Stable Cell Research Articles

Enhancing Osteogenic Potential in Bone Tissue Engineering: Optimizing Pore Size in Alginate‐Gelatin Composite Hydrogels

Bone tissue engineering is a complex process where the scaffold plays a significant role as it contributes to phenotypically stable tissue formation and stem cell differentiation. These properties can be reached with a composite scaffold of alginate‐gelatin three‐dimensional network structure. The primary purpose of this study was to design a three‐dimensional and porous alginate‐gelatin hydrogel and evaluate the effects of pore size on cell morphology, cell adhesion, and proliferation under different osteogenic microenvironments. For this purpose, hydrogels with various concentrations of alginate and gelatin were prepared by mixing 4% (w/v) alginate and 6% gelatin (4A6G), or 3% (w/v) alginate and 5% (w/v) gelatin (3A5G) and cross‐linked with 2% (w/v) CaCl2. The pore size of these hydrogels was optimized using a very simple method based on different freezing and thawing cycles. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed porous structures with different pore sizes, ranging from 340 µm ± 30 µm with the 4A6G hydrogel to 635 µm ± 25 µm with the 3A5G hydrogel. The stiffness measurement showed a significant difference, with approximately 26.3 kPa ± 0.6 KPa for the 4A6G hydrogel and 21.6 kPa ± 0.2 KPa for the 3A5G hydrogel. Cell interaction with both types of hydrogel showed higher cell adhesion and proliferation rates in the hydrogel with larger pore size. Bone tissue formation, as evaluated by RT‐PCR, ALP (alkaline phosphatase) activity, and ARS (Alizarin Red S) staining, demonstrated strong osteogenic potential of the 3A5G hydrogel compared to the 4A6G. In summary, the 3A5G hydrogel (3% (w/v) alginate and 5% (w/v) gelatin) can be considered a potential material for bone tissue regeneration construction due to its biodegradability and favorable bone‐forming properties.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Six‐Month Outdoor Performance Study of Stable Perovskite Solar Cells under Real Operating Conditions

Perovskite solar cells have sparked great excitement in the photovoltaics community due to their remarkable efficiency, flexibility, and ability to be synthesized at low cost. However, their instability poses a major roadblock to their widespread adoption. Recognizing this challenge, this work describes the performance of stable perovskite solar cells operating under real‐life conditions in the Paris area. Two state‐of‐the‐art 2D/3D (HOOC(CH2)4NH3)2PbI4/CH3NH3PbI3 encapsulated cells are considered – one with maximum power point tracking and hourly current‐voltage curve measurements, and another connected to a fixed resistive load. Their performance is compared over six months, and a detailed analysis is conducted on the cells’ hysteresis and electrical response to varying weather conditions. Although the first cell starts to degrade after a few months of operation, the second one remains remarkably stable, highlighting critical issues with outdoor tracking. Given that the stability of this perovskite solar cell architecture has already been established under controlled standard conditions for over one year, these exciting findings pave the way for the commercialization of perovskite‐based photovoltaic devices.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Enhanced Charge Transfer in Quasi-2D Perovskite by Formamidinium Cation Gradient Incorporation for Efficient and Stable Solar Cells.

Quasi-2D perovskites have attracted much attention in perovskite photovoltaics due to their excellent stability. However, their photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) still lags 3D counterparts, particularly with high short-circuit current (JSC) loss. The quantum confinement effect is pointed out to be the sole reason, which introduces widened bandgap and poor exciton dissociation, and undermines the light capture and charge transport. Here, the gradient incorporation of formamidinium (FA) cations into quasi-2D perovskite is proposed to address this issue. It is observed that FA prefers to incorporate into the larger n value phases near the film surface compared to the smaller n value phases in the bulk, resulting in a narrow bandgap and gradient structure within the film. Through charge dynamic analysis using in situ light-dark Kelvin probe force microscopy and transient absorption spectroscopy, it is demonstrated that incorporating 10% FA significantly facilitates efficient charge transfer between low n-value phases in the bulk and high n-value nearby film surface, leading to reduced charge accumulation. Ultimately, the device based on (AA)2(MA0.9FA0.1)4Pb5I16, where AA represents n-amylamine renowned for its exceptional environmental stability as a bulky organic ligand, achieves an impressive power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 18.58% and demonstrates enhanced illumination and thermal stability.

