Baloxavir treatment of ferrets infected with influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus reduces onward transmission.

Influenza viruses cause seasonal outbreaks and pose a continuous pandemic threat. Although vaccines are available for influenza control, their efficacy varies each season and a vaccine for a novel pandemic virus manufactured using current technology will not be available fast enough to mitigate the effect of the first pandemic wave. Antivirals can be effective against many different influenza viruses but have not thus far been used extensively for outbreak control. Baloxavir, a recently licensed antiviral drug that targets the influenza virus endonuclease, has been shown to reduce virus shedding more effectively than oseltamivir, a widely used neuraminidase inhibitor drug. Thus it is possible that treatment with baloxavir might also interrupt onward virus transmission. To test this, we utilized the ferret model, which is the most commonly used animal model to study influenza virus transmission. We established a subcutaneous baloxavir administration method in ferrets which achieved similar pharmacokinetics to the approved human oral dose. Transmission studies were then conducted in two different locations with different experimental setups to compare the onward transmission of A(H1N1)pdm09 virus from infected ferrets treated with baloxavir, oseltamivir or placebo to naïve sentinel ferrets exposed either indirectly in adjacent cages or directly by co-housing. We found that baloxavir treatment reduced infectious viral shedding in the upper respiratory tract of ferrets compared to placebo, and reduced the frequency of transmission amongst sentinels in both experimental setups, even when treatment was delayed until 2 days post-infection. In contrast, oseltamivir treatment did not substantially affect viral shedding or transmission compared to placebo. We did not detect the emergence of baloxavir-resistant variants in treated animals or in untreated sentinels. Our results support the concept that antivirals which decrease viral shedding could also reduce influenza transmission in the community.

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic analysis of baloxavir marboxil, a novel cap-dependent endonuclease inhibitor, in a murine model of influenza virus infection.

BACKGROUND: Baloxavir acid, the active form of the orally available prodrug baloxavir marboxil, is a novel cap-dependent endonuclease inhibitor of influenza virus. Baloxavir marboxil has been shown to rapidly reduce virus titres compared with oseltamivir in clinical studies. OBJECTIVES: We investigated the relationship between pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters and antiviral activity of baloxavir acid based on virus titre reduction in lungs of infected mice. METHODS: BALB/c mice infected with a sub-lethal dose of influenza A(H1N1), A(H1N1)pdm09, A(H3N2) or type B virus were treated on day 5 with oral baloxavir marboxil (0.5-50 mg/kg q12h), subcutaneous baloxavir acid (0.25-8 mg/kg/day), oseltamivir phosphate (5 or 50 eq mg/kg q12h) or other antivirals for 1 day. Lung virus titres were assessed 24 h after initial antiviral dosing. PK testing was performed at up to 24 h post-dosing of baloxavir marboxil or baloxavir acid in A/WSN/33-infected mice and the PK/pharmacodynamic (PD) relationship was evaluated for baloxavir acid. RESULTS: Oral baloxavir marboxil administration showed dose-dependent virus titre reductions in lungs of mice infected with the different types/subtypes of influenza viruses 24 h post-dosing. Baloxavir marboxil at 15 mg/kg q12h resulted in ≥100-fold and ≥10-fold reductions in influenza A and B virus titres, respectively, compared with oseltamivir phosphate. PK/PD analysis showed that the plasma concentration at the end of the dosing interval (Cτ) or the plasma concentration at 24 h after initial dosing (C24) was the PK parameter predicting the virus titres at 24 h post-dosing of baloxavir acid. CONCLUSIONS: PK/PD analysis of baloxavir acid based on virus titre reduction in this mouse model could be helpful in predicting and maximizing virological outcomes in clinical settings.

Combination treatment with the cap-dependent endonuclease inhibitor baloxavir marboxil and a neuraminidase inhibitor in a mouse model of influenza A virus infection.

