Perfluoro-tert-butyl Group-Derived Capmatinib: Synthesis, Biological Evaluation and Its Application in 19 F Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Capmatinib is an FDA-approved drug to treat metastatic non-small cell lung cancer with MET-exon 14 skipping. Herein, the perfluoro-tert-butyl group, which possesses nine chemically identical fluorine atoms, was introduced on Capmatinib to afford a targeted 19 F magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) probe, perfluoro-tert-butyl group-derived Capmatinib (9F-CAP). The 19 F MRI concentration limit was found to be 25 mM in FLASH sequence. Molecular docking simulation, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) (with a Kd of 40.7 µM), half-inhibitory concentration (with a IC50 of 168 nM), Annexin V, and cytotoxicity assays jointly demonstrated that the 9F-CAP targeted cMET protein specifically. Therefore, the targeted imaging capability of 9F-CAP is of great significance for the preoperative diagnosis of specific cancers.

Synthesis, Structure, and Properties of Monodispersed and Highly Luminescent Organoborane Oligomers.

Organoborane oligomers with well-defined molecular structures and high luminescence are scarce, among which those with boron not used as bridging atoms are even more so. Here, a series of well-defined ethynyl-linked or butadiynyl-linked conjugated organoborane oligomers with high fluorescence quantum yield and extinction coefficient (i.e., high brightness) were prepared by coupling different building blocks featuring dithienooxadiborepine moieties. Single crystal structures of hexyl modified dithienooxadiborepine (1a-hex) and hexyl-modified butadiynyl-linked conjugated dimer (D2-hex) not only verified the identity of the molecular structures but also revealed that the introduction of the hexyl chains distorted the molecular structures due to steric hindrance. Optical measurements showed that the absorption and emission maxima of the six oligomeric molecules bathochromic shifted with increasing numbers of repeating units. Molecules without hexyl chains emit efficient fluorescence upon photoexcitation, and the fluorescence quantum efficiency of the ethynyl-linked conjugated dimer (D1) is close to unity. Theoretical calculation results using density functional theory methods are consistent with the single crystal data, allowing a better understanding of the spectral properties. Such results indicate that the method is efficient for expanding small organoborane molecules into π-conjugated oligomers, which can be used to modulate to emit different colors with high efficiency.

Extraction of Polysaccharides from Root of Pseudostellaria heterophylla (Miq.) Pax. and the Effects of Ultrasound Treatment on Its Properties and Antioxidant and Immune Activities.

The hydrophilic polysaccharides (PS) were isolated and purified from the tuberous roots of Pseudostellaria heterophylla. The extraction process of PS from Pesudostellariae radix was optimized by single-factor experiments and orthogonal design. The extract was purified by DEAE cellulose column to obtain the pure polysaccharide PHP. Then PHP was treated with different intensities of sonication to study the effect of sonication on PHP's characteristics and its biological activity in vitro and in vivo. The results of this study revealed that ultrasound treatment did not significantly change the properties of PHP. Further, with the increase of ultrasound intensity, PHP enhanced the proliferation and phagocytosis of macrophage RAW264.7. Meanwhile, it could also significantly improve the body's antioxidant activity and immune function. The results of this study demonstrated that PHP has the potential as a food additive with enhanced antioxidant and immune functions, and its biological activities could be enhanced by sonication.

The path linking excessive daytime sleepiness and activity of daily living in Parkinson's disease: the longitudinal mediation effect of autonomic dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and autonomic dysfunction have been verified to impair activity of daily living (ADL) in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Whether EDS can affect ADL in PD patients through autonomic dysfunction is still unclear. The purpose of this study is to explore the longitudinal mediation effect of autonomic dysfunction between EDS and ADL. METHODS: Data used in this study were from six-follow-up visits of 413 patients with newly diagnosed PD from the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI). We used latent growth mediation modeling (LGMM) to explore whether the autonomic dysfunction is a longitudinal mediator between EDS and ADL. RESULTS: The results showed that as the disease progresses, EDS (P < 0.001) and autonomic dysfunction (P < 0.001) gradually worsened and ADL (P < 0.001) gradually decreased in PD patients. In addition, the more severe the patients' EDS symptom, the more worsened the symptoms of autonomic dysfunction, which result in a decrease in ADL. Both the intercept (95% CI: 0.142, 0.308) and the slope (95% CI: 0.083, 0.331) of autonomic dysfunction showed a partial mediating effect, and a longitudinal mediation effect was presented. CONCLUSION: Longitudinal changes in EDS affect the ADL of PD patients directly or indirectly by affecting the symptoms of autonomic dysfunction. Controlling the symptoms of autonomic dysfunction may improve the ADL of PD patients with EDS.

