Effective Carrier Research Articles

Transethnic analysis identifies SORL1 variants and haplotypes protective against Alzheimer's disease.

The SORL1 locus exhibits protective effects against Alzheimer's disease (AD) across ancestries, yet systematic studies in diverse populations are sparse. Logistic regression identified AD-associated SORL1 haplotypes in East Asian (N=5249) and European (N=8588) populations. Association analysis between SORL1 haplotypes and AD-associated traits or plasma biomarkers was conducted. The effects of non-synonymous mutations were assessed in cell-based systems. Protective SORL1 variants/haplotypes were identified in the East Asian and European populations. Haplotype Hap_A showed a strong protective effect against AD in East Asians, linked to less severe AD phenotypes, higher SORL1 transcript levels, and plasma proteomic changes. A missense variant within Hap_A, rs2282647-C allele, was linked to a lower risk of AD and decreased expression of a truncated SORL1 protein isoform. Our transethnic analysis revealed key SORL1 haplotypes that exert protective effects against AD, suggesting mechanisms of the protective role of SORL1 in AD. We examined the AD-protective mechanisms of SORL1 in the general population across diverse ancestral backgrounds by jointly analyzing data from three East Asian cohorts (ie, mainland China, Hong Kong, and Japan) and a European cohort. Comparative analysis unveiled key ethnic-specific SORL1 genetic variants and haplotypes. Among these, the SORL1 minor haplotype, Hap_A, emerged as the primary AD-protective factor in East Asians. Hap_A exerts significant AD-protective effects in both APOE ε4 carriers and non-carriers. SORL1 haplotype Hap_A is associated with cognitive function, brain volume, and the activity of specific neuronal and immune-related pathways closely connected to AD risk. Protective variants within Hap_A are linked to increased SORL1 expression in human tissues. We identified an isoform-specific missense variant in Hap_A that modifies the function and levels of a truncated SORL1 protein isoform that is poorly investigated.

Dissolution of abietic acid in water by the solid dispersion method using methylcellulose analogs

Abstract Solid dispersion materials of abietic acid (ABA) were prepared with methylcellulose (MC), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), and sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC-Na) using a conventional solvent evaporation method. In these materials, ABA was incorporated in an amorphous form. During dissolution tests, ABA from ABA/MC and ABA/HPMC solid dispersion materials initially rapidly dissolved, followed by a decrease in the dissolution rate before eventually plateauing. The dissolution of ABA from ABA/CMC-Na solid dispersion materials was similar, although it increased slightly with an increased shaking time over a long period. ABA from ABA/MC solid dispersion materials exhibited a higher dissolution rate compared with ABA from both ABA/HPMC and ABA/CMC-Na solid dispersion materials. The amount of undissolved material from ABA/cellulose derivative solid dispersion materials was lower compared with ABA/cellulose nanofiber and ABA/TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofiber solid dispersion materials. In addition, both ABA/MC and ABA/HPMC solid dispersion materials exhibited good growth-inhibitive effects against Trametes versicolor, a representative of white-rot fungus, compared with ABA/CMC-Na, ABA/cellulose nanofiber and ABA/TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofiber solid dispersion materials. Consequently, MC proved to be the most effective water-soluble carrier for ABA in water among the cellulose derivatives tested.

Photothermally-activated suspended aerogel triggers a biphasic interface reaction for high-efficiency and additive-free hydrogen generation.

The need for a sustainable hydrogen supply has sparked significant efforts to develop effective liquid hydrogen carriers with high hydrogen content that can be safely stored and undergo controlled hydrogen release. However, a major challenge lies in the ultralow hydrogen evolution rate caused by the direct dehydrogenation of liquid hydrogen carriers. Conventionally, accelerant additives are employed to improve the dehydrogenation rate, but this strategy inevitably sacrifices the hydrogen storage density. Therefore, achieving high-efficiency hydrogen release and high storage density remains a daunting task. Herein, we develop an innovative photothermally-activated suspended biphasic reaction strategy, which absorbs solar radiation and re-radiates infrared photons to induce photothermal evaporation and in situ dehydrogenation of liquid hydrogen carriers, fundamentally circumventing the employment of additives. Furthermore, by leveraging this phase transition-induced biphasic reaction design, the strategy improves the required reaction temperature and drastically lowers hydrogen transport resistance. Therefore, an impressive hydrogen evolution rate of 386 mmol g-1 h-1 is achieved from pure formic acid with an ultrahigh hydrogen storage density of 53 g L-1, representing a threefold improvement in rate compared to state-of-the-art strategies. Our approach introduces a fresh perspective for the dehydrogenation of liquid hydrogen carriers, encompassing formic acid, hydrazine hydrate, and so on, and concurrently guarantees exceptional hydrogen release capabilities and excellent hydrogen storage density.

