Self-Signal-Triggered Drug Delivery System for Tumor Therapy Using Cancer Cell Membrane-Coated Biocompatible Mn3O4 Nanocomposites.

In anti-cancer metastasis treatment, precise drug delivery to cancer cells remains a challenge. Innovative nanocomposites are developed to tackle these issues effectively. The approach involves the creation of manganese oxide (Mn3O4) nanoparticles (NPs) and their functionalization using trisodium citrate to yield functionalized Mn3O4 NPs (F-Mn3O4 NPs), with enhanced water solubility, stability, and biocompatibility. Subsequently, the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin (DOX) is encapsulated with Mn3O4 NPs, resulting in DOX/Mn3O4 NPs. To achieve cell-specific targeting, These NPs are coated with HeLa cell membranes (HCM), forming HCM/DOX/Mn3O4. For further refinement, a transferrin (Tf) receptor is integrated with cracked HCM to create Tf-HCM/DOX/Mn3O4 nanocomposites (NC) with specific cell membrane targeting capabilities. The resulting Tf-HCM/DOX/Mn3O4 NC exhibits excellent drug encapsulation efficiency (97.5%) and displays triggered drug release when exposed to NIR laser irradiation in the tumor's environment (pH 5.0 and 6.5). Furthermore, these nanocomposites show resistance to macrophage uptake and demonstrate homotypic cancer cell targeting specificity, even in the presence of other tumor cells. In vitro toxicity tests show that Tf-HCM/DOX/Mn3O4 NC achieves significant anticancer activity against HeLa and BT20 cancer cells, with percentages of 76.46% and 71.36%, respectively. These results indicate the potential of Tf-HCM/DOX/Mn3O4 NC as an effective nanoplatform for chemo-photothermal therapy.

A systematic review on green and natural polymeric nanofibers for biomedical applications.

Electrospinning is the simplest technique to produce ultrathin nanofibers, which enables the use of nanotechnology in various applications. Nanofibrous materials produced through electrospinning have garnered significant attention in biomedical applications due to their unique properties and versatile potential. In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on incorporating sustainability principles into material design and production. However, electrospun nanofibers, owing to their reliance on solvents associated with significant drawbacks like toxicity, flammability, and disposal challenges, frequently fall short of meeting environmentally friendly standards. Due to the limited solvent choices and heightened concerns for safety and hygiene in modern living, it becomes imperative to carefully assess the implications of employing electrospun nanofibers in diverse applications and consumer products. This systematic review aims to comprehensively assess the current state of research and development in the field of "green and natural" electrospun polymer nanofibers as well as more fascinating and eco-friendly commercial techniques, solvent preferences, and other green routes that respect social and legal restrictions tailored for biomedical applications. We explore the utilization of biocompatible and biodegradable polymers sourced from renewable feedstocks, eco-friendly processing techniques, and the evaluation of environmental impacts. Our review highlights the potential of green and natural electrospun nanofibers to address sustainability concerns while meeting the demanding requirements of various biomedical applications, including tissue engineering, drug delivery, wound healing, and diagnostic platforms. We analyze the advantages, challenges, and future prospects of these materials, offering insights into the evolving landscape of environmentally responsible nanofiber technology in the biomedical field.

Analysis of p-Type Doping in Graphene Induced by Monolayer-Oxidized TMDs.

Doping is one of the most difficult technological challenges for realizing reliable two-dimensional (2D) material-based semiconductor devices, arising from their ultrathinness. Here, we systematically investigate the impact of different types of nonstoichiometric solid MOx (M are W or Mo) dopants obtained by oxidizing transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs: WSe2 or MoS2) formed on graphene FETs, which results in p-type doping along with disorders. From the results obtained in this study, we were able to suggest an analytical technique to optimize the optimal UV-ozone (UVO) treatment to achieve high p-type doping concentration in graphene FETs (∼2.5 × 1013 cm-2 in this study) without generating defects, mainly by analyzing the time dependency of D and D' peaks measured by Raman spectroscopy. Furthermore, an analysis of the structure of graphene sheets using TEM indicates that WOx plays a better protective role in graphene, compared to MoOx, suggesting that WOx is more effective for preventing the degradation of graphene during UVO treatment. To enhance the practical application aspect of our work, we have fabricated a graphene photodetector by selectively doping the graphene through oxidized TMDs, creating a p-n junction, which resulted in improved photoresponsivity compared to the intrinsic graphene device. Our results offer a practical guideline for the utilization of surface charge transfer doping of graphene toward CMOS applications.