Crystallization management and defect passivation via additive engineering for efficient and stable carbon-based CsPbI2Br perovskite solar cells

Inorganic CsPbI2Br perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have attracted enormous interest due to their excellent thermal stability and immense potential for application in tandem solar cells. However, the rambunctious crystallization and poor film quality of inorganic CsPbI2Br perovskite are the main factors limiting their performance improvement. Herein, dibenzoylmethane (DBM), containing electron-rich and dual CO functional groups, as an efficient precursor additive, is first introduced to regulate the crystallization of CsPbI2Br perovskite while passivating its associated defects. After DBM modification, nucleation is accelerated and the crystallinity of CsPbI2Br film is improved, thus promoting the phase stability. Additionally, DBM can passivate uncoordinated Pb2+ defects, thereby significantly reducing non-radiative recombination, and can also decrease the energy level difference between CsPbI2Br/Carbon. As a result, when DBM additive is incorporated in the CsPbI2Br, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the device with the fluorine doped tin oxide glass (FTO)/SnO2/CsPbI2Br/Carbon structure is significantly improved to 13.46 %, an increase of nearly 13 % compared to the control device (11.72 %). The unpackaged devices exhibit excellent air and thermal stability, still remaining over 90 % of its initial PCE after aging for 500 h under ambient conditions, or continuous heating at 65 °C in glovebox for 500 h, respectively.

Stable Organic Solar Cells Enabled by Simultaneous Hole and Electron Interlayer Engineering

The development of high‐performance organic solar cells (OSCs) with high operational stability is essential to accelerate their commercialization. Unfortunately, our understanding of the origin of instabilities in state‐of‐the‐art OSCs based on bulk heterojunction (BHJ) featuring non‐fullerene acceptors (NFAs) remains limited. Herein, we developed NFA‐based OSCs using different charge extraction interlayer materials and studied their storage, thermal, and operational stabilities. Despite the high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the OSCs (17.54%), we found that cells featuring self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) as hole‐extraction interlayers exhibited poor stability. The time required for these OSCs to reach 80% of their initial performance (T80) was only 6 h under continuous thermal stress at 85 °C in a nitrogen atmosphere and 1 h under maximum power point tracking (MPPT) in a vacuum. Inserting MoOx between ITO and SAM enhanced the T80 to 50 and ~15 h after the thermal and operational stability tests, respectively, while maintaining a PCE of 16.9%. Replacing the organic PDINN electron transport layer with ZnO NPs further enhances the cells' thermal and operational stability, boosting the T80 to 1000 and 170 h, respectively. Our work reveals the synergistic roles of charge‐selective interlayers and device architecture in developing efficient and stable OSCs.

The in vitro mechanism of Vaspinregulates the proliferation and steroidogenesis of rat lutein cells

Objective Stable luteal cell function is an important prerequisite for reproductive ability and embryonic development. However, luteal insufficiency seriously harms couples who have the desire to have a pregnancy, and the most important thing is that there is no complete solution. In addition, Vaspin has been shown to have regulatory effects on luteal cells, but the complex mechanisms involved have not been fully elucidated. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the effect of Vaspin on rat luteal cells and its mechanism. Methods Granulosa lutein cells separated from the ovary of female rats were incubated for 24h with gradient concentrations of Vaspin, and granulosa lutein cells incubated with 0.5% bovine serum albumin were used as controls. The proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, progesterone (P4) and estradiol (E2) were detected by CCK-8, Anneixn-FITC/PI staining, angiogenesis experiment and ELISA. Western blot was applied to observe the expression levels of proteins related to cell proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis and MEK/MAPK signaling pathway. Results Compared with the Control group, Vaspin could significantly up-regulate the proliferation of granulosa lutein cells and reduce the apoptosis. Moreover, Vaspin promoted the angiogenesis of granulosa lutein cells and the production of P4 and E2 in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, Vaspin up-regulated the CyclinD1, CyclinB1, Bcl2, VEGFA and FGF-2 expression in granulosa lutein cells, and down-regulated the level of Bax. Also, Vaspin increased the p-MEK1 and p-p38 levels. Conclusion Vaspin can up-regulate the proliferation and steroidogenesis of rat luteal cells and reduce apoptosis, which may be related to the influence of MEK/MAPK activity.