Corosolic acid derivative-based lipid nanoparticles for efficient RNA delivery

Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) represent the most widely employed and clinically validated platform for in vivo RNA delivery. However, currently used LNP formulations, which consist of lipids and cholesterol, exhibit limited transfection efficiency and off-target hepatic transfection. These limitations necessitate higher dosage and pose potential safety concerns. In this study, three derivatives of corosolic acid (CA) were synthesized to create a library of cholesterol-free lipid nanoparticles, CAxLNPs. From this library, CAβLNP was identified as the most effective, exhibiting enhanced tumor cell uptake and superior endosomal membrane fusion capabilities compared to cholesterol-containing LNP formulations, leading to optimal endosomal escape and efficient cytoplasmic delivery of mRNA/siRNA. Following intratumoral injection, CAβLNP demonstrated significantly improved retention and penetration within tumor tissues while minimizing undesired hepatic transfection. This LNP formulation offers a safer, more effective carrier for RNA delivery, providing promising potential to expand the applications of RNA therapeutics.

Ionizable cationic lipid nanoparticles loaded with miRNA-125b/BLZ945 for pancreatic cancer treatment.

In prior research, both miRNA-125b and BLZ945 have shown potential in effectively inhibiting M2 macrophage polarization and producing antitumor effects. Nevertheless, their physicochemical characteristics present significant challenges for efficient in vivo delivery. Ionizable cationic lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), recognized for their superior biocompatibility and drug-loading capacity, serve as a novel carrier for nucleic acid-based therapeutics. In our study, we successfully encapsulated both agents within LNPs and conducted a thorough characterization. Subsequently, we investigated their potential to repolarize M2 macrophages in vitro and evaluated their in vivo distribution, biosafety, and antitumor efficacy. The findings revealed that the LNPs maintained excellent drug-loading efficiency, consistent particle size, and stable zeta potential. All formulations effectively inhibited M2 macrophage polarization in vitro. Upon administration in vivo, the LNPs not only demonstrated favorable biosafety profiles but also accumulated efficiently in tumor tissues, substantially reducing tumor burden, particularly notable in co-loaded LNPs. Our results affirm that LNPs are an effective carrier for miRNA-125b and BLZ945, highlighting this encapsulation approach as promising for the treatment of solid tumors and meriting further investigation. Practitioner points: (i) Ionizable cationic nanoparticles provide high and stable encapsulation rates to efficiently load nucleic acid polymers into the LNP, avoiding the rapid accumulation of circulating macrophages, which can lead to reduced penetration of the LNP into target tissues. Therefore, it can be used as a novel drug delivery method to benefit clinical patients. (ii) miRNA-125b LNP/BLZ945 LNP attenuated the depleting effect of BLZ945 on macrophages and significantly inhibited macrophage M2 polarization. It could be effectively distributed in tumors and showed good biosafety while exerting antitumor effects, bringing hope to clinical pancreatic tumor patients.

Long-Range Anion Correlations Mediating Dynamic Anharmonicity and Contributing to Glassy Thermal Conductivity in Well-Ordered K2Ag4Se3.

Herein an extremely low (0.32‒0.25 Wm-1K-1) and glassy temperature-dependence (300-600K) of lattice thermal conductivity (κlat)in a monoclinic K2Ag4Se3 is reported. It is found that the effective carrier delocalization, contributed by the perfect p-d* hybridization paradigm, can efficiently facilitate the spatial transfer of electron cloud perturbations induced by the anisotropic thermal vibrations of Ag4 atoms, thereby favoring long-range Se‒Se correlations. The localized rattling-like vibration of Ag4 atoms induce short phonon lifetimes, large scattering phase space, and then a low particle-like propagation. While the correlated interactions mediated competitive expressions between bubble diagrams and loop diagrams can suppress the generation of wavelike phonons from off-diagonal coupling. Ultimately, the AgSe3 structural units can enable the dual confinement of both the particle-like propagation of phonons and wavelike tunneling of coherence. The study highlights that the correlated AgSe3 coordination units can simultaneously target particle-like and wavelike phonons and then reduce their contribution to the κlat by mediating long-range transfer of charge polarization. These fundamental advances will advance the design of crystalline materials with tailored thermal properties.