A cation diffusion facilitator, GmCDF1, negatively regulates salt tolerance in soybean.

Salt stress is one of the major abiotic factors that affect the metabolism, growth and development of plants, and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] germination is sensitive to salt stress. Thus, to ensure the successful establishment and productivity of soybeans in saline soil, the genetic mechanisms of salt tolerance at the soybean germination stage need to be explored. In this study, a population of 184 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) was utilized to map quantitative trait loci (QTLs) related to salt tolerance. A major QTL related to salt tolerance at the soybean germination stage named qST-8 was closely linked with the marker Sat_162 and detected on chromosome 8. Interestingly, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) significantly associated with salt tolerance in the same genetic region on chromosome 8. Resequencing, bioinformatics and gene expression analyses were implemented to identify the candidate gene Glyma.08g102000, which belongs to the cation diffusion facilitator (CDF) family and was named GmCDF1. Overexpression and RNA interference of GmCDF1 in soybean hairy roots resulted in increased sensitivity and tolerance to salt stress, respectively. This report provides the first demonstration that GmCDF1 negatively regulates salt tolerance by maintaining K+-Na+ homeostasis in soybean. In addition, GmCDF1 affected the expression of two ion homeostasis-associated genes, salt overly sensitive 1 (GmSOS1) and Na+/H+ exchanger 1 (GmNHX1), in transgenic hairy roots. Moreover, a haplotype analysis detected ten haplotypes of GmCDF1 in 31 soybean genotypes. A candidate-gene association analysis showed that two SNPs in GmCDF1 were significantly associated with salt tolerance and that Hap1 was more sensitive to salt stress than Hap2. The results demonstrated that the expression level of GmCDF1 was negatively correlated with salt tolerance in the 31 soybean accessions (r = -0.56, P < 0.01). Taken together, these results not only indicate that GmCDF1 plays a negative role in soybean salt tolerance but also help elucidate the molecular mechanisms of salt tolerance and accelerate the breeding of salt-tolerant soybean.

Metrological properties of neuropsychological tests for measuring cognitive change in individuals with prodromal Alzheimer's disease.

OBJECTIVES: In Alzheimer's Disease (AD) research, choosing appropriate method for measuring change in cognitive function over time can be challenging. The aim for this study was to examine the sensitivity of four neuropsychological tests used to measure cognition during the transition from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to AD, and the impacts of associated covariates. METHODS: We enrolled 223 patients with MCI who progressed to AD and had completed multiple follow-up assessments in the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) database. We constructed nonlinear mixed model for multivariate longitudinal data assuming that multiple neuropsychological tests would exhibit nonlinear transformation of a common factor in the latent cognitive process underlying the progression from MCI to AD. RESULTS: The Clinical Dementia Rating-Sum of the Boxes (CDR-SB) and Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale (11 items; ADAS-11) were more sensitive to cognitive changes in individuals with higher cognitive function, the Functional Activities Questionnaire (FAQ) was more sensitive to cognitive changes in individuals with middle cognitive function, and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was more sensitive to cognitive changes in individuals with lower cognitive function. Gender (p = 0.0139) and educational level (p = 0.0094) had varying effects on different tests, such that men performed better on the FAQ and CDR-SB, and individuals with higher educational level tended to perform better on the FAQ and MMSE. CONCLUSIONS: When choosing appropriate neuropsychological tests in cognitive measurements, the cognitive functional level of the patient as well as the impacts of covariates should be considered.

