Orbital topological edge states and phase transitions in one-dimensional acoustic resonator chains.

Topological phases of matter have attracted significant attention in recent years, due to the unusual robustness of their response to defects and disorder. Various research efforts have been exploring classical and quantum topological wave phenomena in engineered materials, in which different degrees of freedom (DoFs) - for the most part based on broken crystal symmetries associated with pseudo-spins - induce synthetic gauge fields that support topological phases and unveil distinct forms of wave propagation. However, spin is not the only viable option to induce topological effects. Intrinsic orbital DoFs in spinless systems may offer a powerful alternative platform, mostly unexplored to date. Here we reveal orbital-selective wave-matter interactions in acoustic systems supporting multiple orbital DoFs, and report the experimental demonstration of disorder-immune orbital-induced topological edge states in a zigzag acoustic 1D spinless lattice. This work expands the study of topological phases based on orbitals, paving the way to explore other orbital-dependent phenomena in spinless systems.

Decorated bacteria-cellulose ultrasonic metasurface.

Cellulose, as a component of green plants, becomes attractive for fabricating biocompatible flexible functional devices but is plagued by hydrophilic properties, which make it easily break down in water by poor mechanical stability. Here we report a class of SiO2-nanoparticle-decorated bacteria-cellulose meta-skin with superior stability in water, excellent machining property, ultrathin thickness, and active bacteria-repairing capacity. We further develop functional ultrasonic metasurfaces based on meta-skin paper-cutting that can generate intricate patterns of ~10 µm precision. Benefited from the perfect ultrasound insulation of surface Cassie-Baxter states, we utilize meta-skin paper-cutting to design and fabricate ultrathin (~20 µm) and super-light (<20 mg) chip-scale devices, such as nonlocal holographic meta-lens and the 3D imaging meta-lens, realizing complicated acoustic holograms and high-resolution 3D ultrasound imaging in far fields. The decorated bacteria-cellulose ultrasonic metasurface opens the way for exploiting flexible and biologically degradable metamaterial devices with functionality customization and key applications in advanced biomedical engineering technologies.

Structural characterization and antiviral activity of two fucoidans from the brown algae Sargassum henslowianum.

Purified fucoidans SHAP-1 and SHAP-2 with apparent molecular weights of 6.55 × 105 and 5.89 × 105, respectively, were isolated from Sargassum henslowianum by ion-exchange and gel-filtration column chromatography. They are both composed of fucose and galactose at a ratio of around 3:1 and 31.9% sulfate. The backbone of two fucoidans consists of α-(1→3)-linked L-Fucp residues which are mainly sulfated on the C-2 and C-4 positions. Side chains composed of terminally linked α-L-Fucp and α-D-Galp residues, and (1→2)-, (1→6)-, and (1→2,6)-linked ß-D-Galp residues attach mainly at O-4 position of backbone residues. Antiviral test showed that the IC50 values of SHAP-1 and SHAP-2 against HSV-1 were estimated to be 0.89 and 0.82 µg/mL by plaque reduction assay, respectively, whereas both as low as 0.48 µg/mL against HSV-2. The antiviral mechanism of the fucoidans might be at least through blocking HSV-2 virion adsorption to host cells. These results suggest that the fucoidans have potential clinical applications.

Structural characterization of three polysaccharides from the roots of Codonopsis pilosula and their immunomodulatory effects on RAW264.7 macrophages.

Three polysaccharides were isolated from the roots of Codonopsis pilosula by ion-exchange and gel-filtration chromatography. They were named RCNP, RCAP-1, and RCAP-2, and had apparent molecular weights of 1.14 × 104, 5.09 × 104, and 2.58 × 105, respectively. Their structures were characterized by HPGPC, chemical derivative analysis, GC-MS and NMR analyses. Results showed that RCNP contained arabinan and arabinogalactan regions. The arabinan region had a main chain comprising (1 → 5)-linked Araf residues, and the side chains branched at the O-3 position by the single Araf residues. The arabinogalactan region comprised alternating (1 → 4)-, (1 → 6)- or (1 → 3)-linked Galp along with small amounts of branches mainly at the O-3 position of the (1 → 6)-linked Galp or O-6 position of the (1 → 3)-linked Galp residues by terminally linked Araf residues. RCAP-1 and RCAP-2 were highly methyl-esterified pectin-type polysaccharides with long homogalacturonan regions interrupted by a short rhamnogalacturonan I (RG-I) region. The side chains of the RG-I region consisted of (1 → 2)-linked Rha residues attached to the position O-4 of rhamnose. Their degrees of methyl-esterification were approximately 60.6% and 68.1%, respectively. Bioactivity tests showed that RCAP-1 and RCAP-2 exerted a significant immunostimulatory effect based on NO production from RAW264.7 macrophages. These results suggested that these two pectin-type polysaccharides were potential immunostimulation agents.