Nanostructured lipid carriers as a strategy to enhance oral levosulpiride delivery: An in vitro and ex vivo assessment.

Oral absorption is limited for many small-molecule drugs due to their poor aqueous solubility as well as, for some, poor membrane permeation. One such is levosulpiride (LSP), used to treat psychotic and other conditions. The present study aims to explore the effect of nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) for the delivery of LSP. The permeation of LSP in vitro and ex vivo as well as effects on the epithelium and mucosa was monitored. In vitro and ex vivo permeation studies exhibited an 8-fold and 1.6-fold increase in the Papp of LSP respectively, as compared to unformulated LSP applied as a suspension. Transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) measured in real-time by impedance spectroscopy decreased during exposure yet recovered upon removal of the NLCs. Together with the increased passage of the paracellular markers [14C]-mannitol and FD4 applied together with blank NLCs, but not the transcellular marker [3H]-metoprolol, this indicates permeation of LSP via the paracellular pathway. The reversible effect on integrity was associated with altered cell morphology confirmed by occludin and f-actin localization with insignificant effect on metabolic activity. These results suggest that the NLCs and/or components thereof can mediate improved absorption of drugs by increasing the permeability of the intestinal epithelial membrane, further facilitated by increased drug solubilization.

Z-type heterojunction construction and photocatalytic performance of O-C3N4/Bi2Mo2O9 composites for the effective degradation of tetracycline

The antibiotic tetracycline (TCH) is a common pollutant seen in industrial wastewaters and municipal wastewaters, which poses an environmental problem. To solve this, oxygen modified carbon nitride (O-C3N4) and a Z-type heterojunction O-C3N4/Bi2Mo2O9 with excellent photocatalytic performance was constructed. The degradation efficiency of O-C3N4/Bi2Mo2O9-60 % for TCH (10 mg/L) was as high as 89.9 % under 3 h of illumination. The corresponding degradation rate was 1.9 and 3.1 times higher than that of O-C3N4 and Bi2Mo2O9, respectively, due to the effective carrier separation and the increased specific surface area. The Z-type heterojunction construction of the O-C3N4/Bi2Mo2O9-60 % composite and corresponding TCH degradation mechanism were further assessed through exploring the electron transfer, active radical and reaction paths. Furthermore, the O-C3N4/Bi2Mo2O9-60 % composite exhibited a high cyclic stability, and its degradation efficiency remained at 87.5 % after 5 cycles. The O-C3N4/Bi2Mo2O9-60 % composite also had excellent adaptability to the actual aqueous environment, and the degradation efficiency for TCH in different actual aqueous environments remained above 70 %. All results indicated that O-C3N4/Bi2Mo2O9 composites have significant visible photocatalytic performance and can be used for the practical removal of TCH pollutants.

Physically crosslinked chitosan/αβ–glycerophosphate hydrogels enhanced by surface-modified cyclodextrin: An efficient strategy for controlled drug release

This study reports physically crosslinked chitosan/αβ–glycerophosphate (CS/GP) hydrogels containing surface-modified cyclodextrin for efficient controlled drug release. Highly water-soluble β–cyclodextrin-grafted L–serine (CD–g–Ser) compounds were synthesized, and employed as an effective carrier of berberine hydrochloride (Ber) for CS/GP hydrogels. Various characterizations, including gelation time determination, scanning electron microscopy, and viscosity measurement, indicated that the introduction of CD–g–Ser led to increased crosslinking degree, improved temperature sensitivity, and shortened sol–gel phase transition time of the hydrogel. Meanwhile, the sustained release ability for Ber was achieved due to the hydrophobic association between cyclodextrin and Ber. It was observed that within 4 h, the hydrogel containing CD–g–Ser released 40 % of Ber, while the CS/GP hydrogel without CD–g–Ser released 65 % of Ber. Furthermore, in vitro bacteriostasis experiments confirmed the drug-loaded hydrogel had an excellent antibacterial effect against E. coli and S. aureus (diameter of the inhibition zone up to (16.4 and 34.7) mm, respectively), low hemolysis rate (<2 %), and high cell viability (>90 %). The findings indicate that the physical crosslinked CS hydrogel can be used as a new drug delivery system, and its excellent antibacterial effect makes it a potential wound dressing candidate.