Strain, Anger, and Violent Behavior of South Korean Adolescents.

Although general strain theory (GST) highlights the mediating role of anger between strain and violent behavior, the extant body of literature has been criticized for lack of rigorous testing of the mediating role of anger and lack of application in different cultural contexts. To cover this research gap, the current study investigated the mediating effect of anger between primary sources of strain of South Korean adolescents (i.e., parental abuse, academic-related strain, and negative relations to teacher) and violent behavior. Using structural equation modeling based on a nationally representative longitudinal dataset (n = 3,120), this study found a significant mediating role of anger in connecting strain and violent behavior of South Korean adolescents. Results from the present study support the main proposition of the GST on the mediating role of anger and its applicability in a cross-cultural context. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

On the Mechanical, Thermal, and Rheological Properties of Polyethylene/Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polypropylene Blends.

The novel ultra-high molecular weight polypropylene (UHMWPP) as a dispersed component was melt blended with conventional high-density polyethylene (PE) and maleic anhydride grafted-polyethylene (mPE) in different proportions through a kneader. Ultra-high molecular weight polypropylene is a high-performance polymer material that has excellent mechanical properties and toughness compared to other polymers. Mechanical, thermal, and rheological properties were presented for various UHMWPP loadings, and correlations between mechanical and rheological properties were examined. Optimal comprehensive mechanical properties are achieved when the UHMWPP content reaches approximately 50 wt%, although the elongation properties do not match those of pure PE or mPE. However, it is worth noting that the elongation properties of these blends did not match those of PE or mPE. Particularly, for the PE/UHMWPP blends, a significant drop in tensile strength was observed as the UHMWPP content decreased (from 30.24 MPa for P50U50 to 13.12 MPa for P90U10). In contrast, the mPE/UHMWPP blends demonstrated only minimal changes in tensile strength (ranging from 29 MPa for mP50U50 to 24.64 MPa for mP90U10) as UHMWPP content varied. The storage modulus of the PE/UHMWPP blends increased drastically with the UHMWPP content due to the UHMWPP chain entanglements and rigidity. Additionally, we noted a substantial reduction in the melt index of the blend system when the UHMWPP content exceeded 10% by weight.

Influence of Molecular Weight on the Enzymatic Degradation of PLA Isomer Blends by a Langmuir System.

Polylactides (PLAs) and lactide copolymers are biodegradable, compostable, and derived from renewable resources, offering a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based synthetic polymers owing to their advantages of comparable mechanical properties with commodity plastics and biodegradability. Their hydrolytic stability and thermal properties can affect their potential for long-lasting applications. However, stereocomplex crystallization is a robust method between isomer PLAs that allows significant amelioration in copolymer properties, such as thermal stability, mechanical properties, and biocompatibility, through substantial intermolecular interactions amid l-lactyl and d-lactyl sequences, which have been the key approach to initial degradation rate and further PLA applications. It was demonstrated that the essential parameters affecting stereocomplexation are the mixing ratio and the chain length of each unit sequence. This study deals with the molecular weight, one of the specific interactions between isomers of PLAs. A solution polymerization method was applied to control molecular weight and chain architecture. The stereocomplexation was monitored with DSC. It was confirmed that the lower molecular weight polymer showed a higher degradation rate, as a hydrolyzed fragment having a molecular weight below a certain length dissolves into the water. To systematically explore the critical contribution of molecular weights, the Langmuir system was used to observe the stereocomplexation effect and the overall degradation rate.