OBJECTIVES: Baloxavir marboxil (formerly S-033188) is a first-in-class, orally available, cap-dependent endonuclease inhibitor licensed in Japan and the USA for the treatment of influenza virus infection. We evaluated the efficacy of delayed oral treatment with baloxavir marboxil in combination with a neuraminidase inhibitor in a mouse model of lethal influenza virus infection. METHODS: The inhibitory potency of baloxavir acid (the active form of baloxavir marboxil) in combination with neuraminidase inhibitors was tested in vitro. The therapeutic effects of baloxavir marboxil and oseltamivir phosphate, or combinations thereof, were evaluated in mice lethally infected with influenza virus A/PR/8/34; treatments started 96 h post-infection. RESULTS: Combinations of baloxavir acid and neuraminidase inhibitor exhibited synergistic potency against viral replication by means of inhibition of cytopathic effects in vitro. In mice, baloxavir marboxil monotherapy (15 or 50 mg/kg twice daily) significantly and dose-dependently reduced virus titre 24 h after administration and completely prevented mortality, whereas oseltamivir phosphate treatments were not as effective. In this model, a suboptimal dose of baloxavir marboxil (0.5 mg/kg twice daily) in combination with oseltamivir phosphate provided additional efficacy compared with monotherapy in terms of virus-induced mortality, elevation of cytokine/chemokine levels and pathological changes in the lung. CONCLUSIONS: Baloxavir marboxil monotherapy with 96 h-delayed oral dosing achieved drastic reductions in virus titre, inflammatory response and mortality in a mouse model. Combination treatment with baloxavir acid and oseltamivir acid in vitro and baloxavir marboxil and oseltamivir phosphate in mice produced synergistic responses against influenza virus infections, suggesting that treating humans with the combination may be beneficial.

Multi-gene phylogenetic analysis reveals that shochu-fermenting Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains form a distinct sub-clade of the Japanese sake cluster.

Shochu is a traditional Japanese distilled spirit. The formation of the distinguishing flavour of shochu produced in individual distilleries is attributed to putative indigenous yeast strains. In this study, we performed the first (to our knowledge) phylogenetic classification of shochu strains based on nucleotide gene sequences. We performed phylogenetic classification of 21 putative indigenous shochu yeast strains isolated from 11 distilleries. All of these strains were shown or confirmed to be Saccharomyces cerevisiae, sharing species identification with 34 known S. cerevisiae strains (including commonly used shochu, sake, ale, whisky, bakery, bioethanol and laboratory yeast strains and clinical isolate) that were tested in parallel. Our analysis used five genes that reflect genome-level phylogeny for the strain-level classification. In a first step, we demonstrated that partial regions of the ZAP1, THI7, PXL1, YRR1 and GLG1 genes were sufficient to reproduce previous sub-species classifications. In a second step, these five analysed regions from each of 25 strains (four commonly used shochu strains and the 21 putative indigenous shochu strains) were concatenated and used to generate a phylogenetic tree. Further analysis revealed that the putative indigenous shochu yeast strains form a monophyletic group that includes both the shochu yeasts and a subset of the sake group strains; this cluster is a sister group to other sake yeast strains, together comprising a sake-shochu group. Differences among shochu strains were small, suggesting that it may be possible to correlate subtle phenotypic differences among shochu flavours with specific differences in genome sequences. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Anatomical status of the human palatopharyngeal sphincter and its functional implications.

PURPOSE: The transition muscle between the palatopharyngeus (PP) and the superior constrictor of the pharynx (SCP) encircles the pharyngeal isthmus from behind and is designated as the palatopharyngeal sphincter (PPS). The PPS is inferred to play important roles for velopharyngeal closure, but its existence remains controversial and its roles have been regarded as being played by the SCP. The present study aimed to clarify the anatomical status and functional implications of the PPS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Macroscopic and microscopic examinations were performed on 39 and 4 cadavers, respectively. In the former, the bilateral PPSs and their adjacent structures were exposed from outside and/or inside. In the latter, the velums embedded in paraffin were cut into frontal or sagittal sections and alternately processed with HE and Azan stains. RESULTS: The PPS originated from the nasal aspect of the lateral half of the palatine aponeurosis and the inferior margin of the medial pterygoid plate and was distinguishable from the PP descending in and along the palatopharyngeal arch and the cranialmost portion of the SCP in its origin. It passed dorsally on the lateral side of the levator veli palatini and traversed around the salpingopharyngeal fold running longitudinally. It then entered below the SCP and ran toward the pharyngeal raphe with SCP muscle fibers intermingled. CONCLUSIONS: The PPS is a muscle distinct from the SCP. Its contraction produces Passavant's ridge and conceivably enhances the efficiency of velopharyngeal closure by pressing the salpingopharyngeal fold and the musculus uvulae ridge against the velum.

Anatomical status of the human musculus uvulae and its functional implications.