Dual pH-responsive CRISPR/Cas9 ribonucleoprotein xenopeptide complexes for genome editing.

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/CRISPR associated (Cas) protein has been proved as a powerful tool for the treatment of genetic diseases. The Cas9 protein, when combined with single-guide RNA (sgRNA), forms a Cas9/sgRNA ribonucleoprotein (RNP) capable of targeting and editing the genome. However, the limited availability of effective carriers has restricted the broader application of CRISPR/Cas9 RNP. In this study, we evaluated dual pH-responsive amphiphilic xenopeptides (XPs) for delivering CRISPR/Cas9 RNP. These artificial lipo-XPs contain apolar cationizable lipoamino fatty acid (LAF) and polar cationizable oligoaminoethylene acid units such as succinoyl-tetraethylenepentamine (Stp) in various ratios and U-shaped topologies. The carriers were screened for functional Cas9/sgRNA RNP delivery in four different reporter cell lines, including a Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) exon skipping reporter cell model. Significantly enhanced cellular uptake into HeLa cells, effective endosomal disruption in HeLa gal8-mRuby3 cells, and potent genome editing by several Cas9/sgRNA RNP complexes was observed in four different cell lines in the 5 nM sgRNA range. Comparing Cas9/sgRNA RNP complexes with Cas9 mRNA/sgRNA polyplexes in the DMD reporter cell model demonstrated similar splice site editing and high exon skipping of the two different molecular Cas9 modalities. Based on these studies, analogues of two potent U1 LAF2-Stp and LAF4-Stp2 structures were deployed, tuning the amphiphilicity of the polar Stp group by replacement with the six oligoamino acids dmGtp, chGtp, dGtp, Htp, Stt, or GEIPA. The most potent LAF2-Stp analogues (containing dGtp, chGtp or GEIPA) demonstrated further enhanced gene editing efficiency with EC50 values of 1 nM in the DMD exon skipping reporter cell line. Notably, the EC50 of LAF2-dGtp reached 0.51 nM even upon serum incubation. Another carrier (LAF4-GEIPA2) complexing Cas9/sgRNA RNP and donor DNA, facilitated up to 43% of homology-directed repair (HDR) in HeLa eGFPd2 cells visualized by the switch from green fluorescent protein (eGFP) to blue fluorescent protein (BFP). This study presents a delivery system tunable for Cas9 RNP complexes or Cas9 RNP/donor DNA polyplexes, offering an effective and easily applicable strategy for gene editing.

Enhancement of liner materials based on nanomaterials to promote sustainability in noise intercourse

Daily usage of devices has had a major influence on lives and existence, which would be unimaginable without them. Due to this, recent gadget dependability concerns need particular attention. PCs, hand mobile phones, and other computerized household gadgets need integrated circuits (ICs). Individual components must work together to accomplish their tasks and make the circuit operate. Hot carrier effect, oxide breakdown, and other system-level problems result from accommodating several devices in a planar IC. Vertical linking active components in one IC to another IC is a common method of three-dimensional IC integration (3D-IC). The main issue with 3D-IC adoption is electrical interference to neighboring through silicon via (TSV) and active transistors, which substantially reduces system performance. The electrical TSV (ETSV) model, which employs solely electrical signal carrying TSV, and the thermal TSV (TTSV) model, which incorporates thermal TSV during simulation, are used in this research to reduce electrical interference. The electrical signal transporting TSV to the substrate and other TSV was investigated for interference. With other models, this study also shows higher frequency regimes up to 1 THz. We found that the suggested methodology improves 3D-IC development by more than 30% by reducing electrical interference from signal-carrying TSV to other TSV.

