Abstract
Metal hydrides have been rarely used in biomedicine. Herein, we fabricate titanium hydride (TiH
1.924
) nanodots from its powder form via the liquid-phase exfoliation, and apply these metal ...hydride nanodots for effective cancer treatment. The liquid-phase exfoliation is an effective method to synthesize these metal hydride nanomaterials, and its efficiency is determined by the matching of surface energy between the solvent and the metal hydrides. The obtained TiH
1.924
nanodots can produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) under ultrasound, presenting a highly efficient sono-sensitizing effect. Meanwhile, TiH
1.924
nanodots with strong near-infrared (NIR) absorbance can serve as a robust photothermal agent. By using the mild photothermal effect to enhance intra-tumoral blood flow and improve tumor oxygenation, a remarkable synergistic therapeutic effect is achieved in the combined photothermal-sonodynamic therapy. Importantly, most of these TiH
1.924
nanodots can be cleared out from the body. This work presents the promises of functional metal hydride nanomaterials for biomedical applications.
Gas sensors based on metal oxides semiconductor (MOS) have attracted extensive attention from both academic and industry. ZnO, as a typical MOS, exhibits potential applications in toxic gas ...detection, owning to its wide band gap, n‐type transport characteristic and excellent electrical performance. Meanwhile, doping is an effective way to improve the sensing performance of ZnO materials. In this review, the effects of different types of doping on morphology, crystal structure, band gap and depletion layer of ZnO materials are comprehensively discussed. Theoretical analysis on the strategies for enhancing the sensing properties of ZnO is also provided. This review puts forward the reasonable insight for designing efficient n‐type ZnO‐based semiconductor oxide sensing materials.
Gas sensor is still a research hotspot in academia and industry. It is necessary to prepare high‐efficiency sensing material.This review focuses on the influence of doping on the improvement of ZnO sensing performance.
Hydrogen can be used as an anti-cancer treatment. However, the continuous generation of H
molecules within the tumor is challenging. Magnesium (Mg) and its alloys have been extensively used in the ...clinic as implantable metals. Here we develop, by decorating platinum on the surface of Mg rods, a Mg-based galvanic cell (MgG), which allows the continuous generation of H
in an aqueous environment due to galvanic-cell-accelerated water etching of Mg. By implanting MgG rods into a tumor, H
molecules can be generated within the tumor, which induces mitochondrial dysfunction and intracellular redox homeostasis destruction. Meanwhile, the Mg(OH)
residue can neutralize the acidic tumor microenvironment (TME). Such MgG rods with the micro-galvanic cell structure enable hydrogen therapy to inhibit the growth of tumors, including murine tumor models, patient-derived xenografts (PDX), as well as VX
tumors in rabbits. Our research suggests that the galvanic cells for hydrogen therapy based on implantable metals may be a safe and effective cancer treatment.
The ultrahigh concentration of glutathione (GSH) inside tumors destroys reactive oxygen species (ROS)‐based therapy, improving the outcome of chemodynamic therapy (CDT)‐enhanced sonodynamic therapy ...(SDT) by depleting GSH is full of great challenge. Herein, PtCu3 nanocages are first reported as acting as a sonosensitizer with highly efficient ROS generation under ultrasound irradiation. In addition, PtCu3 nanocages can act as horseradish peroxidase‐like nanozymes, catalyzing the decomposition of H2O2 into •OH under acidic conditions for CDT. Surprisingly, PtCu3 nanocages can act as another kind of nanozyme, mimicking glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px), which plays an important role in accelerating GSH depletion by oxidizing molecules, further weakening the capacity of tumor cells scavenging ROS by GSH. Both in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrate that PtCu3 nanocages perform well in reducing GSH level for CDT‐enhanced SDT. Moreover, utilizing the high absorption in the near‐infrared region and strong X‐ray attenuation ability, the PtCu3 nanocages are able to conduct photoacoustic/computed tomography dual‐modal imaging‐guided combined cancer therapy. It is worth mentioning that PtCu3 nanocages cause minimal toxicity to normal tissues at therapeutic doses. This work highlights the use of PtCu3 nanocages for effective CDT‐enhanced SDT via GSH depletion.
This work presents tumor microenvironment‐responsive PtCu3 nanocages for glutathione depletion and chemodynamic therapy enhanced sonodynamic therapy. With their multimodal imaging functions of photoacoustic and computed tomography imaging, PtCu3 nanocages as theranostic agents may pave a new way for imaging‐guided cancer therapy.
Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) triggered by ultrasound (US) has attracted increasing attention owing to its abilities to overcome critical limitations including low tissue‐penetration depth and ...phototoxicity in photodynamic therapy. Herein, the design of a new type of sonosensitizer is revealed, namely, ultrasmall oxygen‐deficient bimetallic oxide MnWOX nanoparticles, for multimodal imaging‐guided enhanced SDT against cancer. As‐made MnWOX nanoparticles with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) modification show high physiological stability and biocompatibility. Interestingly, such MnWOX‐PEG nanoparticles exhibit highly efficient US‐triggered production of 1O2 and •OH, higher than that of previously reported sonosensitizers (e.g., protoporphyrin IX and titanium dioxide), because the oxygen‐deficient structure of MnWOX serves as an electron trap site to prevent electron–hole recombination. The glutathione depletion capability of MnWOX‐PEG can also further favor SDT‐triggered cancer cell killing. With efficient tumor homing as illustrated by computer tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, MnWOX‐PEG enables effective destruction of mouse tumors under US stimulation. After accomplishing its therapeutic functions, MnWOX‐PEG can be metabolized by the mouse body without any long‐term toxicity. Herein, a new type of sono‐sensitizing agent with high SDT efficacy, multimodal imaging functions, and rapid clearance is presented, an agent which is promising for noninvasive SDT cancer treatment.
A new type of sonodynamic therapy (SDT) agent based on ultrasmall oxygen‐deficient bimetallic oxide MnWOX nanoparticles, which exhibit much higher sono‐sensitization efficiency compared with conventional SDT agents, as well as glutathione depletion capability to further favor SDT. Furthermore, their multimodal imaging functions and rapid renal clearance make them promising theranostic agents for imaging‐guided SDT.
•The gas sensing performance of the composite was effectively tuned by controlling the amount Al species.•The composite exhibits excellent gas sensing property and long-life stability.•The DFT ...calculation reveals that the adsorption energy of NO2 on AZO-2 was enhanced obviously compared to pure ZnO.
A narcissus-like Al doped ZnO nanostructure was successfully synthesized via a facile, controllable and one-pot hydrothermal method. The materials as-prepared presented a hierarchical narcissus-like structure with self-assembled by nanosheets. Gas sesing test results revealed that the Al-doped narcissus-like ZnO nanostructure (2 at %, labeled as AZO-2) showed 3 folds gas sensing response (103.2 for NO2 with 1 ppm) with shorter response-recovery time (53 s/21 s), lower detection concentration (0.1 ppm) compared with those of pure ZnO. Moreover, AZO-2 had lower operating temperature (240 °C) and and superior long-life stability (remained around 92.5 % after 35 days), which quite promising for practical applications. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation suggests that the adsorption energy of NO2 on AZO-2 is 5.15 folds higher than that of pure ZnO, which is attributed to the change of electronic structure that enhances the interaction between NO2 and the modified ZnO. The excellent sensing performance could be attributed to the increase of oxygen vacancy content due to the Al doping. Thus, the Al doped narcissus-like ZnO nanocrystals could provide an inspiration to regulate the electronic structure and design highly sensitive NO2 gas sensor.
Human pre-implantation embryonic development involves extensive changes in chromatin structure and transcriptional activity. Here, we report on LiCAT-seq, a technique that enables simultaneous ...profiling of chromatin accessibility and gene expression with ultra-low input of cells, and map the chromatin accessibility and transcriptome landscapes for human pre-implantation embryos. We observed global difference in chromatin accessibility between sperm and all stages of embryos, finding that the accessible regions in sperm tend to occur in gene-poor genomic regions. Integrative analyses between the two datasets reveals strong association between the establishment of accessible chromatin and embryonic genome activation (EGA), and uncovers transcription factors and endogenous retrovirus (ERVs) specific to EGA. In particular, a large proportion of the early activated genes and ERVs are bound by DUX4 and become accessible as early as the 2- to 4-cell stages. Our results thus offer mechanistic insights into the molecular events inherent to human pre-implantation development.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of clarification treatments on volatile composition and aromatic attributes of wine samples. 'Italian Riesling' icewines from the Hexi Corridor ...Region of China were clarified by fining agents (bentonite (BT) and soybean protein (SP)), membrane filtration (MF), and centrifugation (CF) methods. The clarity, physicochemical indexes, volatile components, and aromatic attributes of treated wines were investigated. Both the fining agents and mechanical clarification treatments increased the transmittance and decreased the color intensity of icewine samples. Bentonite fining significantly influenced the total sugar content, total acidity and volatile acidity. Total acidity decreased 2-3.5% and volatile acidity 2-12%. MF showed the greatest influence on total phenol content, decreasing the initial content by 12%, while other treatments by less than 8%. Volatile analysis indicated that both the categories and contents of volatile compounds of wine samples decreased. MF treatment showed the most significant influence, while SP fining showed much lower impact. Odor activity values indicated the compound with the highest odor activity in Italian Riesling icewines was β-damascenone. For this compound, BT and SP did not show significant differences, however, in MF and CF it decreased by 20% and 63%, respectively. Furthermore, with high impact on aroma were: ethyl hexanoate which reduced by 20-80% especially in MF; rose oxide which extremely reduced in MF and undetected in BT, SP, and CF; isoamyl acetate which reduced by 3-33% and linalool decreased by 10-20% and undetected for BT. Principle component analysis indicated that icewine clarified by different methods could be distinguished and positively correlated with odor-active compounds. Floral and fruity were the dominant aroma series in icewine samples followed by fatty, earthy, spicy, vegetative and pungent flavor. The total odor active value of these series significantly (
< 0.5) decreased in different clarification treatments. Sensory evaluation showed similar results, but the SP and CF wine samples achieved better sensory quality. This study provides information that could help to optimize the clarification of ice wines.
