Delivery tracking: Goldnanoparticles (AuNPs) were functionalized with a red fluorescent protein (RFP, pink shapes in picture) as model antigen and an oligonucleotide (CpG) that stimulates the immune ...response. These functionalized AuNPs were used as cancer vaccines in a tumor model, where they enabled efficient delivery of an antigen to target sites, tracking of the vaccines using noninvasive clinical imaging, and cancer prevention and therapy.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Topotactic phase transformation enables structural transition without losing the crystalline symmetry of the parental phase and provides an effective platform for elucidating the redox reaction and ...oxygen diffusion within transition metal oxides. In addition, it enables tuning of the emergent physical properties of complex oxides, through strong interaction between the lattice and electronic degrees of freedom. In this communication, the electronic structure evolution of SrFeOx epitaxial thin films is identified in real‐time, during the progress of reversible topotactic phase transformation. Using real‐time optical spectroscopy, the phase transition between the two structurally distinct phases (i.e., brownmillerite and perovskite) is quantitatively monitored, and a pressure–temperature phase diagram of the topotactic transformation is constructed for the first time. The transformation at relatively low temperatures is attributed to a markedly small difference in Gibbs free energy compared to the known similar class of materials to date. This study highlights the phase stability and reversibility of SrFeOx thin films, which is highly relevant for energy and environmental applications exploiting the redox reactions.
Topotactic phase transformation coupled with the metal–insulator transition in SrFeOx epitaxial thin films is studied using real‐time optical spectroscopy. The oxygen‐content‐dependent phase transition leads to a pressure–temperature phase diagram of the topotactic transformation. The transformation at relatively low temperatures is ascribed to a markedly small Gibbs' free energy difference between the two structurally distinctive phases.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Bone tissue engineering using titanium (Ti) implant and titanium dioxide (TiO
) with their modification is gaining increasing attention. Ti has been adopted as an implant material in dental and ...orthopedic fields due to its superior properties. However, it still requires modification in order to achieve robust osteointegration between the Ti implant and surrounding bone. To modify the Ti implant, numerous methods have been introduced to fabricate porous implant surfaces with a variety of coating materials. Among these, plasma spraying of hydroxyapatite (HA) has been the most commonly used with commercial success. Meanwhile, TiO
nanotubes have been actively studied as the coating material for implants, and promising results have been reported about improving osteogenic activity around implants recently. Also porous three-dimensional constructs based on TiO
have been proposed as scaffolding material with high biocompatibility and osteoconductivity in large bone defects. However, the use of the TiO
scaffolds in load-bearing environment is somewhat limited. In order to optimize the TiO
scaffolds, studies have tried to combine various materials with TiO
scaffolds including drug, mesenchymal stem cells, Al
O
-SiO
solid and HA. This article will shortly introduce the properties of Ti and Ti-based implants with their modification, and review the progress of bone tissue engineering using the TiO
nanotubes and scaffolds.
Although the Nirschl technique was introduced approximately 40 years ago, only limited information is available about the long-term results, especially concerning extensor power changes after ...surgery. The purpose of this study was to investigate long-term clinical results of surgical treatment of lateral epicondylitis using the modified Nirschl technique. The main outcome variable was muscle strength for wrist extension because the extensor origin was not reattached after removal of the degenerative extensor tendon.
Data from 99 patients who underwent surgical lateral epicondylitis treatment between 2007 to 2012 were included in the study. The mean follow-up period was 8.5 years (5 to 10, ± 1.1 years) and the mean age at surgery was 44.8 years (32 to 70, ± 9.8 years). The surgeries were performed using the modified Nirschl method and did not include extensor origin reattachment. Outcome measurements included the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score, the MAYO elbow performance score, and Nirschl and Pettrone's grades. Wrist extension and grip strength were analyzed using a digital handgrip dynamometer (microFET2TM system) and JAMA hand dynamometer.
Mean time required to return to work was 2.4 months after surgery. At the last follow-up after surgery, the mean VAS score had significantly improved, from 4.9 to 1.1. Mean MAYO elbow performance scores significantly improved, from 64 to 90, and mean DASH scores improved from 50 to 13. The Nirschl and Pettrone's grades were 80% rated as 'excellent' and 16% rated as 'good'. After adjusting for power differences between the dominant and non-dominant arms, the difference between wrist extensor power of the operated elbow and the non-operated opposite elbow at the final follow-up was not statistically significant. No patients complained about wrist extension weakness.