Flow microbubble emission boiling (MEB) in open microchannels for durable and efficient heat dissipation

Microbubble emission boiling (MEB) has been reported to be an advanced heat transfer mechanism due to its significant heat dissipation capacity at high heat flux. Microchannel heat sinks are considered to be effective heat transfer carriers, but MEB is difficult to be triggered in conventional microchannels due to insufficient mainflow subcooling and restriction of narrow channel walls. In this work, we conducted flow MEB experiments in plain and lasered open microchannels with various inlet temperatures (Tinlet) and open gap height (Hg). The open configuration can provide adequate mainflow subcooling and extra flow area to trigger MEB. The results showed that MEB occurred in plain open microchannels as a transition flow pattern between bubbly flow and flow reversal at Tinlet ≤ 25 °C and Hg = 0.3 mm, with a significant temperature drop after a one-time flow reversal, providing abundant vapor composition as MEB evaporation cores; MEB did not happen at higher Tinlet and larger Hg (1 mm). However, in lasered open microchannels, MEB was triggered at the beginning of flow boiling at Tinlet ≤ 65 °C with Hg = 0.3 and 1 mm, without temperature drop or flow reversal. This demonstrated that the required inlet subcooling, heat flux and temperature gradient in vertical direction for MEB initiation were simultaneously reduced in lasered microchannels. The two-phase heat transfer coefficient (htp) of MEB was significantly increased (up to 77.8 %) compared to conventional bubbly flow, due to the faster bubble nucleation frequency and rapid impact from the subcooled mainflow to channel walls, and was further enhanced in lasered microchannels. The durability of MEB in plain microchannel was unsatisfactory, as the persistent flow reversal dominated the flow pattern after ∼3750 s at G = 300 ml/min, Tinlet = 25 °C, Hg = 0.3 mm and qeff ∼1450 kW/m2. However, in lasered microchannels, MEB ran steadily for 22500 s at the same working condition. This study provided an effective and accessible method to achieve durable MEB in microchannels with excellent heat dissipation capacity, offering valuable insights for further thermal management engineering applications.

Three-Dimensional Mesoporous Covalent Organic Framework for Photocatalytic Oxidative Dehydrogenation to Quinoline.

Developing precious metal-free catalysts for organic reactions under mild conditions is urgent. Herein, we report a three-dimensional covalent organic framework (3D-COF) with high crystallinity and permanent pores, termed 3D-TABPA-COF, for the oxidation of tetrahydroquinoline to quinoline. The 3D-TABPA-COF assembled based on N4,N4-bis(4'-amino-[1,1'-biphenyl]-4-yl)-[1,1'-biphenyl]-4,4'-diamine (TABPA) is the catalytic active center for the conversion of tetrahydroquinoline. The triphenylamine in the structure is an effective photosensitizer, which not only enhances the light absorption capacity but also facilitates the rapid transfer of photogenerated electrons and ensures effective carrier separation. The obtained 3D-TABPA-COF has a high specific surface area (2745.06 m2 g-1) and mesopores of 3.57 nm. This is attributed to the fact that the bor topology is not easy to interpenetrate. It can oxidize tetrahydroquinoline to obtain quinoline efficiently under visible light irradiation. In addition, we also performed various photochemical characterizations combined with density functional theory calculations to elucidate the reaction mechanism from tetrahydroquinoline to quinoline. This work provides a feasible strategy for constructing 3D-COF to achieve efficient photocatalytic organic reactions.

Enhancing the Efficiency and Stability of Perovskite Solar Cells Via Hybrid Electron Transport Layer Strategy.

Tin oxide (SnO2) is extensively employed as the electron transport layer (ETL) for perovskite solar cells, but the presence of unsaturated Sn dangling bonds and oxygen vacancy defects at surface hinders effective carrier transport. Herein, we present an effective strategy for constructing a hybrid ETL by doping ZnF2 into the SnO2, effectively addressing the oxygen vacancy defects at both the bulk and interface of SnO2, thus markedly minimizing nonradiative recombination losses. Additionally, the process-induced strong bonding between F and Sn atoms facilitates the establishment of electron transfer pathways, leading to an increased electron cloud density within SnO2 and enhanced electron transfer capability, thus further suppressing charge accumulation at the interface. The hybrid ETL strategy can be adaptable to perovskites with various cations. The MAPbI3 and Cs0.1FA0.9PbI3 perovskite solar cells achieved remarkable PCEs of 21.31% and 24.91%, respectively. Moreover, the hybrid ETL design significantly enhances device stability. After 600 h of ambient storage, the unencapsulated optimized devices retained approximately 90% of their initial efficiency.

