Dual Properties Research Articles

A scientometrics and visualization analysis of oxidative stress modulator Nrf2 in cancer profiles its characteristics and reveals its association with immune response

BackgroundNrf2, an essential and fascinating transcription factor, enjoys a dual property in the occurrence and development of inflammation and cancer. For over two decades, numerous studies regarding Nrf2 in cancer have been reported, whereas there is still a lack of a scientometrics and visualization analysis of Nrf2 in cancer. Hence, a scientometric study regarding the oxidative stress modulator Nrf2 was implemented. MethodsAfter the quality screening, we defined 7168 relevant studies from 2000 to 2021. CiteSpace, VOSviewer, R software, and GraphPad Prism were used for the following scientometric study and visualization analysis, including field profiles, research hotspots, and future predictions. ResultsThe total number of publications and citations are 1058 and 54,690, respectively. After polynomial fitting curve analysis, two prediction functions of the annual publication number (y = 3.3909x2 - 13585x + 1 E+07) and citation number (185.45x2 - 743669x + 7 E+08) were generated. After scientometric analysis, we found that Biochemistry Molecular Biology correlates with Nrf2 in cancer highly, and Free Radical Biology and Medicine is a good choice for submitting Nrf2-related manuscripts. The current research hotspots of Nrf2 in cancer mainly focus on cancer therapy and its cellular and molecular mechanisms. “antioxidant response element (87.5)", “gene expression (43.98)", “antioxidant responsive element (21.14)", “chemoprevention (20.05)", “carcinogenesis (19.2)", “cancer chemoprevention (18.45)", “free radical (17.15)", “response element (14.17)", and “chemopreventive agent (14.04)" are important for cancer therapy study. In addition, “glutathione-S-transferase (47)", “keap1 (15.39)", and “heme oxygenase 1 gene (24.35)" are important for inflammation and cell fate study. More interestingly, by performing an “InfoMap” algorithm, the thematic map showed that the “immune response” is essential to oxidative stress modulator Nrf2 but not well developed, indicating it deserves further exploration. ConclusionThis study revealed field profiles, research hotspots, and future directions of oxidative stress modulator Nrf2 in inflammation and cancer research, and our findings will offer a vigorous roadmap for further studies in this field.

Enhanced Healing of Cutaneous Burn Wounds in Diabetic Rats: with the administration of β-glucans Having Dual Significant Properties- Antioxidant Effects and Phenotypic Transition

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of β-Glucans obtained from Saccharomyces cerevisiae on the wound healing process in diabetic rats induced with streptozotocin. The investigation evaluated multiple wound healing parameters, such as the closure of the wound, alongside the assessment of CD68 and CD163 proteins, which function as indicators for M1 and M2 macrophages, respectively. The study also investigated the effects of β-Glucans on inflammatory markers, specifically IL-6 and IL-10. Additionally, the researchers analysed hydroxyproline and hexosamine levels, and performed histopathological examinations. The current study examined the anti-inflammatory effects by employing the paw edoema and cotton pellet induced granuloma methods. The findings of this study suggest that β-Glucans exhibit therapeutic properties that may have potential benefits in the treatment of burn injuries among individuals diagnosed with diabetes. These substances facilitate expedited healing of burn wounds, augment tensile strength, and exhibit properties that combat oxidation and inflammation. In addition, β-Glucans have been shown to enhance the levels of tissue hydroxyproline and hexosamine, leading to the enhancement of collagen synthesis and the development of the extracellular matrix in burn wounds of individuals with diabetes. Importantly, -Glucans have a beneficial impact on the inflammatory stage of burn wound healing without inhibiting the generation of pro-inflammatory mediators, particularly interleukin-6 (IL-6). By increasing production of the anti-inflammatory mediator interleukin-10 (IL-10), they also aid in the proliferation process. By increasing CD163 expression and decreasing CD68 expression, the research showed that -Glucans had a substantial effect in promoting the switch from the M1 to M2 phenotype at the appropriate moment. The end result is faster recovery from burn injuries in diabetic rats. Overall, the results support beta-glucans' therapeutic potential in the effective management of burn wounds in diabetic patients. Keywords: β-Glucans, Diabetic burn wound, Biochemical analysis, Phenotypic Transition, Western blot analysis, wound healing,