Mannose Receptor-Mediated Carbon Nanotubes as an Antigen Delivery System to Enhance Immune Response Both In Vitro and In Vivo.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are carbon allotropes consisting of one, two, or more concentric rolled graphene layers. These can intrinsically regulate immunity by activating the innate immune system. Mannose receptors (MR), a subgroup of the C-type lectin superfamily, are abundantly expressed on macrophages and dendritic cells. These play a crucial role in identifying pathogens, presenting antigens, and maintaining internal environmental stability. Utilizing the specific recognition between mannose and antigen-presenting cells (APC) surface mannose receptors, the antigen-carrying capacity of mannose-modified CNTs can be improved. Accordingly, here, we synthesized the mannose-modified carbon nanotubes (M-MWCNT) and evaluated them as an antigen delivery system through a series of in vitro and in vivo experiments. In vitro, M-MWCNT carrying large amounts of OVA were rapidly phagocytized by macrophages and promoted macrophage proliferation to facilitate cytokines (IL-1ß, IL-6) secretion. In vivo, in mice, M-MWCNT induced the maturation of dendritic cells and increased the levels of antigen-specific antibodies (IgG, IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b), and cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-6). Taken together, M-MWCNT could induce both humoral and cellular immune responses and thereby can be utilized as an efficient antigen-targeted delivery system.

Enhancement of immune responses using ovalbumin-conjugated Eucommia ulmoides leaf polysaccharides encapsulated in a cubic liquid-crystalline phase delivery system.

BACKGROUND: To improve the adjuvant activity of polysaccharides from Eucommia ulmoides leaves (PsEUL) in inducing an effective immune response against ovalbumin (OVA), PsEUL were conjugated to OVA using the N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N'-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) method. The synthesized PsEUL-OVA was encapsulated using phytantriol and F127 to produce PsEUL-OVA cubosomes (Cubs), a novel delivery system. The physicochemical properties and immune modulation effects of this novel delivery system were explored. RESULTS: In vitro, PsEUL-OVA/Cubs carrying large amounts of OVA were rapidly phagocytized by macrophages and upregulated macrophage proliferation, thereby stimulating cytokine production (interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-4). In vivo, PsEUL-OVA/Cubs increased the titer of OVA-specific antibodies (immunoglobulin (Ig)G, IgG2b, IgG2a and IgG1) and cytokine levels (IL-2, IL-6, IL-4 and interferon-γ). In addition, the cubosomes promoted the differentiation of CD8+ and CD4+ T cells in the spleen and the maturation of dendritic cells (DCs). These results indicated that PsEUL-OVA/Cubs stimulated both cellular and humoral immune responses by enhancing the phagocytic activity of DCs and macrophages and increasing the antigen presentation efficiency. CONCLUSION: Collectively, the findings demonstrate that PsEUL-antigen/Cubs can be a useful delivery vehicle with immune response-promoting effects. Therefore, this study lays the foundation for the development of novel adjuvant-antigen delivery systems with potential applications in vaccine design. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Longitudinal Mediating Effect of Depression on the Relationship between Excessive Daytime Sleepiness and Activities of Daily Living in Parkinson's Disease.

OBJECTIVES: Whether depression affects activities of daily living (ADLs) in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) via excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) remains unclear; moreover, few longitudinal studies have been conducted. METHODS: We recruited 421 patients from the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative. We constructed a latent growth mediation model to explore the longitudinal mediating effect of depression on the relationship between EDS and ADLs. RESULTS: EDS (p < .001) and depression scores (p < .001) both increased, and ADL scores (p < .001) decreased. Moreover, EDS was positively correlated with depression, whereas an increase in EDS significantly reduced ADLs. The initial value (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.026, 0.154) and the rate of change (95% CI: 0.138, 0.514) of self-reported depression measured using the Geriatric Depression Scale(GDS) partially mediated the association between EDS and ADL score. CONCLUSIONS: The indirect effect of the longitudinal changes of depression on the relationship between EDS and ADLs highlights the importance of depression changes in PD patients with EDS. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Depression should be considered a mediator by clinicians; preventing the worsening of depression is essential for improving ADLs in patients with PD, especially those with EDS.