Engineering cellulose aerogel composites for mercury ion sequestration and aquatic real time monitoring based on the immobilization of metal-organic frameworks

Industrial wastewater effluents containing elevated levels of mercury are a significant menace to both the ecosystem and human health. Despite the advent of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as promising adsorbents, their application in treatment of industrial wastewater has been impeded by the challenges associated with handling their powdered form. In this work, we introduce a straightforward method for fabricating MOF composite cellulose aerogels (5MM-101@CA). The resulting adsorbent showed a high adsorption capacity of 409.84 mg/g for Hg (II), with over 75 % removal efficiency maintained after five consecutive adsorption-desorption cycles. Furthermore, the material exhibited high sensitivity for the real-time detection of Hg (II), with a detection limit as low as 6.89×10−8 M. The adsorbent also showed remarkable fluorescence stability for up to a week, indicative of its excellent optical performance. Dynamic adsorption demonstrated the adsorbent's ability to sustain continuous and stable system operation without compromising adsorption efficiency. These findings underscore the effectiveness of post-synthetic modification (PSM) technology in enhancing the performance of MOFs, while highlighting the utility of low-cost cellulose as an effective carrier. Thus, the composite material developed in this work is promising as it not only maximizes the adsorption capabilities of MOFs but also circumvents the risk of secondary pollution.

Microwave-assisted chemical looping gasification of sugarcane bagasse biomass using Fe3O4 as oxygen carrier for H2/CO-rich syngas production

Chemical looping gasification (CLG) is a promising approach for sustainable biomass utilization. The selection of an appropriate heating method is a key challenge in the CLG process. This study investigated microwave-assisted CLG of sugarcane bagasse using Fe3O4 as an oxygen carrier. The effects of microwave power (580, 680, 780, 880, and 980 W) and oxygen carrier to biomass mass ratio (mOC:mSCB) (0:6, 1:5, 2:4, 3:3, 4:2, and 5:1) on product distributions, syngas compositions, syngas efficiencies, and syngas HHVs were studied. Results showed that with increase in microwave power and mOC:mSCB ratio, syngas yield, syngas efficiency, and syngas HHV initially increased and then finally decreased. The optimal conditions were found to be 880 W power and a 3:3 ratio. The optimal syngas yield of 88.23 wt% was achieved in the air reactor at 880 W with a 5:1 ratio. Pyrolysis yielded H2 and CO-enriched syngas, while gasification increased CO concentration. The highest CO + H2 concentration of 64.96 vol% was obtained in the fuel reactor at 880 W with a 3:3 ratio. The maximum thermal efficiency (49.55 %), cold gas efficiency (49.48 %), carbon conversion efficiency (54.42 %), and HHV (16.31 MJ/Nm3) were observed in the fuel reactor at 880 W and a 3:3 ratio. Microwave-assisted heating achieved an impressive heating rate of 1166.40 °C/min at 980 W and 5:1 in air reactor. This study shows that microwave heating can be utilized as efficient heating in CLG for sustainable biomass utilization.

Synergistic effect between amino functional group and graphene oxide in selective photocatalytic CO2 reduction to formic acid

Carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction to useful possible chemicals is of great significance to energy supply, while formic acid is one of the most desirable product among the many other chemicals. In this study, a novel reduced graphene oxide (rGO) coupled doped TiO2 with NH2-MIL-125(Ti)(TiM) composite photocatalysts TiO2@rGO@TiM was designed by using a solvent-thermal method to facilitate the photocatalytic CO2 reduction to formic acid under the visible light. Benefiting from the special structure of TiO2@rGO@TiM, up to a rate of 113 µmol•g−1•h−1 of formic acid was produced in a photochemical process, which is four times greater than that of pure TiO2 and TiM without any sacrificial agent. The results of structure and photoelectrochemical characterization demonstrated that the enhanced production of formic acid was attributable to the synergistic effect generated by the incorporation of the amino functional group and reduced graphene oxide, resulting in the effective photo-induced carrier spatial segregation and transfer and improving the catalytic activity.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes improve cancer drug delivery in human cell lines and a mouse osteosarcoma model.