Photoluminescence Emission Studies on a Lanthanum-Doped Lead Free Double Halide Perovskite, La:Cs2SnCl6

Recent advances in bandgap engineering have increased the possibility of vacancy ordered double halide perovskites (VO-DHPs), Cs2SnX6 where X = Cl, Br, I with designable optoelectronic features. Doping with La3+ ions modulates the band gap from 3.8 to 2.7 eV, allowing a steady room temperature dual emission (PL) centered at 440 and 705 nm in Cs2SnCl6. Pristine Cs2SnCl6 and La:Cs2SnCl6 both have a crystalline cubic structure with a space symmetry of Fm3m. The cubic phase correlates well with the Rietveld refinement. SEM analysis confirms anisotropic development with huge micrometer-sized (>10 μm) truncated octahedral structures. DFT investigations show that the insertion of La3+ ions into the crystal lattice leads to the band splitting. The present study elaborates the experimental understanding of the dual PL emission properties of La:Cs2SnCl6 leaving a scope for detailed theoretical study on the origin of the complex electronic transitions involving f-orbital electrons.

Metamaterial with synergistically controllable Poisson's ratio and thermal expansion coefficient

Metamaterials possessing multiple unusual properties have aroused wide attention and exploration, because they are more adaptive to application requirements than materials with a single system. Particularly, recent work has proposed mechanical metamaterials with both negative Poisson's ratio and negative thermal expansion. These mechanical metamaterials with dual negative properties show great prospect for devices that are both mechanical- and temperature-sensitive. Unfortunately, the accessible ranges of Poisson's ratio and thermal expansion reported so far are still very narrow. Here, a multifunctional metamaterial with controllable Poisson's ratio and thermal expansion coefficient with a wide range is designed and fabricated. It can reach both negative and positive thermal expansion (−2347 to 1786 ppm/K−1), and possesses high negative Poisson's ratio (up to -17.234). This research further expands the accessible range of Poisson's ratio and thermal expansion coefficient, promoting the application of multifunctional metamaterial.

A novel luminol-coordinated silver(I) organic gel with self-enhanced chemiluminescence applied for uric acid detection

A novel silver(I)-based metal–organic gel (AgMOG) consisting of luminol as the ligand was synthesized by a facile strategy, which was found to exhibit self-enhancing chemiluminescence (CL) property. Based on this, a new AgMOG-K2S2O8 CL system without additional catalyst was established. According to the results of CL spectra, electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra as well as the influence of radical scavengers to AgMOG-K2S2O8 system, the possible CL mechanism of this system was discussed. In this CL system, AgMOG exhibited the dual properties of catalysis and luminescence. On the one hand, AgMOG can catalyze K2S2O8 to produce SO4•−. The generated SO4•− can be converted to hydroxyl radical (OH•) under alkaline condition, and further converted to other radical oxygen species (ROS, such as 1O2 and O2•−). Furthermore, the reaction between the K2S2O8 and H2O can form H2O2, which also can be catalyzed by AgMOG to produce ROS. On the other hand, the AgMOG can be oxidized by ROS to emit strong CL signal. Then, based on the quenching effect of uric acid (UA) to this CL system, a method for UA detection was established with a good linearity over the range from 0.08 to 10 µmol·L−1. In this work, a new CL luminant with catalytic property was synthesized by a simple method, and a self-enhancing AgMOG-K2S2O8 CL system was developed for the first time, providing a novel direction for the application of MOG in the CL field.

Airy transform of an electron Landau state in a longitudinal constant magnetic field

In this article, a relationship between the electron beams in a longitudinal constant magnetic field and light beams in a parabolic refractive index distribution medium is revealed and demonstrated analytically. We propose a new method to work out the properties of the singularity in that analytical expression and have a discussion on some universal features of electron beams in a longitudinal constant magnetic field. Based on the theories above, we introduce a new type of structured electron beams, which is the Airy transform of electron Landau states (ATLSs). We not only study the dynamic of ATLSs and the magnetic field analytically and numerically but also carry out the movement of centroid and the dual auto-focusing property of ATLSs. Moreover, we have a discussion on the influence on ATLSs of Airy control parameters and the parameters of electron Landau states.

