3CL1/CX3CR1轴在小胶质细胞对突触功能的控制中有重要作用。PLX5622停用后,小胶质细胞的重新增殖,海马突触恢复,小鼠的学习功能也出现恢复。综上所述,小胶质细胞对维持成人大脑的突触的正常功能用重要的作用,去除小胶质细胞会导致谷氨酸能突触组织和活动的可逆变化。

Highly spectra-stable pure blue perovskite light-emitting diodes based on copper and potassium co-doped quantum dots

Halide perovskite light emitting diodes(LEDs)have gained great progress in recent years.However,mixed-halide perovskites for blue LEDs usually suffer from electroluminescence(EL)spectra shift at a high applied voltage or current density,limiting their efficiency.In this work,we report a strategy of using single-layer perovskite quantum dots(QDs)film to tackle the electroluminescence spectra shift in pure-blue perovskite LEDs and improve the LED efficiency by co-doping copper and potassium in the mixed-halide perovskite QDs.As a result,we obtained pure-blue halide perovskite QD-LEDs with stable EL spectra centred at 469 nm even at a current density of 1,617 mA·cm^(−2).The optimal device presents a maximum external quantum efficiency(EQE)of 2.0%.The average maximum EQE and luminance of the LEDs are 1.49%and 393 cd·m^(−2),increasing 62%and 66%compared with the control LEDs.Our study provides an effective strategy for achieving spectra-stable and highly efficient pure-blue perovskite LEDs.

Tribological behavior of shape-specific microplate-enriched synovial fluids on a linear two-axis tribometer

Nano-and micro-particles are being increasingly used to tune interfacial frictional properties in diverse applications,from friction modifiers in industrial lubrication to enhanced biological fluids in human osteoarthritic joints.Here,we assessed the tribological properties of a simulated synovial fluid enriched with non-spherical,poly lactic-co-glycolic acid(PLGA)microparticles(μPL)that have been previously demonstrated for the pharmacological management of osteoarthritis(OA).Three different μPL configurations were fabricated presenting a 20μm×20μm square base and a thickness of 5μm(thin,5H μPL),10μm(10H μPL),and 20μm(cubical,20H μPL).After extensive morphological and physicochemical characterizations,the apparent Young’s modulus of the μPL was quantified under compressive loading returning an average value of~6 kPa,independently of the particle morphology.Then,using a linear two-axis tribometer,the static(μ_(s))and dynamic(μ_(d))friction coefficients of the μPL-enriched simulated synovial fluid were determined in terms of particle configuration and concentration,varying from 0(fluid only)to 6×10^(5) μPL/mL.The particle morphology had a modest influence on friction,possibly because the μPL were fully squeezed between two mating surfaces by a 5.8 N normal load realizing boundary-like lubrication conditions.Differently,friction was observed to depend on the dimensionless parameterW,defined as the ratio between the total volume of the μPL enriching the simulated synovial fluid and the volume of the fluid itself.Both coefficients of friction were documented to grow withWreaching a plateau of μ_(s)~0.4 and μ_(d)~0.15,already at Ω~2×10^(-3).Future investigations will have to systematically analyze the effect of sliding velocity,normal load,and rigidity of the mating surfaces to elucidate in full the tribological behavior of μPL in the context of osteoarthritis.