Degradation Behavior of Poly(Lactide-Co-Glycolide) Monolayers Investigated by Langmuir Technique: Accelerating Effect.

Among biodegradable polymers, polylactides (PLAs) have attracted considerable interest because the monomer can be produced from renewable resources. Since their initial degradability strongly affects commercial application fields, it is necessary to manage the degradation properties of PLAs to make them more commercially attractive. To control their degradability, poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) copolymers of glycolide and isomer lactides (LAs) were synthesized, and their enzymatic and alkaline degradation rates of PLGA monolayers as functions of glycolide acid (GA) composition were systematically investigated by the Langmuir technique. The results showed that the alkaline and enzymatic degradations of PLGA monolayers were faster than those of l-polylactide (l-PLA), even though proteinase K is selectively effective in the l-lactide (l-LA) unit. Alkaline hydrolysis was strongly affected by their hydrophilicity, while the surface pressure of monolayers for enzymatic degradations was a major factor.

Novel Asian-Specific Visceral Adiposity Indices Are Associated with Chronic Kidney Disease in Korean Adults.

BACKGROUND: The Chinese visceral adiposity index (CVAI) and new visceral adiposity index (NVAI) are novel indices of visceral adiposity used to predict metabolic and cardiovascular diseases in Asian populations. However, the relationships of CVAI and NVAI with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have not been investigated. We aimed to characterize the relationships of CVAI and NVAI with the prevalence of CKD in Korean adults. METHODS: A total of 14,068 participants in the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (6,182 men and 7,886 women) were included. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were employed to compare the associations between indices of adiposity and CKD, and a logistic regression model was used to characterize the relationships of CVAI and NVAI with CKD prevalence. RESULTS: The areas under the ROC curves for CVAI and NVAI were significantly larger than for the other indices, including the visceral adiposity index and lipid accumulation product, in both men and women (all P<0.001). In addition, high CVAI or NVAI was significantly associated with a high CKD prevalence in both men (odds ratio [OR], 2.14; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.31 to 3.48 in CVAI and OR, 6.47; 95% CI, 2.91 to 14.38 in NVAI, P<0.05) and women (OR, 4.87; 95% CI, 1.85 to 12.79 in CVAI and OR, 3.03; 95% CI, 1.35 to 6.82 in NVAI, P<0.05); this association remained significant after adjustment for multiple confounding factors in men and women. CONCLUSION: CVAI and NVAI are positively associated with CKD prevalence in a Korean population. CVAI and NVAI may be useful for the identification of CKD in Asian populations, including in Korea.

Study on Press Formability and Properties of UV-Curable Polyurethane Acrylate Coatings with Different Reactive Diluents.

UV-curable coatings have numerous advantages, including environmental sustainability due to 100% solid content, economic feasibility attributable to relatively fast curing time, decent appearance, mechanical properties, chemical resistance, and abrasion resistance. However, UV-curable polyurethane acrylate coatings on metals apparently restrict their engineering applications owing to low mechanical properties and poor thermal stability, giving UV-curable coatings less flexibility and formability. In this study, we evaluated the property change of films according to the type of reactive diluents that lowers the viscosity of UV-curing coatings for pre-coated metal and has a substantial effect on the curing rate, viscoelastic properties, adhesive properties, and flexibility of the film. Moreover, there are many changes in the properties of coatings according to varied curing conditions in order to evaluate the oxygen inhibition phenomenon during the curing process in the atmosphere. In particular, to evaluate the effect of reactive diluents on forming formability, which is the most crucial property for the pre-coated metal, this study used conventional formability tests, such as t-bending or the Erichsen test. Moreover, a cross-die cup drawing mold with a similar form as failure and Safety Zone was utilized in order to obtain clearer information on its actual formability. The analysis on the effect of failure and safety zone on the material used in press forming was conducted by assessing limit punch height and forming a limit diagram of the manufactured film according to varied reactive diluents.