Lighting quantity indexes for lighting traditional Chinese paintings based on pigments protection and substrates protection in museums.

In museum lighting, traditional Chinese paintings are the artworks with the highest light sensitivity. They are vulnerable to the color damage to pigments and the mechanical damage to substrates after the irradiation from light sources. As the basis of effective preventive protection, the research on the two lighting quantity indexes of illuminance and annual exposure (illuminance × time) is currently missing. In this study, the halogen lamp was used as the experimental light source to conduct a 1440 h irradiation experiment on the samples of paper and silk substrates under 4 illuminance levels, respectively, and the test of infrared spectrum was carried out on the samples every 240 h. The oxidation index of paper and crystallinity degree of silk were calculated then. Three-dimensional visual curved surface plots of mechanical damage to samples with the change of illuminance and time were established and then fitted into damage evaluation equations, which revealed and described mathematically the mechanical damage law of samples. Through the equations, the recommended values of illuminance and annual exposure for samples could be calculated. Combining the previous researches on pigments, the lighting quantity indexes of traditional Chinese paintings with different combinations of substrates and pigments were proposed.

Application of Combinatorial Methods for the Identifi cation of Synthetic Hair-Conditioning Polymers.

Cationic conditioning polymers have a role as deposition aids for depositing benefit agents such as silicone polymers and are used in shampoo formulations to provide improved combing properties, feel, and look. The objective of this work was to develop synthetic high-performance polymeric conditioning agents that exhibit conditioning performance as good as, or better than, the current commercially available polymers. We describe the application of high throughput methods to identify high-performance synthetic hair-conditioning polymers through using high throughput combinatorial methods for polymer synthesis and screening to prepare several hundred cationic polymer candidates. Shampoo formulations were then formulated with these polymers; hair tresses were treated with these formulations and tested via a parallel automated wet combing method. Three high-performing polymer candidates were selected for further evaluation, prepared on a larger scale and evaluated via a panel study. A (3-acrylamidopropyl)trimethylammonium chloride-vinyl monomer-based cationic copolymer is shown to exhibit hair conditioning efficiency equal to or greater than that of a high-performance cellulose ether-based polymer, SOFTCAT™ SL-5 (Polyquaternium-67) in a shampoo formulation.

DEC-205 receptor targeted poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles containing Eucommia ulmoides polysaccharide enhances the immune response of foot-and-mouth disease vaccine in mice.

Nanoparticles targeting the DEC-205 receptor were found to induce antigen-specific protective immune response. When the delivery system carries both antigens and immunomodulators, it can maximize the expected therapeutic effect of the drug and induce effective humoral and cellular immune responses to antigens.In this study, we encapsulated the Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. polysaccharides (EUPS) into PLGA nanoparticles (NPs) and conjugated it with anti-CD205 monoclonal Ab (MAb) to produce a DEC-205 receptor targeted PLGA nanoparticles (anti-DEC-205-EUPS-PLGA NPs). The physicochemical characteristics and adjuvant activity of the above NPs were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. In the in vitro setting, 200 µg·mL-1 anti-DEC-205-EUPS-PLGA could improve the proliferation of DCs and promote their antigen up-take activity. In the in vivo setting, anti-DEC-205-EUPS-PLGA NPs remarkably controlled the release of drug and antigen to induce sustained immune responses and up-regulated the levels of FMDV-specific IgG antibodies, promoted the cytotoxic activity of CTLs and NK cells, and improved the proliferation of splenocytes. Moreover, the anti-DEC-205-EUPS-PLGA NPs facilitated the maturation of DCs. The above data indicated that anti-DEC-205-EUPS-PLGA NPs employed as an targeted adjuvant induced the humoral and cellular immune activity by promoting the maturation of DCs. These findings may provide a new insight onto the development of vaccine adjuvants.