In our ongoing series of anatomical studies to determine the three-dimensional architecture of the human velar muscles, we have previously reported on the palatopharyngeus. The present study deals with the musculus uvulae (MU), in which the positional relationships of its origin to the posterior nasal spine and the palatine aponeurosis, as well as the interrelation between its anatomical status and functions, have yet to be clarified. Macroscopic and microscopic examinations were performed on 25 and 2 cadavers, respectively. In the former, bilateral MUs and their adjacent structures were exposed mainly from the nasal aspect. In the latter, the soft palates embedded in paraffin were cut into frontal and sagittal sections and alternately processed with HE and Azan stains. The left and right MUs adjacent to each other were found to run longitudinally along the midline beneath the nasal aspect of velum. It was overlaid by glandular tissue that increased in amount as it coursed distally. After originating from the oral surface of palatine aponeurosis, it ran backward to cross above the sling formed by the levator veli palatini muscles of both sides and reached the tip of uvula with its muscle fibers intermingled with glandular tissue. Past studies have proposed three functions of MU to enhance the efficiency of velopharyngeal closure: space occupier, stiffness modifier, and velar extensor. All of the above-described anatomical characteristics of MU could be explained as being adapted for these functions. This implies that MU is actively responsible for maintaining the velopharyngeal closure efficiency.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence of influenza A and respiratory syncytial viruses elucidated by wastewater-based epidemiology.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, a decrease in the prevalence of Influenza A virus (IAV) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has been suggested by clinical surveillance. However, there may be potential biases in obtaining an accurate overview of infectious diseases in a community. To elucidate the impact of the COVID-19 on the prevalence of IAV and RSV, we quantified IAV and RSV RNA in wastewater collected from three wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Sapporo, Japan, between October 2018 and January 2023, using highly sensitive EPISENS™ method. From October 2018 to April 2020, the IAV M gene concentrations were positively correlated with the confirmed cases in the corresponding area (Spearman's r = 0.61). Subtype-specific HA genes of IAV were also detected, and their concentrations showed trends that were consistent with clinically reported cases. RSV A and B serotypes were also detected in wastewater, and their concentrations were positively correlated with the confirmed clinical cases (Spearman's r = 0.36-0.52). The detection ratios of IAV and RSV in wastewater decreased from 66.7 % (22/33) and 42.4 % (14/33) to 4.56 % (12/263) and 32.7 % (86/263), respectively in the city after the COVID-19 prevalence. The present study demonstrates the potential usefulness of wastewater-based epidemiology combined with the preservation of wastewater (wastewater banking) as a tool for better management of respiratory viral diseases.

Near full-automation of COPMAN using a LabDroid enables high-throughput and sensitive detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater as a leading indicator.

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is a promising tool to efficiently monitor COVID-19 prevalence in a community. For WBE community surveillance, automation of the viral RNA detection process is ideal. In the present study, we achieved near full-automation of a previously established method, COPMAN (COagulation and Proteolysis method using MAgnetic beads for detection of Nucleic acids in wastewater), which was then applied to detect SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater for half a year. The automation line employed the Maholo LabDroid and an automated-pipetting device to achieve a high-throughput sample-processing capability of 576 samples per week. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was quantified with the automated COPMAN using samples collected from two wastewater treatment plants in the Sagami River basin in Japan between 1 November 2021 and 24 May 2022, when the numbers of daily reported COVID-19 cases ranged from 0 to 130.3 per 100,000 inhabitants. The automated COPMAN detected SARS-CoV-2 RNA from 81 out of 132 samples at concentrations of up to 2.8 × 105 copies/L. These concentrations showed direct correlations with subsequently reported clinical cases (5-13 days later), as determined by Pearson's and Spearman's cross-correlation analyses. To compare the results, we also conducted testing with the EPISENS-S (Efficient and Practical virus Identification System with ENhanced Sensitivity for Solids, Ando et al., 2022), a previously reported detection method. SARS-CoV-2 RNA detected with EPISENS-S correlated with clinical cases only when using Spearman's method. Our automated COPMAN was shown to be an efficient method for timely and large-scale monitoring of viral RNA, making WBE more feasible for community surveillance.

In Vivo Antiviral Activity of Baloxavir against PA/I38T-Substituted Influenza A Viruses at Clinically Relevant Doses.