In-situ reaction modification of isocyanate derivatives with hole-transport units on perovskite film surface for efficient and stable solar cells

FAPbI3 perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have attracted widespread research attention. The interfacial properties play a crucial role in perovskite defect passivation and interfacial carrier transport, significantly influencing the power conversion efficiency (PCE) and stability of devices. Here, a novel interface modification strategy of in-situ reaction on perovskite surface is proposed. A molecule N,N′-bis(4-isocyanatophenyl)-N,N′-di-p-tolyl-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4,4′-diamine (TPD-NCO), involving a hole-transporting unit TPD was synthesized. The highly reactive isocyanate (NCO) groups addition-reacted with formamidine ions (FA+) from the FAPbI3 surface, forming urea with firm covalent bonds. The resulting stable modification smoothened the interface, and its urea groups coordinated with Pb2+ and formed hydrogen bonds with I-, thereby passivating the surface defects and inhibiting ion migration. Moreover, the hole-transporting units were firstly anchored through this covalent modification as a p-type dopant to lower the interface energy barrier for hole extraction. The PCE of target devices increased from 22.82% to 24.46%, which also remained 93% for 5460 h under high humidity (65% RH), 87% for 1060 h under 75 °C, and 77% for 420 h under maximum power point (MPP) operation at 50 °C, indicating both excellent efficiency and long-term stabilities. This work displays the value of both firm and hole-conductive features in in-situ reactive interface modification.

Muscone restores anoikis sensitivity in TMZ-resistant glioblastoma cells by suppressing TOP2A via the EGFR/Integrin β1/FAK signaling pathway

