Water-soluble Salt Research Articles

In vitro hair growth-promoting effects of araliadiol via the p38/PPAR-γ signaling pathway in human hair follicle stem cells and dermal papilla cells.

Scalp hair plays a crucial role in social communication by expressing personal appearance and self-identity. Consequently, hair loss often leads to a perception of unattractiveness, negatively impacting an individual's life and mental health. Currently, the use of Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs for hair loss is associated with several side effects, highlighting the need for identifying new drug candidates, such as plant-derived phytochemicals, to overcome these issues. This study investigated the hair growth-promoting effects of araliadiol, a polyacetylene compound found in plants such as Centella asiatica. We employed an in vitro model comprising human hair follicle stem cells (HHFSCs) and human dermal papilla cells (HDPCs) to evaluate the hair growth-promoting effects of araliadiol. The proliferation-stimulating effects of araliadiol were assessed using water-soluble tetrazolium salt assay, adenosine triphosphate content assay, and crystal violet staining assay. In addition, we performed luciferase reporter assay, polymerase chain reaction analysis, cell fractionation, Western blot analysis, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to elucidate the mechanism underlying the hair growth-inductive effects of araliadiol. Araliadiol exhibited both proliferation- and hair growth-promoting effects in HHFSCs and HDPCs. Specifically, it increased the protein expression of cyclin B1 and Ki67. In HHFSCs, it elevated the expression of hair growth-promoting factors, including CD34, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and angiopoietin-like 4. Similarly, araliadiol increased the expression of hair growth-inductive proteins such as fibroblast growth factor 7, VEGF, noggin, and insulin-like growth factor 1 in HDPCs. Subsequent Western blot analysis and ELISA using inhibitors such as GW9662 and SB202190 confirmed that these hair growth-promoting effects were dependent on the p38/PPAR-γ signaling in both HHFSCs and HDPCs. Araliadiol promotes hair growth through the p38/PPAR-γ signaling pathway in human hair follicle cells. Therefore, araliadiol can be considered a novel drug candidate for the treatment of alopecia.

Assessment of Ketamine’s Influence on In Vitro Angiogenesis

Objective Angiogenesis is associated with angiogenic therapy and wound healing processes. It is important for anesthesiologists to understand the effects of perioperative and long-term use of anesthetics on angiogenesis. This study aimed to determine the effects of ketamine on in vitro angiogenesis: the proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and normal human diploid fibroblasts (NHDF), HUVEC migration, and in vitro capillary tube formation in cocultured HUVEC and NHDF. Methods The effects of ketamine at concentrations of 1, 10, and 50 µM on the proliferation of HUVEC and NHDF for 48 hours were determined by using a water-soluble tetrazolium salt reagent. Quantitation of migration for 22 hours was achieved by measuring the fluorescence of migrating HUVEC exposed to ketamine using an angiogenesis system. The effects of ketamine on capillary tube formation with or without vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were investigated in cocultured HUVEC and NHDF incubated for 3 and 10 days. Results Ketamine did not show any enhancing or suppressive effects on the in vitro proliferation of HUVEC and NHDF, HUVEC migration, or capillary tube formation in cocultured HUVEC and NHDF for either 3 or 10 days in the presence or absence of VEGF. Conclusion Ketamine had no effects on in vitro angiogenesis using cultured HUVEC and NHDF. Ketamine can potentially be used as an anesthetic agent with no influence on angiogenesis.

Extraction of manganese and ammonia nitrogen from electrolytic manganese residue by enhanced leaching with ammonium persulfate

Electrolytic manganese residue (EMR) represents a solid waste generated during the production of electrolytic manganese. Under the leaching and dissolution by rainwater, manganese, ammonia nitrogen, and heavy metal ions in EMR can infiltrate into the surrounding environment, thereby disrupting ecological balance and posing threats to human health. This study optimized the leaching conditions for manganese from EMR using ammonium persulfate(APS) through single-factor and orthogonal experiments. It was found that temperature, APS concentration, and reaction time significantly influenced the manganese leaching efficiency. Under leaching temperature of 80°C, leaching time of 3hours, APS concentration of 30g/L, and a liquid-to-solid mass ratio of 6mL/g, a high manganese leaching rate of 88.91% was achieved in a single process, and significant removal of ammonia nitrogen was observed. After enhanced leaching, the content of organic matter and the total amount of water-soluble salt were 4.10wt.% and 3.11wt.%, respectively. And it meets the requirements of the standard GB 18599-2020 for solid waste entering the class II site in China. Kinetic analysis revealed that the manganese leaching process was controlled by intraparticle diffusion within the solid phase. Mineralogical phase analysis indicated that the primary mineral structures were oxidatively decoupled and disrupted, leading to the dissociation of aggregates, which facilitated the leaching of manganese and ammonia nitrogen. This study provides a practical, green, and economical technological route for the harmless treatment of EMR.