Although reattachment of the extensor origin was not performed during the modified Nirschl surgical technique, there was no significant weakness in wrist extension power and the long-term follow-up revealed favorable clinical results.
Level IV (case series). Retrospective study.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
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•The sorption isotherm and rate of high pressure CO2 among clay minerals were studied.•Structural change of clay minerals was observed after supercritical CO2 sorption.•Excess sorbed ...amount of CO2 on clay mineral showed a maximum near critical pressure.•The absolute sorbed amount changed negligibly after the critical density of CO2.
CO2 sequestration in geological formations has attracted attention as a promising method to reduce anthropogenic CO2 emission. CO2 sorption at nanoscale interfaces of clay minerals were studied from subcritical to supercritical conditions because clay minerals are a constituent of various rocks such as a cap rock, reservoir rock and coal mineral matter. The sorption capacity and kinetics of CO2 on montmorillonite, illite, and sepiolite were measured by a gravimetric method. Sepiolite had the highest sorption capacity at all experimental conditions. After high CO2 pressure sorption, the desorption isotherm on montmorillonite showed significant hysteresis, but the hysteresis on illite and sepiolite was relatively weak. The excess sorption isotherms of all clay minerals showed a maximum near the critical pressure and the absolute sorption isotherms approached the saturation over the critical density value of CO2. The surface area changes of clay minerals by supercritical CO2 sorption were observed by comparing the N2 sorption isotherms between the raw material and post-experiment sample. The CO2 sorption rates on clay minerals were within a single order of magnitude (10−8m2/s). The results at nanoscale interfaces can contribute to understanding the sorption capacity and sealing integrity of sedimentary rocks in CO2 geological storage.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Exosomes are nano-sized vesicles derived from the fusion of multivesicular bodies with the surrounding plasma membrane. Exosomes have various diagnostic and therapeutic potentials in cancer and other ...diseases, thus tracking exosomes is an important issue.
Here, we report a facile exosome labeling strategy using a natural metabolic incorporation of an azido-sugar into the glycan, and a strain-promoted azide-alkyne click reaction. In culture, tetra-acetylated N-azidoacetyl-D-mannosamine (Ac4ManNAz) was spontaneously incorporated into glycans within the cells and later redistributed onto their exosomes. These azido-containing exosomes were then labeled with azadibenzylcyclooctyne (ADIBO)-fluorescent dyes by a bioorthogonal click reaction.
Cellular uptake and the in vivo tracking of fluorescent labeled exosomes were evaluated in various cells and tumor bearing mice. Highly metastatic cancer-derived exosomes showed an increased self-homing in vitro and selective organ distribution in vivo.
Our metabolic exosome labeling strategy could be a promising tool in studying the biology and distribution of exosomes, and optimizing exosome based therapeutic approaches.
A facile and effective exosome labeling strategy was introduced by presenting azido moiety on the surface of exosome through metabolic glycan synthesis, and then conjugating a strain-promoted fluorescent dye.
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•A facile and effective exosome labeling strategy•Long lasting exosome label•A promising tool for exosome tracking study
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPUK, ZRSKP
Many aptamers have been evaluated for their ability as drug delivery vehicles to target ligands, and a variety of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) have been tested for their anti-cancer properties. ...However, since these two types of molecules have similar physicochemical properties, it has so far been difficult to formulate siRNA-encapsulating carriers guided by aptamers. Here, we propose aptamer-coupled lipid nanocarriers encapsulating quantum dots (QDs) and siRNAs for theragnosis of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).
Hydrophobic QDs were effectively incorporated into lipid bilayers, and then therapeutic siRNAs were complexed with QD-lipid nanocarriers (QLs). Finally, anti-EGFR aptamer-lipid conjugates were inserted into the QLs for TNBC targeting (aptamo-QLs). TNBC-targeting aptamo-QLs were directly compared to anti-EGFR antibody-coupled immuno-QLs. The
delivery of therapeutic siRNAs and QDs to target cells was assessed by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. The
targeting of siRNAs to tumors and their therapeutic efficacy were evaluated in mice carrying MDA-MB-231 tumors.