Although the prevalence of polymerase acidic (PA)/I38T strains of influenza virus with reduced susceptibility to baloxavir acid is low, there is a possibility of emergence under selective pressure. Furthermore, the virus may be transmitted between humans. We investigated the in vivo efficacy of baloxavir acid and oseltamivir phosphate against influenza A subtypes H1N1, H1N1pdm09, and H3N2, with PA/I38T substitution, at doses simulating human plasma concentrations. A pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic analysis was performed to strengthen the validity of the findings and the applicability in a clinical setting. Although the antiviral effect of baloxavir acid was attenuated in mice infected with PA/I38T-substituted viral strains compared with the wild type (WT), baloxavir acid significantly reduced virus titers at higher-but clinically relevant-doses. The virus titer reduction with baloxavir acid (30 mg/kg subcutaneous single dose) was comparable to that of oseltamivir phosphate (5 mg/kg orally twice daily) against H1N1 and H1N1pdm09 PA/I38T strains in mice, as well as the H3N2 PA/I38T strain in hamsters. Baloxavir acid demonstrated an antiviral effect against PA/I38T-substituted strains, at day 6, with no further viral rebound. In conclusion, baloxavir acid demonstrated dose-dependent antiviral effects comparable to that of oseltamivir phosphate, even though the degree of lung virus titer reduction was diminished in animal models infected with PA/I38T-substituted strains.

Targeted amplicon sequencing of wastewater samples for detecting SARS-CoV-2 variants with high sensitivity and resolution.

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is a promising approach for monitoring the spread of SARS-CoV-2 within communities. Although qPCR-based WBE is powerful in that it allows quick and highly sensitive detection of this virus, it can provide limited information about which variants are responsible for the overall increase or decrease of this virus in sewage, and this hinders accurate risk assessments. To resolve this problem, we developed a next generation sequencing (NGS)-based method to determine the identity and composition of individual SARS-CoV-2 variants in wastewater samples. Combination and optimization of targeted amplicon-sequencing and nested PCR allowed detection of each variant with sensitivity comparable to that of qPCR. In addition, by targeting the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the S protein, which has mutations informative for variant classification, we could discriminate most variants of concern (VOC) and even sublineages of Omicron (BA.1, BA.2, BA.4/5, BA.2.75, BQ.1.1 and XBB.1). Focusing on a limited domain has a benefit of decreasing the sequencing reads. We applied this method to wastewater samples collected from a wastewater treatment plant in Kyoto city throughout 13 months (from January 2021 to February 2022) and successfully identified lineages of wild-type, alpha, delta, omicron BA.1 and BA.2 as well as their compositions in the samples. The transition of these variants was in good agreement with the epidemic situation reported in Kyoto city during that period based on clinical testing. These data indicate that our NGS-based method is useful for detecting and tracking emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2 in sewage samples. Coupled with the advantages of WBE, this method has the potential to serve as an efficient and low cost means for the community risk assessment of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

COPMAN: A novel high-throughput and highly sensitive method to detect viral nucleic acids including SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater.

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) attracted attention as an objective and comprehensive indicator of community infection that does not require individual inspection. Although several severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) detection methods from wastewater have been developed, there are obstacles to their social implementation. In this study, we developed the COPMAN (Coagulation and Proteolysis method using Magnetic beads for detection of Nucleic acids in wastewater), an automatable method that can concentrate and detect multiple types of viruses from a limited volume (∼10 mL) of wastewater. The COPMAN consists of a high basicity polyaluminum chloride (PAC) coagulation process, magnetic bead-based RNA purification, and RT-preamplification, followed by qPCR. A series of enzymes exhibiting a high tolerance to PCR inhibitors derived from wastewater was identified and employed in the molecular detection steps in the COPMAN. We compared the detectability of viral RNA from 10-mL samples of virus-spiked (heat-inactivated SARS-CoV-2 and intact RSV) or unspiked wastewater by the COPMAN and other methods (PEG-qPCR, UF-qPCR, and EPISENS-S). The COPMAN was the most efficient for detecting spiked viruses from wastewater, detecting the highest level of pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV), a typical intrinsic virus in human stool, from wastewater samples. The COPMAN also successfully detected indigenous SARS-CoV-2 RNA from 12 samples of wastewater at concentrations of 2.2 × 104 to 5.4 × 105 copies/L, during initial stages of an infection wave in the right and the left bank of the Sagami River in Japan (0.65 to 11.45 daily reported cases per 100,000 people). These results indicate that the COPMAN is suitable for detection of multiple pathogens from small volume of wastewater in automated stations.

APOBEC1-mediated editing and attenuation of herpes simplex virus 1 DNA indicate that neurons have an antiviral role during herpes simplex encephalitis.