Differential Effects of Itaconate and its Esters on the Glutathione and Glucose Metabolism of Cultured Primary Rat Astrocytes

Itaconate is produced as endogenous metabolite by decarboxylation of the citric acid cycle intermediate cis-aconitate. As itaconate has anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties, this substance is considered as potential therapeutic drug for the treatment of inflammation in various diseases including traumatic brain injury and stroke. To test for potential adverse effects of itaconate on the viability and metabolism of brain cells, we investigated whether itaconate or its membrane permeable derivatives dimethyl itaconate (DI) and 4-octyl itaconate (OI) may affect the basal glucose and glutathione (GSH) metabolism of cultured primary astrocytes. Acute exposure of astrocytes to itaconate, DI or OI in concentrations of up to 300 µM for up to 6 h did not compromise cell viability. Of the tested substances, only OI stimulated aerobic glycolysis as shown by a time- and concentration-dependent increase in glucose-consumption and lactate release. None of the tested itaconates affected the pentose-phosphate pathway-dependent reduction of the water-soluble tetrazolium salt 1 (WST1). In contrast, both DI and OI, but not itaconate, depleted cellular GSH in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. For OI this depletion was accompanied by a matching increase in the extracellular GSH content that was completely prevented in the presence of the multidrug resistance protein 1 (Mrp1)-inhibitor MK571, while in DI-treated cultures GSH was depleted both in cells and medium. These data suggest that OI stimulates Mrp1-mediated astrocytic GSH export, while DI reacts with GSH to a conjugate that is not detectable by the GSH assay applied. The data presented demonstrate that itaconate, DI and OI differ strongly in their effects on the GSH and glucose metabolism of cultured astrocytes. Such results should be considered in the context of the discussed potential use of such compounds as therapeutic agents.

PH-Responsive supramolecular vesicles for imaging-guided drug delivery: Harnessing aggregation-induced emission.

The water-soluble tribenzotriquinacene-based hexacarboxylic acid ammonium salt, TBTQ-C 6 , acts as the host component (H) forming host-guest complexes with tetraphenylethylene (TPE)-functionalized monotopic and tetratopic quaternary ammonium derivatives, G1 and G2, to yield supra-amphiphiles. These supra-amphiphiles self-assemble to form pH-responsive fluorescent vesicles, which have allowed us to capitalize on the aggregation-induced emission (AIE) effect for imaging-guided drug delivery systems. These systems exhibit efficient drug loading and pH-responsive delivery capabilities. Upon encapsulation of the anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX), both the TPE and DOX chromophores undergo dual-fluorescence deactivation due to the energy transfer relay (ETR) effect. Under acidic conditions, the release of DOX interrupts the ETR effect, resulting in the fluorescence recovery of TPE fluorogens and DOX, allowing for real-time visual monitoring of the drug release process. Cytotoxicity experiments confirmed the low toxicity of the unloaded vectors to normal cells, while the DOX-loaded vectors were found to significantly enhance the anticancer activity of DOX against cancer cells in vitro. The AIE-featured supramolecular vesicles presented in this research hold great potential for imaging-guided drug delivery systems.