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone tumor. Patients require chemotherapy drugs with high-targeting ability and low off-target toxicity to improve their survival. Exosomes are biological vesicles that mediate long-distance communication between cells and naturally target their source sites. Exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) naturally target bone tumor sites, suggesting their potential as effective anti-tumor therapy vectors. In this study, we evaluated the potential of BMSC-derived exosomes in targeting osteosarcoma and serving as a carrier for doxorubicin (DOX). We isolated exosomes from human BMSCs and synthesized hybrid exosomes (HEs) by fusing these exosomes with liposomes. These HEs were loaded with DOX to produce a novel drug, HE/DOX. We confirmed the successful synthesis of HE/DOX using fluorescence spectroscopy and estimated its size to be 151.1 ± 10.2 nm. HEs expressed the known exosomal proteins ALIX, CD63, and TSG101. Under acidic conditions similar to those observed in the tumor microenvironment, the drug release from HE/DOX was enhanced. In osteosarcoma cell lines and in a mouse osteosarcoma model, HE/DOX exhibited stronger tumor-inhibitory effects than free DOX. Our study demonstrates that BMSC-derived exosomes could effectively target osteosarcoma. Furthermore, HEs can serve as effective carriers of DOX, enabling the treatment of osteosarcoma. These findings highlight a promising direction for tumor-targeted therapy.

Chemical Pressure-Induced Unconventional Band Convergence Leads to High Thermoelectric Performance in SnTe.

Band convergence is considered a net benefit to thermoelectric performance as it decouples the density of states effective mass ( ) and carrier mobility (µ) by increasing valley degeneracy. Unlike conventional methods that typically prioritize at the expense of µ, this study theoretically demonstrates an unconventional band convergence strategy to enhance both and µ in SnTe under pressure. Density functional theory calculations reveal that increasing pressure from 0 to 5 GPa moves the Σ-band of SnTe upward, reducing the energy offset between L- and Σ-band from 0.35 to 0.2 eV while preserving the light band feature of the L-band. Consequently, a high power factor (PF) of 119.2 µW cm-1 K-2 at 300 K is achieved for p-type SnTe under 5 GPa. Chemical pressure also induces conduction band convergence, significantly enhancing the PF of n-type SnTe. Additionally, the interplay between pressure-induced phonon modes leads to a moderate increase in lattice thermal conductivity of SnTe below 3 GPa, which combined with the significantly enhanced PF, contributes to a large enhancement in ZT. Consequently, predicted ZT values of 2.12 at 650 K and 2.55 at 850 K are obtained for p- and n-type SnTe, respectively, showcasing substantial performance enhancements.

ADVANCING TOPICAL POSACONAZOLE DELIVERY: BOX BEHNKEN DESIGN MICROSPONGE HYDROGEL OPTIMIZATION AND EXTENSIVE IN VIVO INVESTIGATION

Objective: The primary aim of this study was to develop a novel hydrogel formulation containing Posaconazole (PCZ) encapsulated within microsponges. Furthermore, the study aimed to assess the permeation properties of this formulation in vivo using a mouse model. Methods: To achieve this aim, a series of seventeen trials were conducted using the Box Behnken Design methodology. These trials were designed to optimize the production of PCZ Microsponges (PCZ MS), which were subsequently incorporated into a hydrogel matrix. Skin permeation studies were then performed to evaluate the ability of the PCZ microsponge-based hydrogel to deliver the drug across the skin barrier. These studies involved comparison with a standard hydrogel formulation lacking microsponges. Results: This study assessed the efficacy of microsponge gel formulation PM-3 for drug entrapment, yield, and sustained release compared to a conventional gel. PM-3 displayed the highest entrapment efficiency of 98.5% and a yield of 95.62%, indicating a direct correlation with the 1:1 drug-polymer ratio. Moreover, PM-3 exhibited sustained drug release over 12 h, releasing 83.82% of PCZ compared to 65.31% with the normal gel, suggesting its potential for prolonged therapeutic action. These findings underscore the promise of microsponge-based hydrogels, like PM-3, in enhancing therapeutic outcomes through sustained drug release, warranting further exploration for clinical applications. Conclusion: The findings of this study highlight the promising potential of microsponge-based hydrogels as effective carriers for localized drug delivery, particularly in the context of treating skin fungal infections.