Development and characterization of DEC-205 receptor targeted Potentilla anserina L polysaccharide PLGA nanoparticles as an antigen delivery system to enhance in vitro and in vivo immune responses in mice.

Potentilla anserina L polysaccharide (PAP) is known to regulate immunity. Poly(lactic-co-glycolicacid) (PLGA) is a type of drug carrier with biocompatibility and biodegradable USFDA approved polymer, which possesses the advantages of high safety and good sustained-release effect. The DEC205 receptor, a type I membrane protein, is widely distributed on the surface of macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) and plays a key role in antigen recognition and presentation. In this study, we prepared Potentilla anserina L polysaccharide PLGA nanoparticles targeting DEC205 receptor (DEC205-PAPP) and characterized the nanoparticles with regards to their effects on immune activation in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, DEC205-PAPP promoted the uptake activity of macrophages and increased the secretion of NO and cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-6, and GM-CSF), up-regulated the expression of CD80+, CD86+. In vivo, DEC205-PAPP elevated the immune organ index, induced DC maturation, promoted T lymphocyte proliferation and differentiation, and increased the levels of antigen-specific IgG antibody and cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-4), which prolonged the residence time of the OVA antigen in the immune organs and the lymph nodes. In conclusion, DEC205-PAPP had a slow-release effect, induced humoral and cellular immune responses, and could potentially be used as an effective antigen-targeted delivery system.

Enhancement of the immune response via the facilitation of dendritic cell maturation by CD-205 Receptor-mediated Long-circling liposomes acting as an antigen and astragalus polysaccharide delivery system.

CD-205 receptor-mediated dendritic cell (DC) targeting liposomes are commonly used as a delivery system for inducing a strong T-cell immune response or specific immune tolerance. This delivery system can carry both the antigen and adjuvant, thereby modulating DC maturation and also activating the T-cell response. In order to maximize the desired therapeutic effects of Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) and induce an efficient cellular and humoral immune response against the antigen, ovalbumin (OVA) and APS were encapsulated in long-circling liposomes conjugated with anti-CD-205 receptor antibodies to produce CD-205-targeted liposomes (iLPSM). We explored using a series of experiments evaluating the targeting efficiency of iLPSM. In vitro, iLPSM nanoparticles promoted the proliferation of macrophages, and the nanoparticles were rapidly phagocytized by macrophages. In vivo, iLPSM significantly improved the antibody titers of OVA-specific IgG and IgG, isotypes cytokine production, and T and B lymphocyte differentiation. Furthermore, iLPSM facilitated the maturation of DCs. In addition, iLPSM nanoparticles could prolong the retention time of nanoparticles at the injection site, leading to a strong, sustained immune response. These results show that the CD-205 antibody successfully binds to the corresponding cell receptor.

Ultrasonic Treatment Enhances the Antioxidant and Immune-Stimulatory Properties of the Polysaccharide from Sinopodophyllum hexandrum Fruit.

We aimed to assess the potential of ultrasonic treatment on the processing of polysaccharides as functional foods or food additives. The polysaccharide from Sinopodophyllum hexandrum fruit (SHP, 52.46 kDa, 1.91 nm) was isolated and purified. SHP was treated with various levels of ultrasound (250 W and 500 W), resulting in the formation of two polysaccharides, SHP1 (29.37 kD, 1.40 nm) and SHP2 (36.91 kDa, 0.987 nm). Ultrasonic treatment was found to reduce the surface roughness and molecular weight of the polysaccharides, leading to thinning and fracturing. The effect of ultrasonic treatment on polysaccharide activity was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. In vivo experiments showed that ultrasonic treatment improved the organ index. Simultaneously, it enhanced the activity of superoxide dismutase, total antioxidant capacity, and decreased the content of malondialdehyde in the liver. In vitro experiments demonstrated that ultrasonic treatment also promoted proliferation, nitric oxide secretion, phagocytic efficiency, costimulatory factors (CD80+, CD86+) expression, and cytokine(IL-6, IL-1ß) production of RAW264.7 macrophages.

