The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is one of the most crucial systems in the human organism, exhibiting multi-purpose regulatory character. It is engaged in a vast array of physiological processes, including nociception, mood regulation, cognitive functions, neurogenesis and neuroprotection, appetite, lipid metabolism, as well as cell growth and proliferation. Thus, ECS proteins, including cannabinoid receptors and their endogenous ligands’ synthesizing and degrading enzymes, are promising therapeutic targets. Their modulation has been employed in or extensively studied as a treatment of multiple diseases. However, due to a complex nature of ECS and its crosstalk with other biological systems, the development of novel drugs turned out to be a challenging task. In this review, we summarize potential therapeutic applications for ECS-targeting drugs, especially focusing on promising synthetic compounds and preclinical studies. We put emphasis on modulation of specific proteins of ECS in different pathophysiological areas. In addition, we stress possible difficulties and risks and highlight proposed solutions. By presenting this review, we point out information pivotal in the spotlight of ECS-targeting drug design, as well as provide an overview of the current state of knowledge on ECS-related pharmacodynamics and show possible directions for needed research.
Stretchable polymer composites are a new group of materials with a wide range of application possibilities in wearable electronics. The purpose of this study was to fabricate stretchable electroluminescent (EL) structures using developed polymer compositions, based on multiple different nanomaterials: luminophore nanopowders, dielectric, carbon nanotubes, and conductive platelets. The multi-layered EL structures have been printed directly on textiles using screen printing technology. During research, the appropriate rheological properties of the developed composite pastes, and their suitability for printed electronics, have been confirmed. The structure that has been created from the developed materials has been tested in terms of its mechanical strength and resistance to washing or ironing.
Commercially available solar cells (e.g. CdS/CdTe, CIGS, c‐Si) have a spectrally narrow absorption band when compared to the solar emission spectrum. The UV‐wavelength response of a solar cell (SC) can be improved by the application of a luminescent down‐shifting layer (LDSL) on the SC front side, permitting the conversion of short‐wavelength photons to the longer wavelength photons better matching the SC’s absorption spectrum. The ideal down‐shifting material must possess a large Stokes shift and have a high luminescence quantum yield. We propose the use of the LDSL containing ZnO nanoparticles of less than 5 nm in diameter able to absorb UV light (λ < 400 nm), where the solar cell spectral response (SR) is low, and re‐emitting at longer wavelengths (λ > 425 nm), where the typical SC’s SR increases. ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized by a low energy cluster beam deposition (LECBD) technique and their luminescent properties were studied as a function of the oxygen partial pressure (OPP) applied during the deposition process. The stoichiometry and crystallinity of ZnO nanoparticles can be controlled via the adjustment of the OPP. It was also observed that there exists an optimal value of the oxygen pressure introduced during the LECBD process, which permits to obtain the highest visible photoluminescence emission, necessary for an efficient down‐shifting. The yield of the down‐shifting in ZnO nanoparticle layer was determined varying the excitation wavelength using the photoluminescence excitation technique.
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