Preparation of high-strength and low-shrinkage composite salt cores by binder jetting and vacuum impregnation

ABSTRACT Binder jetting (BJ) technology was employed combined with vacuum impregnation to fabricate alumina-reinforced Na2SO4-NaCl water soluble composite salt cores (WSCSC), intended for manufacturing aluminum alloy castings featuring intricate cavity structures. The bending strength and sintering shrinkage rate of WSCSC were investigated to discern the influences of alumina content, vacuum impregnation pressure and time, accompanied by a detailed analysis of the microstructure and reinforcement mechanism. The findings reveal that WSCSC containing 40 wt.% alumina exhibits exceptional mechanical properties, demonstrating a bending strength of 29.13 MPa, which is 197% higher than that of WSCSC without alumina. Furthermore, when the vacuum impregnation of saturated brine is conducted at a pressure of 30 KPa for 90 s, the resulting WSCSC possesses a sintering shrinkage rate of 4.94%, reflecting a significant reduction of 73.5% compared to that of WSCSC without vacuum impregnation treatment. Microstructural analyses show that alumina, as a stable secondary phase, can refine the NaCl grains within WSCSC, deflecting cracks and elongating their propagation paths, thereby remarkably enhancing the bending strength. Moreover, the fine inorganic salt particles crystallized and precipitated from saturated brine during the drying process are filled in the internal pores of WSCSC through vacuum impregnation, dramatically reducing the sintering shrinkage rate. Ultimately, the high-strength and low-shrinkage WSCSC parts were successfully manufactured.

The Impact of Oleuropein on Cisplatin-Induced Toxicity in Cochlear Cells in Relation to the Expression of Deoxyribonucleic Acid Damage-Associated Genes.

Different organs respond differently to cisplatin (CDDP)-induced toxicity. Oleuropein (OLE) is a natural phenolic antioxidant. The purpose of this study was to determine the potential protective effect of OLE against CDDP-induced ototoxicity by evaluating expression of genes associated with deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage and repair in cochlear cells. House Ear Institute-Organ of Corti 1 (HEI-OC1) cells were treated using CDDP, OLE, and OLE-CDDP. The water-soluble tetrazolium salt assay was used for monitoring cell viability. Deoxyribonucleic acid damage in cells due to the CDDP, OLE, and combination treatments was determined using a flow-cytometric kit. The change in the expression of 84 genes associated with CCDP, OLE, and OLE-CDDP treatments that induced DNA damage was tested using the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction array. Changes ≥3-fold were considered significant. House Ear Institute-Organ of Corti 1 cell viability was significantly reduced by CDDP. The OLE-CDDP combination restored the cell viability. Cisplatin increased the H2AX ratio, while OLE-CDDP combination decreased it. Some of the DNA damage-associated genes whose expression was upregulated with CDDP were downregulated with OLE-CDDP, while the expression of genes such as Gadd45g and Rev1 was further downregulated. The expression of DNA repair-related Abl1, Dbd2, Rad52, and Trp53 genes was downregulated with CDDP, whereas their expression was upregulated with OLE-CDDP treatment. In cochlear cells, the OLE-CDDP combination downregulated DNA damage-associated gene expression relative to that upregulated mainly by CDDP. The results revealed that OLE has a potential protective effect on CDDP-induced ototoxicity in cochlear cells by altering the expression of DNA damage-related genes.

Enhanced thermal conductivity and mechanical properties of boron nitride@polymethylacrylimide/epoxy composites with self-assembled stable three-dimensional network

Constructing a three-dimensional (3D) network of fillers with high thermal conductivity is considered to be an effective strategy to obtain ideal thermal management materials (TMM). However, 3D filler network is often disrupted by the subsequent processing and forming processes , and it is difficult to incorporate high levels of fillers into lyophilized aerogels, which is a key factor limiting their widespread use. In this work, boron nitride@polymethylacrylimide/epoxy (BN@PMI/EP) composites with a stable 3D BN network were prepared by freeze-drying and hot-pressing. A water-soluble copolymer quaternary ammonium salt has been synthesized by the solution polymerization. BN@PMI aerogel was obtained by the freeze-drying of ammonium salt and BN solution, and thermal imidization. BN@PMI aerogel has a six-membered imine ring structure that can be loaded with a high content of BN, which ensures the stability of the 3D BN network structure and facilitates the subsequent impregnation of EP in vacuum, which is one of the innovations of this work.The stable and complete 3D BN network leads to the enhancement of thermal conductivity, and the out-of-plane and in-plane thermal conductivities of BN@PMI/EP reach 1.21 W·m–1·K–1 and 2.76 W·m–1·K–1 at BN loading of 40% (mass), respectively. Meanwhile, the excellent mechanical properties and results of finite element simulation and actual experiments confirm that BN@PMI/EP is a potential TMM.