Considering Electrospun Nanofibers as a Filler Network in Electrospun Nanofiber-Reinforced Composites to Predict the Tensile Strength and Young's Modulus of Nanocomposites: A Modeling Study.

In this study, a simple approach was described to investigate the theoretical models for electrospun polymer nanofiber-reinforced nanocomposites. For predicting the tensile strength of the electrospun nylon 6 nanofiber-reinforced polyurethane acrylate composites, conventional Pukanszky, Nicolais-Narkis, Halpin-Tsai, and Neilson models were used, while for Young's modulus, Halpin-Tsai, modified Halpin-Tsai, and Hui-Shia models were used. As per the Pukanszky model, composite films showed better interaction since the values of the interaction parameter, B, were more than 3. Similarly, the value of an interfacial parameter, K, was less than 1.21 (K = -5, for the curve fitting) as per the Nicolais-Narkis model, which indicated better interfacial interaction. For composite films, the modified Halpin-Tsai model was revised again by introducing the orientation factor, α, which was 0.333 for the randomly oriented continuous nanofiber-reinforced composites, and the exponential shape factor, ξ = (2l/d)e-avf-b, which showed the best agreement with the experimental Young's modulus results. Based on mentioned remarks, these models would be applicable for estimating the tensile strength and Young's modulus of electrospun nanofiber-reinforced polymer composite films.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Assay for Group B Streptococcus Detection in Recto-Vaginal Swab: Comparison with Polymerase Chain Reaction Test and Conventional Culture.

A rapid method for obtaining group B streptococcus (GBS) screening results has been required in the obstetric field. We aimed to determine the diagnostic performance of the Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) assay is acceptable compared to the existing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. The study involved 527 pregnant women aged 19 to 44 years. Rectovaginal swabs were collected between 35 and 37 weeks of gestation or prior to impending preterm births or term labor without GBS screening. We presented the diagnostic performance of the LAMP assay with a 95% confidence interval (CI) compared to the PCR and microbiological culture. In total, 115 (21.8%), 115 (21.8%) and 23 (4.4%) patients showed positive results using the LAMP, PCR assay and microbiological culture method, respectively. The LAMP assay showed 100% sensitivity (95% CI, 96.8-100.0), 100% specificity (95% CI, 99.1-100.0) and 100% diagnostic accuracy (95% CI, 99.3-100.0) with the reference being the PCR assay. Meanwhile, the LAMP assay showed 87.0% sensitivity (95% CI, 71.0-100.0), 81.2% specificity (95% CI, 77.6-84.7), and 81.4% diagnostic accuracy (95% CI, 78.0-84.8) with the microbiological culture as a reference. This study presented the LAMP assay as an acceptable method for GBS screening with a similar performance to the existing PCR method.

Year-Long Trend in Glycated Hemoglobin Levels in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

It has been suggested that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a negative impact on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, no study has examined yearly trends in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels after the start of the COVID-19 outbreak. Here, we performed a retrospective analysis of HbA1c concentrations during the early period of the COVID-19 outbreak (COVID-19 cohort) and then compared the yearly trend in the mean HbA1c level, along with fluctuations in HbA1c levels, with those during previous years (non-COVID-19 cohorts). We observed that the mean HbA1c level in patients with T2DM increased during the first 6 months of the COVID-19 outbreak. After 6 months, HbA1c levels in the COVID-19 cohort returned to levels seen in the non-COVID-19 cohorts. The data suggest that vulnerable patients with T2DM should be monitored closely during the early period of a pandemic to ensure they receive appropriate care.

A novel microsurgery robot mechanism with mechanical motion scalability for intraocular and reconstructive surgery.