Combining decellularized adipose tissue with decellularized adventitia extravascular matrix or small intestinal submucosa matrix for the construction of vascularized tissue-engineered adipose.

Adipose tissue is an endocrine organ. It serves many important functions, such as energy storage, hormones secretion, and providing insulation, cushioning and aesthetics to the body etc. Adipose tissue engineering offers a promising treatment for soft tissue defects. Early adipose tissue production and long-term survival are closely associated with angiogenesis. Decellularized matrix has a natural ECM (extracellular matrix) component, good biocompatibility, and low immunogenicity. Therefore, in this study, the injectable composite hydrogels were developed to construct vascularized tissue-engineered adipose by using the pro-angiogenic effects of aortic adventitia extravascular matrix (Adv) or small intestinal submucosa (SIS), and the pro-adipogenic effects of decellularized adipose tissue (DAT). The composite hydrogels were cross-linked by genipin. The adipogenic and angiogenic abilities of composite hydrogels were investigated in vitro, and in a rat dorsal subcutaneous implant model. The results showed that DAT and SIS or Adv 1:1 composite hydrogel promoted the migration and tube formation of endothelial cells. Furthermore, DAT and SIS or Adv 1:1 composite hydrogel enhanced adipogenic differentiation of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) through activation of PPARγ and C/EBPα. The in vivo studies further demonstrated that DAT with SIS or Adv in a 1:1 ratio also significantly promoted adipogenesis and angiogenesis. In addition, DAT with SIS or Adv in a 1:1 ratio hydrogel recruited macrophage population with enhanced M2-type macrophage polarization, suggesting a positive effect of inflammatory response on angiogenesis. In conclusion, these data suggest that the composite hydrogels of DAT with SIS or Adv in 1:1 ratio have apparent pro-adiogenic and angiogenic abilities, thus providing a promising cell-free tissue engineering biomaterial with broad clinical applications. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Decellularized adipose tissue (DAT) has emerged as an important biomaterial in adipose tissue regeneration. Early adipose tissue production and long-term survival is tightly related to the angiogenesis. The revascularization of the DAT is a key issue that needs to be solved in adipose regeneration. In this study, the injectable composite hydrogels were developed by using DAT with Adv (aortic adventitia extravascular matrix) or SIS (small intestinal submucosa) in different ratio. We demonstrated that the combination of DAT with SIS or Adv in 1:1 ratio effectively improved the proliferation of adipose stem cells and endothelial cells, and promoted greater adipose regeneration and tissue vascularization as compared to the DAT scaffold. This study provides the potential biomaterial for clinical soft tissue regeneration.

Monitoring Volatile Organic Compounds in Different Pear Cultivars during Storage Using HS-SPME with GC-MS.

Aroma, which plays an essential role in food perception and acceptability, depends on various mixture of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Meanwhile, as a field of metabolomics, VOC analysis is highly important for aroma improvement and discrimination purposes. In this work, VOCs in pear fruits were determined via headspace solid-phase micro-extraction (HS-SPME) combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to study variations among different cultivars and storage stages. In 12 cultivars of pear fruits, a total of 121 VOCs were quantified, including 40 esters, 32 alcohols, 16 aldehydes, 13 alkenes, 11 ketones, 4 acids, and 5 other compounds. The types and amounts of VOCs in different cultivars varied dramatically, which were in the range of 13-71 and 3.63-55.65 mg/kg FW (fresh weight), respectively. The Dr. Guyot cultivar showed the highest level of VOCs, both in type and amount. After 21 days storage at 4 °C, total concentration of VOCs increased from initial levels of 50.76 to 101.33 mg/kg FW. Storage at 20 °C made a larger contribution to production for VOCs than that at 4 °C, resulting in the maximum content of VOCs (117.96 mg/kg FW) in fruit after 14 days storage at 4 °C plus 7 days at 20 °C. During storage, the content of esters showed a gradual increase, while the content of alcohols and aldehydes decreased. Based on the results presented, related alcohols were recognized as the intermediates of conversion from aldehydes to esters.