Recovery of Li from waste Li-containing Al electrolytes with high F and Na contents by using a CaO roasting–water leaching process

With the increasing demand for Li, the recovery of Li from solid waste, such as Li-containing Al electrolytes, is receiving growing attention. However, Li-containing Al electrolytes often contain large amounts of F, leading to environmental pollution. Herein, a new method for preparing water-soluble Li salt from waste Li-containing Al electrolytes with high F and Na contents is proposed based on CaO roasting and water leaching. The effects of different roasting and leaching conditions on the Li leaching efficiency and reaction pathway were systematically investigated. Under the optimum processing conditions, the Li leaching efficiency reached 98%, while those of Na and F were 98.41% and 0.24%, respectively. Phase evolution analysis showed that the addition of CaO promoted the conversion of LiF and Na2LiAlF6 to Li2O, whereas F entered the slag phase as CaF2, which could be reused as a raw material for steel refinement. Overall, this study proposes an efficient and environmentally friendly method for the treatment and resource utilization of waste Al electrolytes with high F and Na contents.

Antimicrobial Evaluation of Two Polycyclic Polyprenylated Acylphloroglucinol Compounds: PPAP23 and PPAP53.

Polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols (PPAPs) comprise a large group of compounds of mostly plant origin. The best-known compound is hyperforin from St. John's wort with its antidepressant, antitumor and antimicrobial properties. The chemical synthesis of PPAP variants allows the generation of compounds with improved activity and compatibility. Here, we studied the antimicrobial activity of two synthetic PPAP-derivatives, the water-insoluble PPAP23 and the water-soluble sodium salt PPAP53. In vitro, both compounds exhibited good activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium. Both compounds had no adverse effects on Galleria mellonella wax moth larvae. However, they were unable to protect the larvae from infection with S. aureus because components of the larval coelom neutralized the antimicrobial activity; a similar effect was also seen with serum albumin. In silico docking studies with PPAP53 revealed that it binds to the F1 pocket of human serum albumin with a binding energy of -7.5 kcal/mol. In an infection model of septic arthritis, PPAP23 decreased the formation of abscesses and S. aureus load in kidneys; in a mouse skin abscess model, topical treatment with PPAP53 reduced S. aureus counts. Both PPAPs were active against anaerobic Gram-positive gut bacteria such as neurotransmitter-producing Clostridium, Enterococcus or Ruminococcus species. Based on these results, we foresee possible applications in the decolonization of pathogens.

Tribological Effects of Quaternary Ammonium-Functionalized Montmorillonite as Water-Based Additives.

In this study, a water-soluble quaternary ammonium salt (QAS)-functionalized montmorillonite (MMT) was fabricated using a mechanochemical method as a high-performance water lubrication additive. The intercalation of QAS into the MMT layer expands the layer spacing of MMT, but does not affect the hydrophilicity of MMT. The ultrathin layer QAS-functionalized montmorillonite (QAS-MMT) demonstrated excellent water-stable dispersion and can be used as a water-based lubrication additive. Only 0.1% addition can reduce the friction coefficient by more than 71.4% and the wear volume by about 58.8% when compared to water, demonstrating its excellent friction reduction and antiwear performance. The frictional mechanism indicates that the physical adsorption film, together with the chemical reaction film, endows the QAS-MMT additives with outstanding tribological performance, provides excellent lubrication for the contact of steel/steel pairs, and prevents the steel surface from being further worn.

Cytoprotective and Anti-inflammatory Effects of Derma Genie™-H002 against Paraphenylenediamine-induced Cytotoxicity and Inflammation in RAW 264.7 Cells