BackgroundTemozolomide (TMZ) resistance is the main obstacle faced by glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) treatment. Muscone, one of the primary active pharmacological ingredients of Shexiang (Moschus), can cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and is being investigated as an antineoplastic medication. However, muscone treatment for GBM has received little research, and its possible mechanisms are still unclear. PurposeThis study aims to evaluate the effect and the potential molecular mechanism of muscone on TMZ-resistant GBM cells. MethodsThe differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between TMZ-resistant GBM cells and TMZ-sensitive GBM cells were screened using GEO2R. By progressively raising the TMZ concentration, a relatively stable TMZ-resistant human GBM cell line was established. The drug-resistance traits of U251-TR cells were assessed via the CCK-8 assay and Western Blot analysis of MGMT and TOP2A expression. Cell viability, cell proliferation, cell migration ability, and drug synergism were detected by the CCK-8 assay, colony formation assay, wound healing assay, and drug interaction relationship test, respectively. Anoikis was quantified by Calcein-AM/EthD-1 staining, MTT assay, and flow cytometry. Measurements of cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were performed using cell cycle staining, Annexin V-FITC/PI labeling, JC-1 assay, and ROS assay, respectively. DNA damage was measured by TUNEL assay, alkaline comet assay, and γ-H2AX foci assay. GEPIA was used to investigate the link between the anoikis marker (FAK)/drug resistance gene and critical proteins in the EGFR/Integrin β1 signaling pathway. Molecular docking was used to anticipate the probable targets of muscone. The intracellular co-localization and expression of EGFR and FAK were shown using immunofluorescence. The U251-TR cell line stably overexpressing EGFR was constructed using lentiviral transduction to assess the involvement of EGFR-related signaling in anoikis resistance. Western Blot was employed to detect the expression of migration-related proteins, cyclins, anoikis-related proteins, DNA damage/repair-related proteins, and associated pathway proteins. ResultsDEGs analysis identified 97 deregulated chemotherapy-resistant genes and 3779 upregulated genes in TMZ-resistant GBM cells. Subsequent experiments verified TMZ resistance and the hyper-expression of DNA repair-related genes (TOP2A and MGMT) in continuously low-dose TMZ-induced U251-TR cells. Muscone exhibited dose-dependent inhibition of U251-TR cell migration and proliferation, and its co-administration with TMZ showed the potential for enhanced therapeutic efficacy. By downregulating FAK, muscone reduced anoikis resistance in anchorage-independent U251-TR cells. It also caused cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase by upregulating p21 and downregulating CDK1, CDK2, and Cyclin E1. Muscone-induced anoikis was accompanied by mitochondrial membrane potential collapse, ROS production, an increase in the BAX/Bcl-2 ratio, as well as elevated levels of Cytochrome c (Cyt c), cleaved caspase-9, and cleaved caspase-3. These findings indicated that muscone might trigger mitochondrial-dependent anoikis via ROS generation. Moreover, significant DNA damage, DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), the formation of γ-H2AX foci, and a reduction in TOP2A expression are also associated with muscone-induced anoikis. Overexpression of EGFR in U251-TR cells boosted the expression of Integrin β1, FAK, β-Catenin, and TOP2A, whereas muscone suppressed the expression levels of EGFR, Integrin β1, β-Catenin, FAK, and TOP2A. Muscone may influence the expression of the key DNA repair enzyme, TOP2A, by suppressing the EGFR/Integrin β1/FAK pathway. ConclusionWe first demonstrated that muscone suppressed TOP2A expression through the EGFR/Integrin β1/FAK pathway, hence restoring anoikis sensitivity in TMZ-resistant GBM cells. These data suggest that muscone may be a promising co-therapeutic agent for enhancing GBM treatment, particularly in cases of TMZ-resistant GBM with elevated TOP2A expression.

Bioprinting of Stable Bionic Interfaces Using Piezoresistive Hydrogel Organoelectronics.

Bionic tissues offer an exciting frontier in biomedical research by integrating biological cells with artificial electronics, such as sensors. One critical hurdle is the development of artificial electronics that can mechanically harmonize with biological tissues, ensuring a robust interface for effective strain transfer and local deformation sensing. In this study, a highly tissue-integrative, soft mechanical sensor fabricated from a composite piezoresistive hydrogel. The composite not only exhibits exceptional mechanical properties, with elongation at the point of fracture reaching up to 680%, but also maintains excellent biocompatibility across multiple cell types. Furthermore, the material exhibits bioadhesive qualities, facilitating stable cell adhesion to its surface. A unique advantage of the formulation is the compatibility with 3D bioprinting, an essential technique for fabricating stable interfaces. A multimaterial sensorized 3D bionic construct is successfully bioprinted, and it is compared to structures produced via hydrogel casting. In contrast to cast constructs, the bioprinted ones display a high (87%) cell viability, preserve differentiation ability, and structural integrity of the sensor-tissue interface throughout the tissue development duration of 10 d. With easy fabrication and effective soft tissue integration, this composite holds significant promise for various biomedical applications, including implantable electronics and organ-on-a-chip technologies.