APOBEC1 (A1) is a cytidine deaminase involved in the regulation of lipids in the small intestine. Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) is a ubiquitous pathogen that is capable of infecting neurons in the brain, causing encephalitis. Here, we show that A1 is induced during encephalitis in neurons of rats infected with HSV-1. In cells stably expressing A1, HSV-1 infection resulted in significantly reduced virus replication compared to that in control cells. Infectivity could be restored to levels comparable to those observed for control cells if A1 expression was silenced by specific A1 short hairpin RNAs (shRNA). Moreover, cytidine deaminase activity appeared to be essential for this inhibition and led to an impaired accumulation of viral mRNA transcripts and DNA copy numbers. The sequencing of viral gene UL54 DNA, extracted from infected A1-expressing cells, revealed G-to-A and C-to-T transitions, indicating that A1 associates with HSV-1 DNA. Taken together, our results demonstrate a model in which A1 induction during encephalitis in neurons may aid in thwarting HSV-1 infection.

Changes in expression of drug-metabolizing enzymes by single-walled carbon nanotubes in human respiratory tract cells.

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have attracted attention for biomedical and biotechnological applications, such as drug delivery. However, there are concerns about the safety of SWCNTs for use in humans. To investigate the potential use of SWCNTs for targeted drug delivery to the lung, we examined their effect on drug-metabolizing enzymes in primary normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells from two donors and the lung carcinoma A549 cell line. Exposure of NHBE and A549 cells to SWCNTs dysregulated some of the important drug-metabolizing enzymes expressed in the human respiratory organs. Exposure of NHBE cells to SWCNTs for 24 h had a pronounced effect on expression of CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 mRNAs, which were reduced to less than 1% of control cells. These effects were also observed in A549 cells. Exposure of A549, HepG2 hepatic carcinoma cells, and MCF-7 breast carcinoma cells to tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin induced the expression and enzymatic activity of CYP1A1 and CYP1B1, which were also suppressed by SWCNTs, suggesting that SWCNTs down-regulated both basal and induced CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 activities. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays revealed that the down-regulatory effect of SWCNTs may be due to inhibition of activated aryl hydrocarbon receptor binding to the enhancer regions of the CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 genes. Down-regulation of CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 genes by SWCNTs may affect the defense mechanisms by reducing procarcinogen bioactivation in the human lung.

Single-walled carbon nanotubes downregulate stress-responsive genes in human respiratory tract cells.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are currently key promising materials of nanotechnology. However, elucidation of the possible effects of CNTs on the respiratory tract is urgently needed. The present study aimed to clarify the effect of single-walled CNTs (SWCNTs) on the expression of stress-responsive genes, using primary cultured normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE), diseased HBE (DHBE) cells, and the human carcinoma cell lines A549 and FaDu. Purified SWCNTs were applied at concentrations of 0.1 or 1.0 mg/mL for 6 h, and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) array was conducted to examine 84 stress-responsive genes. NHBE cell exposure to SWCNTs resulted in global downregulation of genes involved in inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. Further analysis using DHBE cells and carcinoma cell lines indicated a similar trend, although differences in sensitivity were observed. Downregulation of stress-responsive genes may be involved in the mechanism by which stress response protects against lung injury.

Improvement of pustulosis palmaris et plantaris by periodontal infection control in a patient with chronic periodontitis.

BACKGROUND: Pustulosis palmaris et plantaris (PPP) is a chronic, inflammatory, autoimmune-type disease characterized by sterile pustules of skin. The skin inflammation is influenced by several factors such as drugs, sunlight, metabolic and psychogenic factors as well as metal allergy. Here, we report a rare case that intensive periodontal treatment might have contributed to the improvement of skin inflammation. RESULTS: Skin inflammation regressed 1 month after intensive periodontal treatment. Both CD4/CD8 ratio and % of B cells in the blood sample were slightly decreased corresponding to the improvement of periodontal inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: Infection control of periodontal lesions might be one of attractive therapeutic targets in management of PPP.

Characterization of the In Vitro and In Vivo Efficacy of Baloxavir Marboxil against H5 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus Infection.