Prospective acceptability of a multipurpose technology (MPT) implant in preclinical development to prevent HIV and unplanned pregnancy: Qualitative insights from women end users and health care providers in South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Given the high rates of both HIV and unintended pregnancies in sub-Saharan Africa, the SCHIELD program aims to develop a multipurpose technology implant for HIV and pregnancy prevention. An end-user evaluation was undertaken with young women and health care providers to assess preferences for modifiable implant attributes to improve future adoption and rollout. Focus group discussions were conducted with potential women end users, and health care providers experienced in implant insertion or removal participated in in-depth interviews. All participants were recruited from Harare, Zimbabwe, or Soshanguve, South Africa. The purposively stratified sampled women were either implant experienced or implant naïve and were categorized into three groups: nulliparous, postpartum, or engaged in transactional sex. Topics covered included duration (six months to three years), biodegradability, removability, and independent rod retrievability (per indication). Data were analyzed using Dedoose software and summarized into emerging themes. Participants identified three key areas that could facilitate rollout, uptake, and adherence of an implant for HIV and pregnancy prevention. First, discreetness was the most salient topic and was associated with implant characteristics such as anatomical location, flexibility, and biodegradability. Second, the ability to independently retrieve the HIV or pregnancy prevention component was preferred, as life circumstances may change and was favored by all participants, except for young women in Soshanguve. Third, there is a need for proper counseling, sensitization, provider training, and health campaigns to facilitate rollout of a 2-in-1 implant. A 2-in-1 implant was seen as highly desirable by most young women and health care providers. Participants discussed potential concerns and barriers to uptake of a biodegradable implant with dual HIV prevention and contraceptive properties, identifying key implant attributes that product developers can modify while still in preclinical stages.

Synergistic effect of selectively etched CoFe and N-doped hollow carbon spheres for high performance lithium-sulfur batteries

Lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) feature benefits of high theoretical specific capacity, but they are severely constrained by the shuttle effect of lithium polysulfides and volume expansion in the process. To address these issues, CoFe nano particles covered in N-doped carbon (SE-CoFe@NC) layer were prepared by bimetallic-organic skeleton pyrolysis method and used as cathode matrix for LSBs. The nitrogen-carbon shell layer and polar CoFe-alloy nanoparticles provide plentiful chemisorption sites for polysulfides, and the alloy is essential for accelerating the redox conversion of polysulfides. Nitrogen-doped carbon layer promotes ion/electron transport and the nitrogen doping is generally considered to have a strong adsorption effect on polysulfides, with the hollow carbon spheres acting synergistically in promoting electrolyte penetration, enhancing sulfur loading capacity and accommodating sulfur expansion during cycling. Take advantage of these benefits, the S@CoFe/NC-80 composite cathode exhibits strong adsorption capability of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs), efficient reaction kinetics and stable cycling performance (reversible capacity of 617 mAh g−1 at 0.2C after 200 cycles, and when the charging/discharging rate reaches 1C, it maintains a reversible discharge capacity of 490 mAh g−1 after 1000 cycles with a per-cycle decay rate of only 0.05%). The synergistic effect of the dual properties of the catalytic activity of the CoFe alloy and the conductive hollow nitrogen-carbon layer provides a viable solution for the appropriate design of bimetallic alloy structures and promotes further applications.

Selective Catalytic Epoxidation-Hydration of α-Pinene with Hydrogen Peroxide to Sobrerol by Durable Ammonium Phosphotungstate Immobilized on Imidazolized Activated Carbon.