Abstract PO4-28-08: Unraveling the Role of BRCA1-BARD1 E3 Ubiquitin Ligase in DNA Repair: A Promise for Enhanced Chemotherapy Outcomes

Abstract BACKGROUND: BRCA1, a central player in gynecological cancers, collaborates with BARD1 to shape a potent complex pivotal for DNA binding and ubiquitin E3 ligase activities. This complex impacts a myriad of biological pathways. Notably, BRCA1-BARD1’s role in tumor suppression and homology-directed DNA repair (HDR) has been spotlighted. Our innovative approach used RING-domain mutations to craft ligase-dead BRCA1-BARD1 mutants, hypothesizing that these mutants would offer fresh insights into the DNA repair dynamics of BRCA1-BARD1. METHODS: Full length BRCA1-BARD1 or truncated mutants, and histones were purified from E. coli. or insect cells. Nucleosomes were assembled for in vitro ubiquitylation reaction and binding assays. Stable mammalian cell lines HeLa and MDA-MB-436 that express wild type or mutant forms of BRCA1 and BARD1 were established for a host of analyses, including cellular fractionation, foci analysis, Proximity ligation assay (PLA), comet assays and clonogenic survival assays with various DNA damage agents. RESULTS: By systematic biochemical screening and a series of in vitro assays, we generated a truly BRCA1-BARD1 E3 dead mutant, BRCA1I26A, L63A, K65A-BARD1 (BRCA1-E3d), which lacks E3 ligase activity but possesses all other known attributes such as retention of BRCA1-BARD1 heterodimeric structure formation, DNA binding, and intact RAD51-mediated recombinase activity. To our surprise, we discovered that previously described BRCA1-BARD1 RING-domain mutant (BRCA1-I26A) still possessed ubiquitylation activity not found in BRCA1-E3d. To determine the biological significance of these mutants, cells stably expressing BRCA1-E3d were treated with various DNA-damaging agents and shown to more sensitive than WT or previously identified mutants. DNA repair pathway reporter assays determined these cells were deficient in various repair pathways compared to their BRCA1-WT counterparts. Further studies demonstrate that BRCA1-BARD1 E3 ligase is required for DNA resection during HDR, as evidenced in reduced levels of DNA repair-related foci formation such as RPA, RAD51 and CtIP in BRCA1-E3d cells. Furthermore, compared to BRCA1-WT cells, BRCA1-E3d cells were more sensitive to DNA damage reagents after depletion of 53BP1, which indicates BRCA1-BARD1 E3 ligase function also contributes to later stages of DNA repair completion. CONCLUSIONS: Our work dispels prevailing ambiguities surrounding BRCA1-BARD1 E3 ligase functions, underscoring its paramountcy in genome repair. This trailblazing research not only enriches our understanding but also beckons therapeutic interventions targeting tumor suppression. The unveiling of BRCA1-BARD1 E3 ligase's intricate regulatory dynamics combined with our novel mutants paves the way for an exciting new era in cancer therapeutics, hinting at superior treatments to enhance patient recovery. Citation Format: Wenjing Li, Meiling Wang, Nozomi Tomimatsu, Jae-Hoon Ji, Salvador Alejo, Gangadhara R. Sareddy, Sandeep Burma, Rachel Klevit, Weixing Zhao. Unraveling the Role of BRCA1-BARD1 E3 Ubiquitin Ligase in DNA Repair: A Promise for Enhanced Chemotherapy Outcomes [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO4-28-08.

Quasi-Perfusion Studies for Intensified Lentiviral Vector Production Using a Continuous Stable Producer Cell Line

Quasi-perfusion culture was employed to intensify lentiviral vector (LV) manufacturing using a continuous stable producer cell line in an 8-day process. Initial studies aimed to identify a scalable seeding density, with 3, 4, and 5 x 104 cells cm-2 providing similar specific productivities of infectious LV. Seeding at 3 x 104 cells cm-2 was selected, and the quasi-perfusion was modulated to minimise inhibitory metabolite accumulation and vector exposure at 37 °C. Similar specific productivities of infectious and physical LV were achieved at 1, 2, and 3 vessel volumes per day (VVD), with 1 VVD selected to minimise downstream processing volumes. The optimised process was scaled 50-fold to 1,264 cm2 flasks, achieving similar LV titres. However, scaling up beyond this to a 6,320 cm2 multilayer flask reduced titres, possibly from suboptimal gas exchange. Across three independent processes in 25 cm2 to 6,320 cm2 flasks, reproducibility was high with a coefficient of variation of (7.7 ± 2.9)% and (11.9 ± 3.0)% for infectious and physical LV titres, respectively. The optimised flask process was successfully transferred to the iCELLis™ Nano (Cytiva) fixed-bed bioreactor, with quasi-perfusion at 1 VVD yielding 1.62 x 108 TU.