Purpose: This study aimed to establish an <i>in vitro</i> model to examine paraphenylenediamine (PPD)-induced cytotoxicity and inflammation within RAW 264.7 cells. Additionally, we investigated the cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of Derma Genie™-H002 derived from extracts of five medicinal herbs. Methods: Various biochemical analyses, including water-soluble tetrazolium salt, crystal violet staining, and lactate dehydrogenase leakage assays, were employed to evaluate the impact of Derma Genie™-H002 on PPD-induced cytotoxicity and inflammation. Furthermore, apoptosis- and inflammation-related gene expression was analyzed using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. Results: Derma Genie™-H002 exhibited no significant cytotoxicity in RAW 264.7 cells, whereas PPD induced notable cytotoxicity at concentrations >25 μM. Cotreatment with PPD and Derma Genie™-H002 not only improved cell proliferation rates but also alleviated cell viability in PPD-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, findings demonstrated that Derma Genie™-H002 mitigates the cytotoxicity of PPD-induced RAW 264.7 cells by reducing the expression of the proapoptotic protein Bax and increasing the expression of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2. Moreover, cotreatment with PPD and Derma Genie™-H002 downregulated the mRNA expression of inflammasome-related genes, inflammatory cytokines, and allergic contact dermatitis-related genes, all elevated by PPD. The increased expression of nuclear factor-κB protein induced by PPD was also reduced upon cotreatment with Derma Genie™-H002, providing compelling evidence of its anti-inflammatory efficacy in the PPD-induced inflammation model. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that Derma Genie™-H002 effectively alleviates PPD-induced cytotoxicity and inflammation in RAW 264.7 cells. Therefore, the potential application of Derma Genie™-H002 as a naturally derived functional anti-inflammatory material has been validated.

Novel Insights into Phaseolus vulgaris L. Sprouts: Phytochemical Analysis and Anti-Aging Properties.

Skin aging is an inevitable and intricate process instigated, among others, by oxidative stress. The search for natural sources that inhibit this mechanism is a promising approach to preventing skin aging. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the composition of phenolic compounds in the micellar extract of Phaseolus vulgaris sprouts. The results of a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis revealed the presence of thirty-two constituents, including phenolic acids, flavanols, flavan-3-ols, flavanones, isoflavones, and other compounds. Subsequently, the extract was assessed for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-collagenase, anti-elastase, anti-tyrosinase, and cytotoxic properties, as well as for the evaluation of collagen synthesis. It was demonstrated that micellar extract from common bean sprouts has strong anti-aging properties. The performed WST-8 (a water-soluble tetrazolium salt) assay revealed that selected concentrations of extract significantly increased proliferation of human dermal fibroblasts compared to the control cells in a dose-dependent manner. A similar tendency was observed with respect to collagen synthesis. Our results suggest that micellar extract from Phaseolus vulgaris sprouts can be considered a promising anti-aging compound for applications in cosmetic formulations.

Electrodeposition of Photosensitive Layers Based on Conducting Polymers and Zinc Phthalocyaninate, Their Structure and Photoelectrical Properties

Photosensitive hybrid layers were obtained by electrochemical polymerization of pyrrole and 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) in the presence of water-soluble sodium salt of zinc octa(3ʹ,5ʹ-dicarboxyphenoxy)phthalocyaninate (ZnPc) containing 16 ionogenic carboxylate groups. It was found that the process of electrodeposition of hybrid layers most effectively occurs in galvanostatic and potentiostatic modes on the sublayer of the PEDOT-polyacid complex. The electronic and chemical structure and morphology of hybrid layers of polypyrrole (PPy) obtained in the presence of ZnPc were studied. Possible reasons are considered that the measured values of photosensitivity and external quantum yield of charge carrier generation in PPy-ZnPc are several times higher than in PEDOT-ZnPc.

A phase 1 study to evaluate the safety and preliminary efficacy of minnelide given alone or in combination with paclitaxel in advanced gastric cancer.