Roof pre-splitting is an effective method to control the roof with potential rock burst risk. In this study, three-point bending tests were carried out by using fine sandstone specimens with ...different pre-cracked lengths as test objects, and digital speckle correlation method (DSCM) and acoustic emission (AE) technology were used to track the entire process of crack propagation. The effect of pre-cracks on the fracture of rock beams was evaluated, and the mechanical mechanism of the rock beam fracture process was analyzed. The rock beam pre-splitting design method was developed, and the application effect of the method was proved by the microseismic monitoring data obtained from the 10303 working face of Jining No. 2 coal mine in China. The results show that the loading time history curve of pre-cracked beams exhibits obvious residual characteristics. Compared with the intact rock beam, the tensile strength, and maximum tensile strain of 35 mm pre-cracked rock beam are decreased by 32.4% and 33.1%, respectively and the acoustic emission
b
value is increased by 30.2%. According to the pre-splitting design method of rock beam, the maximum and average microseismic energy of the 10303 working face after pre-splitting construction are reduced by 25.6% and 6.4%, respectively, with excellent prevention and control effect of thick roof.
The casein kinase 2-interacting protein-1 (CKIP-1) is important in the development of osteoblasts and cardiomyocytes. However, the effects of CKIP-1 on osteoblast precursor mesenchymal stem cells ...(MSCs) remain unclear. This study aimed to determine whether CKIP-1 affects osteogenic differentiation in MSCs and explore the relationship of CKIP-1 and inflammation.
Bone marrow MSCs of CKIP-1 wild type (WT) and knockout (KO) mice were cultivated in vitro. Cell phenotype was analyzed by flow cytometry, colony formation was detected to study the proliferative ability. Osteogenic and adipogenic induction were performed. The osteogenic ability was explored by alizarin red staining, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and ALP activity detection. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was carried out to determine the mRNA expression levels of osteoblast marker genes. The adipogenic ability was detected by oil red O staining. Content of the bone was analyzed to observe the differences of bone imaging parameters including trabecular bone volume/tissue volume (BV/TV), bone surface area fraction/trabecular BV, trabecular number (Tb.N), and trabecular spacing (Tb.sp). Interleukin (IL)-1β was injected on WT mice of 2 months old and 18 months old, respectively. Difference in CKIP-1 expression was detected by RT-PCR and western blot. The relationship between CKIP-1 and inflammation was explored by RT-PCR and western blot.
ALP assays, alizarin red staining, and qRT-PCR showed that MSCs derived from CKIP-1 KO mice exhibited a stronger capability for osteogenesis. Micro-computed tomography detection showed that among 18-month-old mice, CKIP-1 KO mice presented significantly higher bone mass compared with WT mice (P = 0.02). No significant difference was observed in 2-month-old mice. In vivo data showed that expression of CKIP-1 was higher in the bone marrow of aging mice than in young mice (4.3-fold increase at the mRNA level, P = 0.04). Finally, the expression levels of CKIP-1 in bone marrow (3.2-fold increase at the mRNA level, P = 0.03) and cultured MSCs were up-regulated on chronic inflammatory stimulation by IL-1β.
CKIP-1 is responsible for negative regulation of MSC osteogenesis with age-dependent effects. Increasing levels of inflammation with aging may be the primary factor responsible for higher expression levels of CKIP-1 but may not necessarily affect MSC aging.
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