It is presented that the activated carbon was carboxylated with hydrogen peroxide and then acylated with 2-methylimidazole to prepare the porous carbon support with a surface imidazolated modification. Through the adsorption of phosphotungstic acid on the fundamental site of an imidazolyl group and then adjusting the acid strength with the ammonia molecule, a catalytic carbon material immobilized with ammonium phosphotungstate (AC-COIMO-NH4PW) was obtained, which was used to catalyze a one-pot reaction of convenient α-pinene and hydrogen peroxide to sobrerol. The bifunctional active site originated from the dual property of ammonium phosphotungstate, as the oxidant and acid presenting a cooperatively catalytic performance, which effectively catalyzes the tandem epoxidation-isomerization-hydration of α-pinene to sobrerol, in which the solvent effect of catalysis simultaneously exists. The sobrerol selectivity was significantly improved after the acid strength weakening by ammonia. Monomolecular chemical bonding and anchoring of ammonium phosphotungstate at the basic site prevented the loss of the active catalytic species, and the recovered catalyst showed excellent catalytic stability in reuse. Using acetonitrile as the solvent at 40 °C for 4 h, the conversion of α-pinene could reach 90.6%, and the selectivity of sobrerol was 40.5%. The results of five cycles show that the catalyst presents excellent stability due to the tight immobilization of ammonium phosphotungstate bonding on the imidazolized activated carbon, based on which a catalytic-cycle mechanism is proposed for the tandem reaction.

One stone two birds: anti-inflammatory bronchodilators as a potential pharmacological strategy for COVID-19.

The ongoing Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has imposed a huge threat to public health across the world. While vaccinations are essential for reducing virus transmission and attenuating disease severity, the nature of high mutation rate of SARS-CoV-2 renders vaccines less effective, urging quick development of effective therapies for COVID-19 disease. However, developing novel drugs remains extremely challenging due to the lengthy process and high cost. Alternatively, repurposing of existing drugs on the market represents a rapid and safe strategy for combating COVID-19 pandemic. Bronchodilators are first line drugs for inflammatory lung diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Compared to other anti-inflammatory drugs repurposed for COVID-19, bronchodilators are unique in that they have both anti-inflammatory and bronchodilating properties. Whether the dual properties of bronchodilators empower them greater potential to be repurposed for COVID-19 is worth exploring. In fact, clinical and preclinical studies have recently emerged to investigate the benefits of bronchodilators such assalbutamol, formoterol and theophylline in treating COVID-19, and many of them have shown encouraging efficacy on attenuating disease severity of pneumonia and other associated symptoms. To comprehensively understand the latest progress on COVID-19 intervention with bronchodilators, this review will summarize recent findings in this area and highlight the promising clinical benefits and possible adverse effects of bronchodilators as therapeutic options for COVID-19 with a focus on β2 receptor agonists, anticholinergic drugs and theophylline.

Dual luminescent peaks, energy transfer and temperature sensor properties of a new Eu2+/Mn2+ co-doped phosphor

Dual luminescent peaks, energy transfer and temperature sensor properties of a new Eu2+/Mn2+ co-doped phosphor

Duloxetine, Gabapentin, and the Risk for Acute Myocardial Infarction, Stroke, and Out-of-Hospital Death in Medicare Beneficiaries With Non-Cancer Pain.

Duloxetine is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor prescribed for musculoskeletal and other forms of chronic pain. Its dual pharmacologic properties have the potential to either raise or lower cardiovascular risk: adrenergic activity may increase the risk for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and stroke, but antiplatelet activity may decrease risk. Gabapentin is another nonopioid medication used to treat pain, which is not thought to have adrenergic/antiplatelet effects. With the current emphasis on the use of nonopioid medications to treat patients with chronic pain, assessing cardiovascular risks associated with these medications among high-risk patients is important. We conducted a retrospective cohort study among a 20% sample of Medicare enrollees, aged 65 to 89, with chronic pain who were new users between 2015 and 2018 of either duloxetine (n = 34,009) or gabapentin (n = 233,060). We excluded individuals with cancer or other life-threatening conditions at study drug initiation. The primary outcome was a composite of AMI, stroke, and out-of-hospital mortality. We adjusted for comorbidity differences with time-dependent inverse probability of treatment weighting. During 115,668 person-years of follow-up, 2361 patients had the composite primary outcome; the rate among new users of duloxetine was 16.7/1000 person-years compared with new users of gabapentin (21.1/1000 person-years), adjusted hazard ratio = 0.98 (95% CI: 0.83, 1.16). Results were similar for the individual components of the composite outcome as well as in analyses stratified by demographic and clinical characteristics. In summary, cohort Medicare patients with non-cancer pain beginning treatment with duloxetine had rates of AMI, stroke, and out-of-hospital mortality comparable to those who initiated gabapentin.

