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The application of conventional metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) as electrode materials in supercapacitors is largely hindered by their conventionally poor electrical conductivity. This study reports the fabrication of conductive MOF nanowire arrays (NWAs) and the application of them as the sole electrode material for solid‐state supercapacitors. By taking advantage of the nanostructure and making full use of the high porosity and excellent conductivity, the MOF NWAs in solid‐state supercapacitor show the highest areal capacitance and best rate performance of all reported MOF materials for supercapacitors, which is even comparable to most carbon materials.

We report a procedure to prepare highly monodisperse copper telluride nanocubes, nanoplates, and nanorods. The procedure is based on the reaction of a copper salt with trioctylphosphine telluride in the presence of lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide and oleylamine. CuTe nanocrystals display a strong near-infrared optical absorption associated with localized surface plasmon resonances. We exploit this plasmon resonance for the design of surface-enhanced Raman scattering sensors for unconventional optical probes. Furthermore, we also report here our preliminary analysis of the use of CuTe nanocrystals as cytotoxic and photothermal agents.

The utility of electronically conductive metal-organic frameworks (EC-MOFs) in high-performance devices has been limited to date by a lack of high-quality thin film. The controllable thin-film fabrication of an EC-MOF, Cu (HHTP) , (HHTP=2,3,6,7,10,11-hexahydroxytriphenylene), by a spray layer-by-layer liquid-phase epitaxial method is reported. The Cu (HHTP) thin film can not only be precisely prepared with thickness increment of about 2 nm per growing cycle, but also shows a smooth surface, good crystallinity, and high orientation. The chemiresistor gas sensor based on this high-quality thin film is one of the best room-temperature sensors for NH among all reported sensors based on various materials.

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The rapid development of drug nanocarriers has benefited from surface hydrophilic polymers of particles, which has improved the drug's pharmacokinetics. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a kind of polymeric material with...

Chemically modified hyaluronic acid (HA)-gelatin hydrogels have been documented to support attachment, growth, and proliferation of fibroblasts in vitro and to facilitate repair and engineering of tissues in vivo. The objective of this study was to determine the optimal composition of a synthetic extracellular matrix (sECM) that would promote wound repair and induce tissue regeneration in a rabbit vocal fold wound healing model. The sECM was formed using a thiol-modified semisynthetic glycosaminoglycan (GAG) derived of HA (Carbylan-SX) mixed with a thiolated gelatin derivative, co-cross-linked with poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate to form Carbylan-GSX. Forty rabbits underwent vocal fold biopsy bilaterally. Rabbits were treated with Carbylan-SX, which lacks gelatin, or with Carbylan-GSX with different gelatin concentrations (2.5%, 5%, 10%, and 20%) via unilateral injection of the vocal fold at the time of biopsy. Saline was injected in the contralateral vocal fold as a control. Three weeks after biopsy and injection, animals were euthanized and mRNA levels of procollagen type 1, fibronectin, transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta1), fibromodulin, HA synthase 2, hyaluronidase 2, and tissue biomechanics were evaluated. Hyaluronidase mRNA levels were found to be significantly elevated in for Carbylan-GSX 20% w/w gelatin compared to controls. Both Carbylan-SX and Carbylan-GSX significantly improved tissue elasticity and viscosity. Carbylan-GSX containing 5% w/w gelatin showed the most promise as a scaffold material for vocal fold tissue regeneration.

ObjectiveHelper T (Th) cell responses are critical for the pathogenesis of Helicobacter pylori-induced gastritis. Th22 cells represent a newly discovered Th cell subset, but their relevance to H. pylori-induced gastritis is unknown.DesignFlow cytometry, real-time PCR and ELISA analyses were performed to examine cell, protein and transcript levels in gastric samples from patients and mice infected with H. pylori. Gastric tissues from interleukin (IL)-22-deficient and wild-type (control) mice were also examined. Tissue inflammation was determined for pro-inflammatory cell infiltration and pro-inflammatory protein production. Gastric epithelial cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) were isolated, stimulated and/or cultured for Th22 cell function assays.ResultsTh22 cells accumulated in gastric mucosa of both patients and mice infected with H. pylori. Th22 cell polarisation was promoted via the production of IL-23 by dendritic cells (DC) during H. pylori infection, and resulted in increased inflammation within the gastric mucosa. This inflammation was characterised by the CXCR2-dependent influx of MDSCs, whose migration was induced via the IL-22-dependent production of CXCL2 by gastric epithelial cells. Under the influence of IL-22, MDSCs, in turn, produced pro-inflammatory proteins, such as S100A8 and S100A9, and suppressed Th1 cell responses, thereby contributing to the development of H. pylori-associated gastritis.ConclusionsThis study, therefore, identifies a novel regulatory network involving H. pylori, DCs, Th22 cells, gastric epithelial cells and MDSCs, which collectively exert a pro-inflammatory effect within the gastric microenvironment. Efforts to inhibit this Th22-dependent pathway may therefore prove a valuable strategy in the therapy of H. pylori-associated gastritis.