Human infections caused by the H5 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) sporadically threaten public health. The susceptibility of HPAIVs to baloxavir acid (BXA), a new class of inhibitors for the influenza virus cap-dependent endonuclease, has been confirmed in vitro, but it has not yet been fully characterized. Here, the efficacy of BXA against HPAIVs, including recent H5N8 variants, was assessed in vitro. The antiviral efficacy of baloxavir marboxil (BXM) in H5N1 virus-infected mice was also investigated. BXA exhibited similar in vitro activities against H5N1, H5N6, and H5N8 variants tested in comparison with seasonal and other zoonotic strains. Compared with oseltamivir phosphate (OSP), BXM monotherapy in mice infected with the H5N1 HPAIV clinical isolate, the A/Hong Kong/483/1997 strain, also caused a significant reduction in viral titers in the lungs, brains, and kidneys, thereby preventing acute lung inflammation and reducing mortality. Furthermore, compared with BXM or OSP monotherapy, combination treatments with BXM and OSP using a 48-h delayed treatment model showed a more potent effect on viral replication in the organs, accompanied by improved survival. In conclusion, BXM has a potent antiviral efficacy against H5 HPAIV infections.

A CD63 mutant inhibits T-cell tropic human immunodeficiency virus type 1 entry by disrupting CXCR4 trafficking to the plasma membrane.

We have discovered that an N-terminal deletion mutant of a membrane protein, CD63, (CD63DeltaN) blocks entry of CXCR4-using, T-cell tropic human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (X4 HIV-1) by suppressing CXCR4 surface expression. This suppression was observed for CXCR4 but not for CD4, CCR5, CD25, CD71 or other tetraspanin proteins. The suppression of CXCR4 expression on the plasma membrane appeared to be caused by mislocalization of CXCR4 and exclusive transportation of CXCR4 toward intracellular organelles, mainly late endosomes/lysosomes. Our data suggest that CXCR4 trafficking can be modified in terms of its recruitment to the plasma membrane without enhancing the degradation or arresting vesicular transport of CXCR4.

Nitrogen-mediated wet-chemical formation of carbon nitride/ZnO heterojunctions for enhanced field emission.

Heterojunction structures of nanocrystalline materials are of great importance in scientific and industrial research for their potential applications in nanoscale electronics and photonics. Here, we report a simple wet-chemical method of nitrogen-mediated growth of ZnO nanocrystals on carbon nitride (CNx) nanotubes. SEM and TEM analyses show self-organized ZnO nanoflowers on CNx stems. PL spectra exhibiting a blue emission at 449 nm confirms the junction formation between CNx and ZnO. The field emission (FE) properties of CNx-ZnO film are greatly improved over those of pristine CNx. The turn-on and threshold fields for bare CNx film are 1.70 and 2.95 V/v, whereas those for CNx-ZnO hybrid are found to be 0.75 and 1.3 V/microm, respectively. This significant downshift in the turn-on and threshold fields is believed to occur via lowering of the Schottky barrier at the metal-semiconductor interface. Three-dimensionally blossomed ZnO nanopetals with multiple sharp tips effectively enhance the FE performance. Moreover, this heterojunction reinforces the electron emission lifetime and protects the CNx tubes against thermal degradation.

Carbon nanotube: the inside story.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were serendipitously discovered as a byproduct of fullerenes by direct current (DC) arc discharge; and today this is the most-wanted material in the nanotechnology research. In this brief review, I begin with the history of the discovery of CNTs and focus on CNTs produced by arc discharge in hydrogen atmosphere, which is little explored outside my laboratory. DC arc discharge evaporation of pure graphite rod in pure hydrogen gas results in multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) of high crystallinity in the cathode deposit. As-grown MWCNTs have very narrow inner diameter. Raman spectra of these MWCNTs show high-intensity G-band, unusual high-frequency radial breathing mode at 570 cm(-1), and a new characteristic peak near 1850 cm(-1). Exciting carbon nanowires (CNWs), consisting of a linear carbon chain in the center of MWCNTs are also produced. Arc evaporation of graphite rod containing metal catalysts results in single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in the whole chamber like macroscopic webs. Two kinds of arc method have been developed to produce SWCNTs: Arc plasma jet (APJ) and Ferrum-Hydrogen (FH) arc methods. Some new purification methods for as-produced SWCNTs are reviewed. Finally, double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs) are also described.

Chemical vapor deposition of carbon nanotubes: a review on growth mechanism and mass production.

This review article deals with the growth mechanism and mass production of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Different aspects of CNT synthesis and growth mechanism are reviewed in the light of latest progresses and understandings in the field. Materials aspects such as the roles of hydrocarbon, catalyst and catalyst support are discussed. Many new catalysts and new carbon sources are described. Growth-control aspects such as the effects of temperature, vapor pressure and catalyst concentration on CNT diameter distribution and single- or multi-wall formation are explained. Latest reports of metal-catalyst-free CNT growth are considered. The mass-production aspect is discussed from the perspective of a sustainable CNT technology. Existing problems and challenges of the process are addressed with future directions.