Fluorescent cholesteric liquid crystal polymers with dual properties: design, synthesis and characterisation

ABSTRACT In this study, we have synthesised fluorescent liquid crystal polymers with good fluorescence and optical properties through effective molecular design. Firstly, two series of cholesteric liquid crystal polymers (PN and PS series) were prepared by graft copolymerisation of cholesteric monomer(N1), monomer containing cyanobiphenyls with different length of carbon-chain (N2 and N3) and monomer containing bromine (6-Br) with polymethylhydrosiloxane chain as the polymer backbone. Secondly, we obtained fluorescent polymers RPN and RPS series by etherification reaction of PN and PS series with fluorescent monomer (F). The molecular structures and mesomorphic behaviour of monomers and polymers were characterised by usual ways. All the polymers are confirmed to consist with molecular design. The fluorescence of the polymers was investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy and fluorescent images. The fluorescence intensity of polymers is highly dependent on temperature. Fluorescent cholesteric liquid crystal polymers emitted different intensity fluorescence under ultraviolet irradiation and some regularities were summarised. RPN series with short carbon-chain meets our expectations for performance with dual effects of fluorescence and selective reflection, which were well verified. The effect of monomers with different chain lengths on the properties of fluorescent polymers has been described.

Microencapsulated bufalin: From membrane preparation to microspheres tailoring, and sustained release

Microspheres are commonly implemented in drug delivery system to enhance drug bioactivity and reduce the toxicity. Membrane emulsification is a promising technique to be applied in the preparation of microspheres for sustained release due to its easy control of the particle size. Membranes with different properties on dual sides have shown superior properties in the application of membrane emulsification. In this work, membranes with open channels and sharp pore size distribution were prepared by the novel combined solvent crystallization and polymer diffusion (CCD) technique. For the first time, the feasibility of CCD membranes with dual properties were verified for the application of membrane emulsification. Bufalin-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres were successfully prepared and the size distribution could be tuned via adopting CCD membranes with different pore sizes. The effects of membrane wettability and pore size on microspheres production were investigated for the membranes prepared by four different cooling conditions. The morphologies of microspheres were obtained by scanning electron microscope and the size distribution was analyzed by ImageJ. The in vitro release of bufalin-PLGA microspheres in various sizes exhibited distinctively, indicating the capability of controlling the release rate of the drug system via changing membrane with different properties. In this study, the most uniformly distributed bufalin-PLGA microspheres with an average size of 0.47 µm were achieved through membrane emulsification using the optimal CCD membranes. The as-prepared bufalin-PLGA microspheres exhibited an IC50 of 231.7 µg/mL, achieving reduced toxicity than free bufalin. This study provides a novel approach on tailoring microspheres via the manipulation of membrane properties, facilitating the design and production of drug delivery system with desired properties for a wide range of purposes.

Intermediate Silver Doping of Au25(SR)18: Variation of Electronic, Optical, and Chiroptical Properties along Au25-xAgx(SH)18- (x = 0-12) Stoichiometry from DFT Calculations.