Both types of EGFR-targeting QLs showed enhanced delivery to target cancer cells, resulting in more effective gene silencing and enhanced tumor imaging compared to non-targeting control QLs. Moreover, combinatorial therapy with Bcl-2 and PKC-ι siRNAs loaded into the anti-EGFR QLs was remarkably effective in inhibiting tumor growth and metastasis.
In general, the aptamo-QLs showed competitive
delivery and therapeutic efficacy compared to immuno-QLs under the same experimental conditions. Our results show that the anti-EGFR aptamer-guided lipid carriers may be a potential theranostic delivery vehicle for RNA interference and fluorescence imaging of TNBCs.
Water-repellent soils have a potential as alternative construction materials that will improve conventional geotechnical structures. In this study, the potential of chemically treated water-repellent ...kaolin clay as a landfill cover material is explored by examining its characteristics including hydraulic and mechanical properties. In order to provide water repellency to the kaolin clay, the surface of clay particle is modified with organosilanes in concentrations (C
) ranging from 0.5% to 10% by weight. As the C
increases, the specific gravity of treated clay tends to decrease, whereas the total organic carbon content of the treated clay tends to increase. The soil-water contact angle increases with an increase in C
until C
= 2.5%, and then maintains an almost constant value (≈134.0°). Resistance to water infiltration is improved by organosilane treatment under low hydrostatic pressure. However, water infiltration resistance under high hydrostatic pressure is reduced or exacerbated to the level of untreated clay. The maximum compacted dry weight density decreases with increasing C
. As the C
increases, the small strain shear modulus increases, whereas the effect of organosilane treatment on the constrained modulus is minimal. The results indicate that water-repellent kaolin clay possesses excellent engineering characteristics for a landfill cover material.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Co-application of fluorescent quantum dot nanocrystals and therapeutics has recently become a promising theranostic methodology for cancer treatment. We developed a tumor-targeted lipid nanocarrier ...that demonstrates notable efficacy in gene delivery as well as tumor bio-imaging. Coupling of aptamer molecules against the EGF receptor (EGFR) to the distal termini of lipid nanoparticles provided the carrier with tumor-specific recognition capability. The cationic lipid component, referred to as O,O'-dimyristyl-N-lysyl glutamate (DMKE), was able to effectively complex with anionic small-interfering RNA (siRNA). The hydrophobic quantum dots (Q-dots) were effectively incorporated in hydrophobic lipid bilayers at an appropriate Q-dot to lipid ratio. In this study, we optimized the liposomal formula of aptamer-conjugated liposomes containing Q-dots and siRNA molecules (Apt-QLs). The anti-EGFR Apt-QLs exhibited remarkable EGFR-dependent siRNA delivery as well as fluorescence imaging, which were analyzed in cultured cancer cells and tumor xenografts in mice. These results imply that the formulation of Apt-QLs could be widely utilized as a carrier for tumor-directed gene delivery and bio-imaging.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Highly active and durable bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts have been of pivotal importance for renewable energy conversion and storage devices, such as unitized regenerative fuel cells and ...metal-air batteries. Perovskite-based oxygen electrocatalysts have emerged as promising nonprecious metal bifunctional electrocatalysts, yet their catalytic activity and stability still remain to be improved. We report a high-performance oxygen electrocatalyst based on a triple perovskite, Nd
Ba
CoFeMnO
(NBCFM), which shows superior activity and durability for oxygen electrode reactions to single and double perovskites. When hybridized with nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide (N-rGO), the resulting NBCFM/N-rGO catalyst shows further boosted bifunctional oxygen electrode activity (0.698 V), which surpasses that of Pt/C (0.801 V) and Ir/C (0.769 V) catalysts and which, among the perovskite-based electrocatalysts, is the best activity reported to date. The superior catalytic performances of NBCFM could be correlated to its oxygen defect-rich structure, lower charge transfer resistance, and smaller hybridization strength between O 2p and Co 3d orbitals.
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