4033 Background: Minnelide is a water-soluble disodium salt variant of triptolide, an HSP70 inhibitor. Studies using pancreatic cancer cell lines and human xenograft transplants demonstrated that Minnelide prevents tumor progression, increases survival, and causes tumor regression. This study aims to evaluate the safety and antitumor activity of Minnelide and its combination with paclitaxel in patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC). Methods: This open-label, single-center, dose-escalation phase I study recruited adult patients with previously treated advanced gastric cancer. Patients received Minnelide per oral (PO) daily starting with 1.0 mg for 3weeks and 1week rest schedule, escalating to 1.25mg, and 1.5mg. In combination Regimen, patients received Minnelide starting at a dose of 0.25 mg and escalating by 0.25mg to 1.25mg plus paclitaxel 60-80 mg/m2 intravenously on Day 1, 8, and 15 of each cycle, administered in 4-week cycles. The primary objective was to assess the safety and determine the recommended phase II dose (RP2D). Secondary objectives included preliminary efficacy using RECIST v1.1, and survival analysis. Results: Among Regimen A (n = 11), two patients experienced dose-limiting toxicity (DLTs) (Minnelide 1.5 mg: Grade 3 abdominal pain). No DLTs occurred in combination treatment, Regimen B & C (n=25). The MTD was Minnelide 1.25 mg once daily for 21days Q4 weeks as monotherapy. The most common Grade ≥3 AEs were neutropenia (19.4%) and abdominal pain (11.1%). In Regimen C, 71.5% achieved either a partial response or a stable disease with the median PFS of 4.5 months, and the median OS of 10.7 months. Notably, patients without previous exposure to paclitaxel (n = 4) in the last 2 cohorts of Regimen C, had a confirmed ORR of 50.0%, DCR of 75.0%, the median PFS was 5.3 months (95% CI NE-NE) and the median OS has not reached as some of the patients are still receiving treatment. Conclusions: The combination of Minnelide plus paclitaxel as salvage treatment in AGC patients showed meaningful clinical activity with a manageable safety profile. Based on this Phase I experience a Phase II will be initiated in AGC patients. Clinical trial information: NCT05566834 .

Novel organic base-assisted mechanochemical extraction of water-soluble and fat-soluble compounds from medicinal crop

A novel organic base-assisted (OB-assisted) mechanochemical extraction (MCE) method was established for the efficient extraction of water- and fat-soluble compounds from Ophiopogon japonicus. This study investigated the influence of OB type, amount of OB, grinding time, solid-liquid ratio, vortexing time, and pH. The optimal conditions obtained from the response surface methodology are 124.16 μL of n-butylamine, a grinding time of 6.06 min, and pH of 10.59. In addition, the method showed a good linear relationship (R2 > 0.99), high accuracy (relative standard deviation > 4.44%), and an acceptable recovery rate (89.99–110.52%). The results of scanning electron microscopy suggested that mechanochemical processes may destroy the cell walls and convert the target compounds into water-soluble salt forms in the presence of added OBs. Compared with other methods, the proposed MCE does not use any organic solvent in the extraction medium and reduces the extraction time. It was successfully applied to extract flavonoids and saponins from Ophiopogon japonicus.

Experimental optimization of the sono-photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) using 1D ZnO and cobalt phthalocyanine

This study presents the sono-photocatalytic hydrogen generation (HER), using ZnO and theraphthal, a water-soluble sodium salt of cobalt 4,5-carboxyphthalocyanine (TP). HER efficiency was optimized by a multivariable design of experiments modifying 5 factors (additives): (i) ascorbic acid, (ii) zinc oxide load, (iii) ultrasound power, (iv) ethanol, and (v) theraphthal under UV irradiation. Differences in hydrogen production according to the variable employed factors were observed in the reactions, resulting in higher yields when larger amounts of ethanol were used. Hydrogen evolution reached a maximum concentration near to 67 μmol (669 μmol g−1) in the HER process, when zinc oxide, theraphthal, and ascorbic acid in water/ethanol mixture were combined. Statistical analysis suggests that the H2 production was influenced mainly by the presence of alcohol in the reaction medium.

Exploring the Potential of a Novel Iodine-Based Material as an Alternative Contrast Agent in X-ray Imaging Studies.

