Size-controllable amine-functionalized graphene quantum dots (GQDs) are prepared by an eco-friendly method with graphene oxide sheets, ammonia and hydrogen peroxide as starting materials. Using a Sephadex G-25 gel column for fine separation, for the first time we obtain GQDs with either single or double layers. By atomic force microscopy characterization, we confirm that hydrogen peroxide and ammonia play a synergistic role on graphene oxide (GO), in which the former cuts the GO into small pieces and the latter passivates the active surface to give amine-modified GQDs. Due to the low cytotoxicity and excellent biocompatibility of the obtained amine-functionalized GQDs, besides the multiwavelength imaging properties of GQDs, for the first time we find that this kind of GQD exhibits good antimycoplasma properties. Given the superior antimycoplasma effect of the GQDs and their eco-friendly mass production with low cost, these new GQDs may offer opportunities for the development of new antimycoplasma agents, thus extending their widespread application in biomedicine.
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glutathione (GSH) dual responsive nanoparticulate drug delivery systems (nano-DDSs) hold great promise to improve the therapeutic efficacy and alleviate the side effects of chemo drugs in cancer theranosis. Herein, hydrogen peroxide (HO) and GSH dual responsive thioketal nanoparticle (TKN) was rationally designed for paclitaxel (PTX) delivery. Compared to other stimuli-sensitive nano-DDSs, this dual responsive DDS is not only sensitive to biologically relevant HO and GSH for on-demand drug release but also biodegradable into biocompatible byproducts after fulfilling its delivering task. Considering the heterogeneous redox potential gradient, the PTX loaded TKNs (PTX-TKNs) might first respond to the extracellular ROS and then to the intracellular GSH, achieving a programmable release of PTX at the tumor site. The selective toxicity of PTX-TKNs to tumor cells with high levels of ROS and GSH was verified both in vitro and in vivo.
The poly(maleic anhydride‐alt‐1‐octadecene‐poly(ethylene glycol)) (C18PMH‐PEG) modified single‐walled carbon nanohorns (SWNHs) are designed with high stability and biocompatibility. The as‐prepared SWNHs/C18PMH‐PEG not only can serve as an excellent photothermal agent but also can be used as a promising photoacoustic imaging (PAI) agent both in vitro and in vivo due to its strong absorption in the near infrared (NIR) region. The PAI result reveals that the SWNHs/C18PMH‐PEG possesses ultra long blood circulation time and can significantly be accumulated at the tumor site through the enhanced penetration and retention (EPR) effect. The maximum accumulation of SWNHs/C18PMH‐PEG at tumor site could be achieved at the time point of 24 h after intravenous injection, which is considered to be the optimal time for the 808 nm laser treatment. The subsequent photothermal ablation of tumors can be achieved without triggering any side effects. Therefore, a PAI guided PTT platform based on SWNHs is proposed and highlights the potential theranostic application for biomedical uses.
Background: Wnt5a is involved in inflammation.Results: Wnt5a promotes an inflammatory response by up-regulating chemokines and cytokines via the NF-B and MAPK pathways in HDPCs, leading to macrophage migration. Conclusion: Wnt5a, as an inflammatory mediator, drives the integration of cytokines and chemokines to control dental pulp inflammation. Significance: Wnt5a-mediated inflammation occurs downstream of TNF-␣.
Utilizing fluorescence reporters and SERS probes as the security labels, a series of dual-mode encoded magnetic composite microspheres with micrometer size was designed and prepared for anticounterfeiting applications. At first, the micro-meter-sized melamine formaldehyde microspheres with different fluorescence molecules (FMF) were prepared by precipitation polymerization, and then the magnetite composite microspheres (FMF/MNPs) were fabricated by direct immobilization of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) onto the surface of FMF microspheres. After deposition of Ag nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) onto FMF/MNPs microspheres, the SERS probes were absorbed onto the surface of Ag-NPs, and then a protection layer of silica was coated on the composite microspheres by Stöber method. The combination of different fluorescence reporters and SERS probes greatly increased the encoding complexity and volume for high-level anticounterfeiting. The structure of the dual-encoded FMF/MNPs/Ag-NPs/SiO2 composite microspheres was characterized by FESEM, TEM, FLS(fluorescence spectrometer), XRD, VSM, UV-vis and EDS. The embedded magnetic nanoparticles enable the composite microspheres to be quickly isolated from the marked latex paint by magnet at the concentration of as low as 1 ppm, and the covert tag information can be read out even from one composite microsphere. In addition, the covert security information in the marked coating film can be also read out in situ and the existence of the composite microspheres does not influence the visible appearance of the coating film. All the above outstanding properties will make these dual-mode encoded composite microspheres as advanced security tags for next-generation anticounterfeiting applications.
The 3D CNN-based classification algorithm is a promising tool for the diagnosis of pre-invasive and invasive lung cancer and for the treatment choice decision.
Carbon dots (CDs) obtained from rapeseed
pollen with a high production
yield, good biocompatibility, good water solubility, low cost, and
simple synthesis are systematically characterized. They can be directly
added to Hoagland nutrient solution for planting hydroponically cultivated Lactuca sativa L. to explore their influence on the
plants at different concentrations. By measuring lettuce indices of
growth, morphology, nutrition quality, gas exchange, and content of
photosynthetic pigment, amazing growth-promotion effects of CDs were
discovered, and the mechanism was analyzed. Moreover, the in vivo
transport route of CDs in lettuce was evaluated by macroscopic and
microscopic observations under UV light excitation. The results demonstrate
that pollen-derived CDs can be potentially used as a miraculous fertilizer
for agricultural applications and as a great in vivo plant bioimaging
probe.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.