The silver analogue of the prominent Au25(SR)18 nanocluster reveals the possibility of finding "gold"-like behavior despite their different nature, in addition to the common features among molecular AgNP. Herein, we explore the effect of successive additions of silver atoms reaching an intermediate Ag/Au doping ratio where the parent gold cluster exhibits properties from both elements. Our results show a more favorable situation as the Ag/Au ratio increases along the Au25-xAgx(SH)18- (x = 0-12) clusters, with structural distortions mainly centered at the ligand-protected shell. The calculated optical spectrum shows that from the Au19Ag6 species, a plasmon-like peak appears along species with a doping ratio above 25%, where all the silver atoms are located within the M12 icosahedron. In addition, the chiral properties were explored, showing mild optical activity from the calculated circular dichroism spectra due to the distorted ligand-shell avoiding a centrosymmetric structure. Thus, an intermediate doping ratio ascribed to a specific structural layer can recover inherent properties to both elements in the binary Au25-xAgx(SH)18- series, suggesting the possibility of having clusters with dual properties at a certain degree of element exchange. This can be useful for further exploration theoretically and synthetically toward different and larger-nuclearity clusters.

Leveraging the tolerogenic potential of TNF-α and regulatory B cells in organ transplantation.

A subset of B-cells with tolerogenic functions, termed B-regulatory cells or Bregs, is characterized by the expression of anti-inflammatory/tolerogenic cytokines, namely IL-10, TGF-β, and IL-35, that contribute to their regulatory functions. Breg regulation favors graft acceptance within a tolerogenic milieu. As organ transplantation invariably triggers inflammation, new insights into the crosstalk between cytokines with dual properties and the inflamed milieu are needed to tailor their function toward tolerance. Using TNF-α as a proxy of dual-function cytokines involved in immune-related diseases and transplantation settings, the current review highlights the multifaceted role of TNF-α. It focuses on therapeutic approaches that have revealed the complexity of TNF-α properties tested in clinical settings where total TNF-α inhibition has proven ineffective and often detrimental to clinical outcomes. To improve the efficacy of current TNF-α inhibiting therapeutics, we propose a three-prong strategy to upregulate the tolerogenic pathway engaging the TNFR2 receptor while simultaneously inhibiting the inflammatory mechanisms associated with TNFR1 engagement. When combined with additional administrations of Bregs-TLR that activate Tregs, this approach may become a potential therapeutic in overcoming transplant rejection and promoting graft tolerance.

Proposing novel natural compounds against Alzheimer's disease targeting acetylcholinesterase.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder considered as a global public health threat influencing many people. Despite the concerning rise in the affected population, there is still a shortage of potent and safe therapeutic agents. The aim of this research is to discover novel natural source molecules with high therapeutic effects, stability and less toxicity for the treatment of AD, specifically targeting acetylcholinesterase (AChE). This research can be divided into two steps: in silico search for molecules by systematic simulations and in vitro experimental validations. We identified five leading compounds, namely Queuine, Etoperidone, Thiamine, Ademetionine and Tetrahydrofolic acid by screening natural molecule database, conducting molecular docking and druggability evaluations. Stability of the complexes were investigated by Molecular Dynamics simulations and free energy calculations were conducted by Molecular Mechanics Generalized Born Surface Area method. All five complexes were stable within the binding catalytic site (CAS) of AChE, with the exception of Queuine which remains stable on the peripheral site (PAS). On the other hand Etoperidone both interacts with CAS and PAS sites showing dual binding properties. Binding free energy values of Queuine and Etoperidone were -71.9 and -91.0 kcal/mol respectively, being comparable to control molecules Galantamine (-71.3 kcal/mol) and Donepezil (-80.9 kcal/mol). Computational results were validated through in vitro experiments using the SH-SY5Y(neuroblastoma) cell line with Real Time Cell Analysis (RTCA) and cell viability assays. The results showed that the selected doses were effective with half inhibitory concentrations estimated to be: Queuine (IC50 = 70,90 μM), Etoperidone (IC50 = 712,80 μM), Thiamine (IC50 = 18780,34 μM), Galantamine (IC50 = 556,01 μM) and Donepezil (IC50 = 222,23 μM), respectively. The promising results for these molecules suggest the development of the next step in vivo animal testing and provide hope for natural therapeutic aids in the treatment of AD.