Structural characterization of a polysaccharide from Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt. and its function to modify myeloid derived suppressor cells.

Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt. (C. tinctoria) is a natural plant with many health benefits, such as clearing heat and toxic materials. In this study, we investigate the effect of a polysaccharide from C. tinctoria, aiming at improving the tumor microenvironment, which is associated with non-resolving inflammation. Through combining ion-exchange and gel permeation chromatography, a polysaccharide named CTAP-3 is purified from the crude polysaccharides of C. tinctoria. The structure of CTAP-3 is characterized through high-performance gel permeation chromatography, chemical derivative analyses, GC-MS, FT-IR, and NMR. Results reveal that CTAP-3 consists of predominant amounts (87.2%) of galacturonic acid (GalA) residues, small amounts of arabinose (Ara) and rhamnose (Rham), and trace amounts of galactose (Gal). CTAP-3 is deduced to be native pectin-type polysaccharide containing a homo-galacturanan backbone consisting of α-(1 → 4)-linked GalAp and methyl-esterified α-(1 → 4)-linked GalAp residues in the ratio of 4:1. When myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are treated by CTAP-3, its suppressive effect on T cell proliferation is impaired. This result indicates that CTAP-3 is a candidate drug for improving the tumor microenvironment.

Structural characterization of a pectin-type polysaccharide from Curcuma kwangsiensis and its effects on reversing MDSC-mediated T cell suppression.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) accumulate in tumor-bearing hosts and play a major role in tumor-induced immunosuppression. The potent modulatory effects of polysaccharides on the innate and adaptive immune system stimulate antitumor responses. In this study, a polysaccharide with an apparent molecular weight of 14.0 kD was isolated from Curcuma kwangsiensis and designated as CKAP-2. The polysaccharide was characterized through high-performance gel permeation chromatography, chemical derivative analyses, GC-MS, FT-IR, and NMR. Results revealed that CKAP-2 is a highly methyl-esterified pectin-type polysaccharide. It is predominantly composed of a homogalacturonan region and small amounts of type-I rhamonogalacturonan regions. Its degree of methyl-esterification is approximately 62.4%. The effect of CKAP-2 on MDSC-medicated immunosuppression was primarily tested. CKAP-2 recovered the MSC2-supressed proliferation of CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells. This finding suggested that CKAP-2 can reverse MDSC-mediated T-cell suppression and that CKAP-2 can be potentially applied in antitumor therapy.

[Clinical study and electron microscope observation of tapeworm scolices on 548 cases of taeniasis treated with Binlang Chengqi Decoction].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect and mechanism of Chinese herbs in the treatment of taeniasis. METHODS: Five hundred and forty-eight cases of taeniasis were treated with Binlang Chengqi Decoction (BLCQD). The tapeworm scolices of ten cases were observed by electron microscope (EM). RESULTS: Among the 548 cases, 521 cases were cured and 27 cases were improved. The total effective rate was 100%. Foam-like secretion in the sucker of the tapeworm scolices and erosion of the epithelium in the cervical part were observed by scanning electron microscope. Observed by transmission electron microscope, the cortex was seriously damaged. The microvilli were exfoliated. The cells in the muscle layer and parenchyma layer were injured in various degrees. The mitochondria were tumefied or caved. And the nerve cord was damaged. CONCLUSION: BLCQD can not only paralyze the tapeworm scolex, but also injury the cells of the tapeworm scolex.