Generation of stable suspension producer cell lines for serum-free lentivirus production.

The production of lentiviral vectors (LVs) pseudotyped with the vesicular stomatitis virus envelope glycoprotein (VSV-G) is limited by the associated cytotoxicity of the envelope and by the production methods used, such as transient transfection of adherent cell lines. In this study, we established stable suspension producer cell lines for scalable and serum-free LV production derived from two stable, inducible packaging cell lines, named GPRG and GPRTG. The established polyclonal producer cell lines produce self-inactivating (SIN) LVs carrying a WAS-T2A-GFP construct at an average infectious titer of up to4.64×107TU mL-1in a semi-perfusion process in a shake flask and can be generated in less than two months. The derived monoclonal cell lines are functionally stable in continuous culture and produce an average infectious titer of up to 9.38×107TU mL-1in a semi-perfusion shake flask process. The producer clones are able to maintain a productivity of>1×107TUmL-1day-1for up to 29 consecutive days in a non-optimized 5L stirred-tank bioreactor perfusion process, representing a major milestone in the field of LV manufacturing. As the producer cell lines are based on an inducible Tet-off expression system, the established process allows LV production in the absence of inducers such as antibiotics. The purified LVs efficiently transduce human CD34+ cells, reducing the LV quantities required for gene and cell therapy applications.

In-situ defect passivation assisted three-step printing of efficient and stable formamidine-lead bromide solar cells

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) emerge as the most promising photovoltaics (PV) for their high performance and potential convenient cost-effective production routes comparing to the sophomore PV technologies. The printed PSCs with simplified device architecture and fabrication procedures could further enhance the competitive strength of PSC technology. In this work, we present an in-situ defect passivation (ISDP) assisted full-printing of high performance formamidine-lead bromide (FAPbBr3) PSCs. Only three rapid printing steps are involved for electron transporting layer (ETL), perovskite and carbon to form a complete solar cell on the low-cost fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrate. Long-chain polymer monomethyl ether polyethylene glycol is particularly utilized as the ISDP passivator, leading to conformal coating on the rough FTO and defect passivation for both ETL and perovskite during printing. A high efficiency of 10.85% (certified 10.14%) and a high Voc up to 1.57 V are achieved for the printed device. The unencapsulated PSCs maintain above 90% of the initial efficiency after continuously heating at 85 °C for 1000 h and over 80% of the efficiency after the maximum power point tracking for 3500 h. The fully printed semitransparent PSCs with carbon grids (CGs) shows average visible light transmittance over 33% and an efficiency of 8.81%.

Stable and efficient perovskite solar cells based on tert-butyl peroxy-2-ethylhexanoate modified hole transport layer

Nowadays, perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have gained significant attention as one of the most promising new energy technologies. However, the application of spiro-OMeTAD, a highly efficient organic hole transport material (HTM) in PSCs, is limited due to its inherent weaknesses in conductivity and hole mobility. Here, a free radical initiator, tert-butyl peroxy-2-ethylhexanoate (TBPEH) is introduced to induce the rapid and controllable oxidation of Spiro. TBPEH-modified hole transport layer (HTL) produces more free radical cations, increasing carrier mobility and electrical conductivity. A smoother surface of the modified HTL improves the charge transport efficiency. Additionally, trap-state density and defect-induced nonradiative recombination of TBPEH-modified device are decreased. In addition, better energy level matching between the HTL and perovskite layer enables more efficient hole transport. Consequently, the PSC doped with TBPEH achieves a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 24.33%, surpassing the PCE of 21.72% obtained from the pristine device. Furthermore, the TBPEH-modified devices show better stability. Storing in the atmosphere at 30% relative humidity for 42 days, the TBPEH-modified device maintains 90.8% of its highest efficiency, compared to the 73.8% of the pristine one.