BACKGROUND: Intraocular surgery and reconstructive surgery are challenging microsurgery procedures that require two types of motion: precise motion and larger motion. To effectively perform the requisite motion using a robot, it is necessary to develop a manipulator that can adjust the scale of motion between precise motion and less precise, yet larger motion. AIMS: In this paper, we propose a novel microsurgery robot using the dual delta structure (DDS) to mechanically scale the motion to seamlessly adjust between precise and larger motion. MATERIALS & METHODS: The DDS forms a lever mechanism that enables the motion scaling at the end-effector using two delta platforms. Seamless scale adjustment enables the robot to effectively perform various surgical moves. RESULTS: A prototype robot system was developed to validate the effectiveness of the DDS. The experiment results in various scale settings validated the scaling mechanism of the DDS. CONCLUSION: Through a graphical simulation and measurement experiment, the robot's precision level and attainable workspace has been confirmed adequate for intraocular and reconstructive surgery.

Highly Transparent, Robust Hydrophobic, and Amphiphilic Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Coatings for Antifogging and Antibacterial Applications.

The control of surface wettability through a combination of surface roughness, chemical composition, and structural modification has attracted significant attention for antifogging and antibacterial applications. Herein, a two-step spin-coating method for amphiphilic organic-inorganic hybrid materials with incorporated transition metal ions is presented. The coating solution was prepared via photochemical thiol-ene click reaction between the mercapto functional group in trimethylolpropane tris(3-mercaptopropionate) and the vinyl functionalized silica precursor 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate. In the first step of coating, a glass substrate was coated using a solution of metal nitrate hydrates and subsequently showed hydrophobic properties. As the second step, the spin-coated glass substrate was further coated with silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) and polycaprolactone triol (PCT) suspension, where the contents of SiO2 NPs were fixed at 0.1 wt %, unless otherwise noted. The coated substrate exhibited hydrophilic properties. For comparison, the coating was also formulated with the SiO2 NPs/PCT suspension without SiO2 NPs and with 0.5 wt % SiO2 NPs as well as by adjusting different coating layer thicknesses. The surface morphology and chemical compositions of the obtained coating materials were analyzed by field emission scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The transparency and static contact angle of coated samples were measured by UV-visible spectrophotometry and drop shape analysis, respectively. It was concluded that our novel hybrid coating materials exhibited excellent antibacterial and antifogging properties with extremely high scratch resistance and transparency.

Treatment of phenol wastewater using nitrogen-doped magnetic mesoporous hollow carbon.

Nitrogen-doped magnetic mesoporous hollow carbon (NMMHC) was prepared to realize effective adsorption of phenol from wastewater. The chemical and physical properties of NMMHC were analyzed, and the effects of adsorption time, initial pH, and phenol concentration on the adsorption capacity of NMMHC were studied. Adsorption kinetics and isotherm models were used to explain the adsorption properties. The results showed that the specific surface area, type of nitrogen group, and nitrogen content of NMMHC are related to the carbonization temperature. Chemical interaction was demonstrated to be present in the process of adsorption, which was characterized as monolayer adsorption. In addition, the adsorption mechanism was studied by attenuated total internal reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and analysis of non-covalent interactions. This study found that non-covalent interactions between NMMHC and phenol molecules are van der Waals interactions, and nitrogen-containing groups increase the phenol adsorption capacity by enhancing such interactions. The π-π interactions between the nitrogen groups and phenol molecules also enhanced the adsorption energy.

Revealing molecular-level surface redox sites of controllably oxidized black phosphorus nanosheets.

Bulk and two-dimensional black phosphorus are considered to be promising battery materials due to their high theoretical capacities of 2,600 mAh g-1. However, their rate and cycling capabilities are limited by the intrinsic (de-)alloying mechanism. Here, we demonstrate a unique surface redox molecular-level mechanism of P sites on oxidized black phosphorus nanosheets that are strongly coupled with graphene via strong interlayer bonding. These redox-active sites of the oxidized black phosphorus are confined at the amorphorized heterointerface, revealing truly reversible pseudocapacitance (99% of total stored charge at 2,000 mV s-1). Moreover, oxidized black-phosphorus-based electrodes exhibit a capacitance of 478 F g-1 (four times greater than black phosphorus) with a rate capability of ~72% (compared to 21.2% for black phosphorus) and retention of ~91% over 50,000 cycles. In situ spectroelectrochemical and theoretical analyses reveal a reversible change in the surface electronic structure and chemical environment of the surface-exposed P redox sites.