Myo-inositol facilitates astaxanthin and lipid coproduction in Haematococcus pluvialis by regulating oxidative stress and ethylene signalling.

In the present study, exogenous myo-inositol (MI) was applied to induce natural astaxanthin and biolipid accumulation in Haematococcus pluvialis. Under 200 µM MI, algal cells exhibited 62.11 % and 34.67 % increases in astaxanthin and lipid content, respectively, compared to the control. The carotenogenesis and lipogenesis genes were upregulated by induction of MI. Interestingly, MI addition elevated the ethylene (ETH) content and activated antioxidant enzyme-associated gene levels, which could be involved in alleviating oxidative stress. Further data showed that the ETH signal played a positive function in stimulating astaxanthin biosynthesis under MI induction. Supplementation with ethephon plus MI boosted the astaxanthin content to 33.08 ± 0.03 mg g-1 by further upregulating astaxanthin biosynthesis genes and blocking reactive oxidative species (ROS) levels, and vice versa under ETH inhibition. This study provides a potential induction approach for natural astaxanthin production and explains the role of ethylene signalling in regulating astaxanthin synthesis by H. pluvialis.

Mannose-modified erythrocyte membrane-encapsulated chitovanic nanoparticles as a DNA vaccine carrier against reticuloendothelial tissue hyperplasia virus.

Introduction: The erythrocyte membranes used in nanovaccines include high membrane stability, long circulation life, adaptability and extremely good bio compatibility. Nanoparticles encapsulated by erythrocyte membranes are widely used as ideal drug delivery vehicles because of their high drug loading, long circulation time, and excellent biocompatibility. The mannose modification of delivery materials can help target mannose receptors (MRs) to deliver antigens to antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Methods: In this study, the antigen gene gp90 of avian reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV) was encapsulated with carboxymethyl chitosan (CS) to obtain CSgp90 nanoparticles, which were coated with mannose-modied fowl erythrocyte membranes to yield CS-gp90@M-M nanoparticles. The physicochemical characterization and immune response of the CS-gp90@M-M nanoparticles were investigated in vitro and in vivo. Results: CS-gp90@M-M nanoparticles were rapidly phagocytized in vitro by macrophages to induce the production of cytokines and nitric oxide. In vivo, CS-gp90@M-M nanoparticles increased cytokine levels, the CD4+/8+ ratio, REV-specific antibodies in the peripheral blood of chicks, and the mRNA levels of immune-related genes in the spleen and bursa of immunized chicks. CS-gp90@M-M nanoparticles could be targeted to lymphoid organs to prolong the retention time of the nanoparticles at the injection site and lymphatic organs, leading to a strong, sustained immune response. Moreover, the CS-gp90@M-M nano-vaccine showed a lasting immunoprotective effect and improved the body weight of chicks after the challenge. Conclusion: Overall, CS-gp90@M-M nanoparticles can be used in vaccine designs as an effective delivery carrier with immune response-enhancing effects.

Coupled porosity and heterojunction engineering: MOF-derived porous Co3O4 embedded on TiO2 nanotube arrays for water remediation.

Strive to develop the interaction and efficient co-catalysts is one of the vital projects in realizing hybrid photocatalytic systems for water remediation. In this work, p-type porous Co3O4 was embedded onto n-type vertical TiO2 nanotube via an in-situ thermal etching method. ZIF-67 was employed as the structural template for Co3O4, which then augmented the light harvesting ability of the resultant photocatalyst. Such improvement was prompted by the light reflecting and directing attributes of porous Co3O4. Therefore, a remarkable MB removal rate was attained under sunlight irradiation, with superoxide radical being identified as the major reactive species. Photoelectric properties evaluation also verified that the p-n heterojunction developed herein exhibits outstanding charges separation ability with low impedance, particularly under light irradiation. This work highlights the idea on coupling both porous and p-n heterojunction engineering in augmenting photoactivity of catalyst, while offering insights in such structure-mediating approach.