Recombinant human fibroblast growth factor 7 obtained from stable Chinese hamster ovary cells enhances wound healing.

Although fibroblast growth factor 7 (FGF7) is known to promote wound healing, its mass production poses several challenges and very few studies have assessed the feasibility of producing FGF7 in cell lines such as Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Therefore, this study sought to produce recombinant FGF7 in large quantities and evaluate its wound healing effect. To this end, the FGF7 gene was transfected into CHO cells and FGF7 production was optimized. The wound healing efficacy of N-glycosylated FGF7 was evaluated in animals on days 7 and 14 post-treatment using collagen patches (CPs), FGF7-only, and CP with FGF7 (CP+FGF7), whereas an untreated group was used as the control. Wound healing was most effective in the CP+FGF7 group. Particularly, on day 7 post-exposure, the CP+FGF7 and FGF7-only groups exhibited the highest expression of hydroxyproline, fibroblast growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, and transforming growth factor. Epidermalization in H&E staining showed the same order of healing as hydroxyproline content. Additionally, the CP+FGF7 and FGF7-only group exhibited more notable blood vessel formation on days 7 and 14. In conclusion, the prepared FGF7 was effective in promoting wound healing and CHO cells can be a reliable platform for the mass production of FGF7.

Dual-sites Passivation for Efficient and Stable Carbon-Based Perovskite Solar Cells

It has been proven that dual-active-site passivation is more effective than single-site passivation in mitigating surface defects of carbon-based perovskite solar cells (C-PSCs). Therefore, it is imperative to explore new agents capable of inducing dual-active-site passivation effect. This work strategically employs potassium laurate (KLA) as a surface passivating agent, which stands out due to its extended saturated alkane chains and carboxylate groups, offering dual-active sites encompassing carboxylate ions and K+ cations. Carboxylate ions play a pivotal role in passivating low-coordinated Pb2+ defects, while K+ metal cations are anticipated to address anionic defects. The champion C-PSC achieves an impressive power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 16.10%, increased from 14.35% of the original. The incorporation of KLA serves to diminish surface defects within the film and suppress non-radiative recombination at the interface by dual-sites passivation, thereby establishing itself as a valuable technique for enhancing the efficiency and durability of C-PSCs.

Highly Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cell with Sodium Glycine Additive

Organic halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with high photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) and low manufacturing cost have been attracting considerable attention. However, defects in perovskite as recombination centers and ion migration paths seriously deteriorate the optoelectronic performance of the devices. Herein, a facile strategy is devised by introducing sodium glycinate (SG) mulit-functional additive into perovskite to passivate defects. In this way, the typical defects of mismatched leads in perovskite can be passivated by forming ionic bond with carboxylate radical or coordination bond with amino groups of SG. Also, the SG molecules with cross-linking function could improve the grain size of perovskite to reduce defects and increase light absorption. Besides, sodium ions of SG can impede the ion migration in perovskite and strengthen the interfacial charge transfer ability. As a result, the PSCs assembled under air condition with SG additive achieved a champion efficiency of 19.32% due to the comprehensive action of SG, and an improved stability under work and storage conditions. This provides an economical and effective strategy for the industrialization of PSCs.