Ultrathin Metal Crystals: Growth on Supported Graphene Surfaces and Applications.

Controlled nucleation and growth of metal clusters in metal deposition processes is a long-standing issue for thin-film-based electronic devices. When metal atoms are deposited on solid surfaces, unintended defects sites always lead to a heterogeneous nucleation, resulting in a spatially nonuniform nucleation with irregular growth rates for individual nuclei, resulting in a rough film that requires a thicker film to be deposited to reach the percolation threshold. In the present study, it is shown that substrate-supported graphene promotes the lateral 2D growth of metal atoms on the graphene. Transmission electron microscopy reveals that 2D metallic single crystals are grown epitaxially on supported graphene surfaces while a pristine graphene layer hardly yields any metal nucleation. A surface energy barrier calculation based on density functional theory predicts a suppression of diffusion of metal atoms on electronically perturbed graphene (supported graphene). 2D single Au crystals grown on supported graphene surfaces exhibit unusual near-infrared plasmonic resonance, and the unique 2D growth of metal crystals and self-healing nature of graphene lead to the formation of ultrathin, semitransparent, and biodegradable metallic thin films that could be utilized in various biomedical applications.

Individual Biometric Identification Using Multi-Cycle Electrocardiographic Waveform Patterns.

The electrocardiogram (ECG) waveform conveys information regarding the electrical property of the heart. The patterns vary depending on the individual heart characteristics. ECG features can be potentially used for biometric recognition. This study presents a new method using the entire ECG waveform pattern for matching and demonstrates that the approach can potentially be employed for individual biometric identification. Multi-cycle ECG signals were assessed using an ECG measuring circuit, and three electrodes can be patched on the wrists or fingers for considering various measurements. For biometric identification, our-fold cross validation was used in the experiments for assessing how the results of a statistical analysis will generalize to an independent data set. Four different pattern matching algorithms, i.e., cosine similarity, cross correlation, city block distance, and Euclidean distances, were tested to compare the individual identification performances with a single channel of ECG signal (3-wire ECG). To evaluate the pattern matching for biometric identification, the ECG recordings for each subject were partitioned into training and test set. The suggested method obtained a maximum performance of 89.9% accuracy with two heartbeats of ECG signals measured on the wrist and 93.3% accuracy with three heartbeats for 55 subjects. The performance rate with ECG signals measured on the fingers improved up to 99.3% with two heartbeats and 100% with three heartbeats of signals for 20 subjects.

Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy: Definition, Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Management.

Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) is an age-related macular degeneration (AMD) subtype and is seen particularly in Asians. Previous studies have suggested disparity in response to intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents between PCV and typical AMD, and thus, the preferred treatment for PCV has remained unclear. Recent research has provided novel insights into the pathogenesis of PCV, and imaging studies based on OCT suggest that PCV belongs to a spectrum of conditions characterized by pachychoroid, in which disturbance in the choroidal circulation seems to be central to its pathogenesis. Advances in imaging, including enhanced depth imaging, swept-source OCT, en face OCT, and OCT angiography, have facilitated the diagnosis of PCV. Importantly, 2 large, multicenter randomized clinical trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of anti-VEGF monotherapy and combination with photodynamic therapy (PDT) recently reported initial first-year outcomes, providing level I evidence to guide clinicians in choosing the most appropriate therapy for PCV. In this review, we summarize the latest updates in the epidemiologic features, pathogenesis, and advances in imaging and treatment trials, with a focus on the most recent key clinical trials. Finally, we propose current management guidelines and recommendations to help clinicians manage patients with PCV. Remaining gaps in current understanding of PCV, such as significance of polyp closure, high recurrence rate, and heterogeneity within PCV, are highlighted where further research is needed.