No abstract

Due to the increasing demand for eco-friendly, cost-effective and safe technologies, biosynthetic metal nanoparticles have attracted worldwide attention. In this study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were extracellularly biosynthesized using the culture supernatants of Aspergillus sydowii. During synthesis, color change was preliminarily judge of the generation of AgNPs, and the UV absorption peak at 420 nm further confirms the production of AgNPs. Transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction were also used to identify the AgNPs. The results shows that AgNPs has crystalline cubic feature and is a polydisperse spherical particle with size between 1 and 24 nm. Three main synthesis factors (temperature, pH and substrate concentration) were optimized, the best synthesis conditions were as follows 50 °C, 8.0 and 1.5 mM. In the biological application of AgNPs, it shows effective antifungal activity against many clinical pathogenic fungi and antiproliferative activity to HeLa cells and MCF-7 cells in vitro. Our research finds a new path to biosynthesis of AgNPs in an eco-friendly manner, and bring opportunity for biomedical applications in clinic.

The repair of infected bone defects with irregular shapes is still a challenge in clinical work. Infected bone defects are faced with several major concerns: complex shapes of bone defects,...

Rational design and fabrication of advanced sulfur cathode is highly desirable for development of high performance lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries. Herein, we report Co(OH) 2 as a new stabilizer for the sulfur cathode by constructing cobalt hydroxidecovered sulfur/conductive carbon black (CCB) electrode with the help of thermal and hydrothermal treatments. In this composite (Co(OH) 2 @S/CCB), the sublimed sulfur is anchored in the CCB, followed by a uniform coating of Co(OH) 2 nanosheets. As cathode materials of lithium-sulfur batteries, the as-prepared Co(OH) 2 @S/CCB electrode exhibits remarkable electrochemical performances with a high capacity of 1026 mAh g -1 at 0.1 C (1 C=1675 mA g -1 ) and 829 mAh g -1 at 1 C. Moreover, it keeps high coulombic efficiencies above 97% after 200 cycles at 1 C, much higher than those of the S/CCB counterpart electrode (85%). After 200 cycles at 1 C, a high capacity retention of 71.2% is remained, better than that of the S/CCB electrode (20.2%). The enhanced performance is mainly due to Co(OH) 2 layer which helps to inhibit the shuttle diffusion of polysulfide, resulting in improved capacity retention and cycling life.

Lithium ion batteries (LIBs) represent one of the most promising solutions for environmentally friendly transportation such as electric vehicles. The demand for high energy density, low cost and environmentally friendly batteries makes high-capacity cathode materials very attractive for future LIBs. Layered LiNi x Co y Mn z O 2 (x+y+z=1), Li-rich oxides and Li-V-O compounds have attracted much attention due to their high capacities in recent years. In this review, we focus on the state-of-the-art research activities related to LiNi x Co y Mn z O 2 , Li-rich oxides and Li-V-O compounds, including their structures, reaction mechanisms during cycling, challenges and strategies that have been studied to improve their electrochemical performances. layered LiNi x Co y Mn z O 2 , Li-rich layered oxide, Li-V-O compound, cathode material, Li-ion battery Citation: Zhang Y D, Li Y, Xia X H, et al. High-energy cathode materials for Li-ion batteries: A review of recent developments. Sci China Tech Sci,

Production of transgenic animals via somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) has been adapted worldwide, but this application is somewhat limited by its relatively low efficiency. In this study, we used handmade cloning (HMC) established previously to produce transgenic pigs that express the functional nematode fat-1 gene. Codon-optimized mfat-1 was inserted into eukaryotic expression vectors, which were transferred into primary swine donor cells. Reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR), gas chromatography, and chromosome analyses were performed to select donor clones capable of converting n-6 into n-3 fatty acids. Blastocysts derived from the clones that lowered the n-6/n-3 ratio to approximately 1:1 were transferred surgically into the uteri of recipients for transgenic piglets. By HMC, 37% (n=558) of reconstructed embryos developed to the blastocyst stage after 7 days of culture in vitro, with an average cell number of 81±36 (n=14). Three recipients became pregnant after 408 day-6 blastocysts were transferred into four naturally cycling females, and a total of 14 live offspring were produced. The nematode mfat-1 effectively lowered the n-6/n-3 ratio in muscle and major organs of the transgenic pig. Our results will help to establish a reliable procedure and an efficient option in the production of transgenic animals.

Osteogenic peptides have been reported as highly effective in directing mesenchymal stem cell osteogenic differentiation in vitro and bone formation in vivo. Therefore, developing novel biomaterials for the controlled delivery of osteogenic peptides in scaffolds without lowering the peptide’s biological activity is highly desirable. To repair a critical-sized bone defect to efficiently achieve personalized bone regeneration, a novel bioactive poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)/β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) composite scaffold, in which graphene oxide (GO) and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2-like peptide were loaded in situ (PTG/P), was produced by an original cryogenic 3D printing method. The scaffolds were mechanically comparable to human cancellous bone and hierarchically porous. The incorporation of GO further improved the scaffold wettability and mechanical strength. The in situ loaded peptides retained a high level of biological activity for an extended time, and the loading of GO in the scaffold further tuned the peptide release so that it was more sustained. Our in vitro study showed that the PTG/P scaffold promoted rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell ingrowth into the scaffold and enhanced osteogenic differentiation. Moreover, the in vivo study indicated that the novel PTG/P scaffold with sustained delivery of the peptide could significantly promote bone regeneration in a critical bone defect. Thus, the novel bioactive PTG/P scaffold with a customized shape, improved mechanical strength, sustainable peptide delivery, and excellent osteogenic ability has great potential in bone tissue regeneration.

Nerve injury is a serious complication associated with dental implant surgery. Following nerve injury, the migration of Schwann cells (SCs) supports nerve regeneration. Concentrated growth factor (CGF) belongs to a new generation of biomaterials that contain fibrin matrix, as well as a number of growth factors that affect the migration of various types of cells, including endothelial cells and cancer cells. To the very best of our knowledge, there are no available studies to date on the promoting effect of CGF on the migration of SCs. Thus, the aim of the present study was to characterize the structure of CGF and growth factor release, examine the effects of CGF on the migration of SCs, and to examine the role of integrin β1 and the focal adhesion kinase (FAK) pathway in the CGF-induced migration of SCs. For this purpose, CGF was prepared by centrifuging rat venous blood, which produced a fiber-like matrix capable of releasing transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) over a sustained period of time (at least 13 days). The soluble component of CGF was used to produce conditioned media to treat the SC cells in culture. The results demonstrated that CGF promoted the migration of SCs and increased the expression of integrin β1. These effects appeared to involve FAK phosphorylation, which occurred downstream of integrin β1 activation. The short-interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated downregulation of integrin β1 expression did not block the ability of CGF to promote the migration of SCs. These data suggest that CGF promotes the migration of SCs partly through the integrin β1-mediated activation of the FAK pathway.