Modulation on electrostatic potential to build a firm bridge at NiOx/perovskite interface for efficient and stable perovskite solar cells

The NiOx/perovskite interface in NiOx-based inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is one of the main issues that restrict device performance and long-term stability, as the unwanted interfacial defects and undesirable redox reactions cause severe interfacial non-radiative recombination and open-circuit voltage (Voc) loss. Herein, a series of self-assembled molecules (SAMs) are employed to bind, bridge, and stabilize the NiOx/perovskite interface by regulating the electrostatic potential. Based on systematically theoretical and experimental studies, 4-pyrazolecarboxylic acid (4-PCA) is proven as an efficient molecule to simultaneously passivate the NiOx and perovskite surface traps, release the interfacial tensile stress as well as quench the detrimental interface redox reactions, thus effectively suppressing the interfacial non-radiative recombination and enhancing the quality of perovskite crystals. Consequently, the PSCs with 4-PCA treatment exhibited an eminently increased Voc, leading to a significant increase in power conversion efficiency from 21.28% to 23.77%. Furthermore, the unencapsulated devices maintain 92.6% and 81.3% of their initial PCEs after storing in air with a relative humidity of 20%-30% for 1000 h and heating at 65 °C for 500 h in a N2-filled glovebox, respectively.

Mechanisms of Sorafenib Resistance in HCC Culture Relate to the Impaired Membrane Expression of Organic Cation Transporter 1 (OCT1).

Sorafenib, an FDA-approved drug for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment, encounters resistance in many patients. Deciphering the mechanisms underlying sorafenib resistance is crucial for devising alternative strategies to overcome it. This study aimed to investigate sorafenib resistance mechanisms using a diverse panel of HCC cell lines. HCC cell lines were subjected to continuous sorafenib treatment, and stable cell lines (Huh 7.5 and Huh 7PX) exhibiting sustained growth in its presence were isolated. The investigation of drug resistance mechanisms involved a comparative analysis of drug-targeted signal transduction pathways (EGFR/RAF/MEK/ERK/Cyclin D), sorafenib uptake, and membrane expression of the drug uptake transporter. HCC cell lines (Huh 7.5 and Huh 7PX) with a higher IC50 (10μM) displayed a more frequent development of sorafenib resistance compared to those with a lower IC50 (2-4.8μM), indicating a potential impact of IC50 variation on initial treatment response. Our findings reveal that activated overexpression of Raf1 kinases and impaired sorafenib uptake, mediated by reduced membrane expression of organic cation transporter-1 (OCT1), contribute to sorafenib resistance in HCC cultures. Stable expression of the drug transporter OCT1 through cDNA transfection or adenoviral delivery of OCT1 mRNA increased sorafenib uptake and successfully overcame sorafenib resistance. Additionally, consistent with sorafenib resistance in HCC cultures, cirrhotic liver-associated human HCC tumors often exhibited impaired membrane expression of OCT1 and OCT3. Intrinsic differences among HCC cell clones, affecting sorafenib sensitivity at the expression level of Raf kinases, drug uptake, and OCT1 transporters, were identified. This study underscores the potential of HCC tumor targeted OCT1 expression to enhance sorafenib treatment response.

Glycol Monomethyl Ether-Substituted Carbazolyl Hole-Transporting Material for Stable Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells with Efficiency of 25.52.

Organic self-assembled molecules (OSAMs) based hole transporting materials play a pivotal role in achieving highly efficient and stable inverted perovskite solar cells (IPSCs). However, the reported carbazol-based OSAMs have serious drawbacks, such as poor solubility in alcohol solution, worse matched energy arrangement with perovskite, and limited molecular species, which greatly limit the device performance. To address above problems, a novel OSAM 4-(3,6-glycol monomethyl ether-9H-carbazol-9-yl) butyl]phosphonic acid (GM-4PACz) was synthesized as hole-transporting material by introducing glycol monomethyl ether (GM) side chains at carbazolyl unit. GM groups enhance the surface energy of Indium Tin Oxide (ITO)/SAM substrate to facilitate the nucleation and growth of up perovskite film, suppress cation defects, release the residual stress at SAM/perovskite interface, and evaluate energy level for matching with perovskite. Consequently, the GM-4PACz based IPSC achieves a champion PCE of 25.52%, a respectable open-circuit voltage (VOC) of 1.21 V, a high stability, possessing 93.29% and 91.75% of their initial efficiency after aging in air for 2000 h or tracking at maximum power point for 1000 h, respectively.