Interfacial bonding mechanism of linear friction welded dissimilar Ti2AlNb–Ti60 joint: Grain intergrowth induced by combined effects of dynamic recrystallization, phase transformation and elemental diffusion

The blisk composed of Ti2AlNb intermetallic alloy and Ti60 titanium alloy with its dual properties is considered as the ideal high-performance component in advanced aeroengines. There are incompatibilities at the interface during welding using conventional fusion techniques like electron beam. In this work, this dissimilar alloy joint was successfully produced employing linear friction welding, and a joint whose strength over that of Ti60 base metal was obtained. The intergrowth bonding mechanism at the interface was promoted by the combined effects of dynamic recrystallization, phase transformation and solute element diffusion. Studies showed that during heating of welding, there were total α2→B2 and O→B2 transformations on the Ti2AlNb side of the interface and α→β transformation at the Ti60 side of the interface, while continuous dynamic recrystallizations of B2 and β phases were taking place. Solute elements, Ti, Al and Nb, diffused at the interface, resulting in recrystallized grains on both sides of the interface achieving intergrowth. During rapid cooling, β→αˊ transformation occurred at the Ti60 side, while B2 phase remained intact on the Ti2AlNb side due its high Nb content, which makes B2/αˊ phase interface develop in intergrowth grain after welding. Due to the strong interfacial bonding strength as a result of intergrowth grains, this joint shows significant advantages compared to other welding techniques, and allows to expand its industrial use.

Doxorubicin-Loaded Fungal-Carboxymethyl Chitosan Functionalized Polydopamine Nanoparticles for Photothermal Cancer Therapy.

In this work, we synthesized doxorubicin-loaded fungal-carboxymethyl chitosan (FC) functionalized polydopamine (Dox@FCPDA) nanoparticles for improved anticancer activity via photothermal drug release. The photothermal properties revealed that the FCPDA nanoparticles with a concentration of 400 µg/mL produced a temperature of about 61.1 °C at 2 W/cm2 laser illumination, which is more beneficial for cancer cells. Due to the hydrophilic FC biopolymer, the Dox was successfully encapsulated into FCPDA nanoparticles via electrostatic interactions and pi-pi stacking. The maximum drug loading and encapsulation efficiency were calculated to be 19.3% and 80.2%, respectively. The Dox@FCPDA nanoparticles exhibited improved anticancer activity on HePG2 cancer cells when exposed to an NIR laser (800 nm, 2 W/cm2). Furthermore, the Dox@FCPDA nanoparticles also improved cellular uptake with HepG2 cells. Therefore, functionalizing FC biopolymer with PDA nanoparticles is more beneficial for drug and photothermal dual therapeutic properties for cancer therapy.

Nano-Gels: Recent Advancement in Fabrication Methods for Mitigation of Skin Cancer

In the 21st century, melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers have become an epidemic outbreak worldwide. Therefore, the exploration of all potential preventative and therapeutic measures based on either physical or bio-chemical mechanisms is essential via understanding precise pathophysiological pathways (Mitogen-activated protein kinase, Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase Pathway, and Notch signaling pathway) and other aspects of such skin malignancies. Nano-gel, a three-dimensional polymeric cross-linked porous hydrogel having a diameter of 20-200 nm, possesses dual properties of both hydrogel and nanoparticle. The capacity of high drug entrapment efficiency with greater thermodynamic stability, remarkable solubilization potential, and swelling behavior of nano-gel becomes a promising candidate as a targeted drug delivery system in the treatment of skin cancer. Nano-gel can be either synthetically or architectonically modified for responding to either internal or external stimuli, including radiation, ultrasound, enzyme, magnetic, pH, temperature, and oxidation-reduction to achieve controlled release of pharmaceuticals and several bio-active molecules such as proteins, peptides, genes via amplifying drug aggregation in the active targeted tissue and reducing adverse pharmacological effects. Several drugs, such as anti-neoplastic biomolecules having short biological half-lives and prompt enzyme degradability capacity, must be appropriate for administration employing either chemically bridged or physically constructed nano-gel frameworks. The comprehensive review summarizes the advancement in the preparation and characterization methods of targeted nano-gel with enhanced pharmacological potential and preserved intracellular safety limits for the mitigation of skin malignancies with a special emphasize on skin cancer inducing pathophysiological pathways and prospective research opportunities for skin malignancy targeted nano-gels.