Contrast-enhanced mammography is one of the new emerging imaging techniques used for detecting breast tissue lesions. Optimization of imaging protocols and reconstruction techniques for this modality, however, requires the involvement of physical phantoms. Their development is related to the use of radiocontrast agents. This study assesses the X-ray properties of a novel contrast material in clinical settings. This material is intended for experimental use with physical phantoms, offering an alternative to commonly available radiocontrast agents. The water-soluble sodium salt of the newly synthesized diiodine-substituted natural eudesmic acid, Sodium 2,6-DiIodo-3,4,5-TriMethoxyBenzoate [NaDITMB], has been investigated with respect to one of the most commonly applied radiocontrast medium in medical practice-Omnipaque®. For this purpose, simulation and experimental studies were carried out with a computational phantom and a physical counterpart, respectively. Synthetic and experimental X-ray images were subsequently produced under varying beam kilovoltage peaks (kVps), and the proposed contrast material was evaluated. Simulation results revealed equivalent absorptions between the two simulated radiocontrast agents. Experimental findings supported these simulations, showing a maximum deviation of 3.7% between the image gray values of contrast materials for NaDITMB and Omnipaque solutions for a 46 kVp X-ray beam. Higher kVp X-ray beams show even smaller deviations in the mean grey values of the imaged contrast agents, with the NaDITMB solution demonstrating less than a 2% deviation compared to Omnipaque. The proposed contrast agent is a suitable candidate for use in experimental work related to contrast-enhanced imaging by utilizing phantoms. It boasts the advantages of easy synthesis and is recognized for its safety, ensuring a secure environment for both the experimenter and the environment.

The Influence of Tacrolimus on Cellular Morphology, Cellular Viability, Osteogenic Differentiation, and mRNA Expression within Stem Cell Spheroids.

Background and Objectives: Tacrolimus is a macrolide lactone compound derived from the bacterium Streptomyces tsukubensis, widely known as an immunosuppressant. In basic research, the effects of tacrolimus on osteogenic differentiation have been tested using mesenchymal stem cells. In this study, tacrolimus's effects on the cellular survival and osteogenic differentiation of stem cell spheroids were investigated. Materials and Methods: Concave microwells were used to form stem cell spheroids in the presence of tacrolimus at final concentrations of 0 μg/mL, 0.1 μg/mL, 1 μg/mL, 10 μg/mL, and 100 μg/mL. A microscope was used to test cellular vitality qualitatively, and an assay kit based on water-soluble tetrazolium salt was used to measure cellular viability quantitatively. Alkaline phosphatase activity and an anthraquinone dye test for measuring calcium deposits were used to assess osteogenic differentiation. To assess the expression of osteogenic differentiation, a quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and RNA sequencing were performed. Results: Spheroids across all concentrations maintained a relatively uniform and spherical shape. Cell viability assay indicated that tacrolimus, up to a concentration of 100 μg/mL, did not significantly impair cell viability within spheroids cultured in osteogenic media. The increase in calcium deposition, particularly at lower concentrations of tacrolimus, points toward an enhancement in osteogenic differentiation. There was an increase in COL1A1 expression across all tacrolimus concentrations, as evidenced by the elevated mean and median values, which may indicate enhanced osteogenic activity. Conclusions: This study showed that tacrolimus does not significantly impact the viability of stem cell spheroids in osteogenic media, even at high concentrations. It also suggests that tacrolimus may enhance osteogenic differentiation, as indicated by increased calcium deposition and COL1A1 expression. These findings advance our understanding of tacrolimus's potential roles in tissue repair, regeneration, and stem cell-based therapeutic applications.

Polyimide-assisted fabrication of highly oriented graphene-based all-carbon foams for increasing the thermal conductivity of polymer composites

Graphene and its derivatives are often preferentially oriented horizontally during processing because of their two-dimensional (2D) layer structure. As a result, thermal interface materials (TIMs) composed of a polymer matrix and graphene-derived fillers often have a high in-plane (IP) thermal conductivity (K), however, the low through-plane (TP) K makes them unsuitable for practical use. We report the development of high-quality polyimide/graphite nanosheets (PG) perpendicular to the plane using a directional freezing technique that increase the TP K of polymer-based composites. Graphene-derived nanosheets (GNs) were obtained by the crushing of scraps of highly thermally conductive graphene films. A water-soluble polyamic acid salt solution was used to disperse the hydrophobic GNs filler to achieve directional freezing. The polyimide, which facilitated the directional alignment of the GNs, was then graphitized. The introduction of the GNs increases the order and density of the PG, thus improving the strength and heat transfer performance of its polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composite. The obtained PG/PDMS composite (21.1% PG, mass fraction) has an impressive TP K of 14.56 W·m−1·K−1, 81 times that of pure PDMS. This simple polyimide-assisted 2D hydrophobic fillers alignment method provides ideas for the widespread fabrication of anisotropic TIMs and enables the reuse of scraps of graphene films.