Analysis of Differentially Expressed Genes of Chrysoperla sinica Related to Flight Capacity by Transcriptome.

The lacewing Chrysoperla sinica (Tjeder) is a common natural enemy of many insect pests in China and is frequently employed for biological control programs. Adults make migratory flights after emergence, which reduces their effectiveness as biological control agents. Previously, we proved that 2-d-old unmated females exhibited significantly stronger flight ability than 3-d-old ones. Meanwhile, 3-d-old unmated adults flew significantly longer distances than mated ones. In this study, Illumina RNA sequencing was performed to characterize differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between virgin and mated adults of different ages in a single female strain of C. sinica. In total, 713,563,726 clean reads were obtained and de novo assembled into 109,165 unigenes with an average length of 847 bp (N50 of 1,754 bp), among which 4,382 (4.01%) unigenes matched known proteins. Based on these annotations, many putative transcripts were related to C. sinica's flight capacity and muscle structure, energy supply, growth, development, environmental adaptability, and metabolism of nutritional components and bioactive components. In addition, the differential expression of transcripts between different ages and mating status were analyzed, and DEGs participating in flight capacity and muscles were detected, including glutathione hydrolase, NAD-specific glutamate dehydrogenase, aminopeptidase, and acidic amino acid decarboxylase. The DEGs with functions associated with flight capacity and muscles exhibited higher transcript levels for younger (2 d--old) virgins. This comprehensive C. sinica transcriptomic data provide a foundation for a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the flight capacity to meet the physiological demands of flight muscles in C. sinica.

Mating Competitiveness of Male Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) Irradiated by X-rays.

Spodoptera frugiperda, an invasive pest, has a huge impact on food production in Asia and Africa. The potential and advantages of sterile insect techniques for the permanent control of S. frugiperda have been demonstrated, but the methods for their field application are still unavailable. For the purposes of this study, male pupae of S. frugiperda were irradiated with an X-ray dose of 250 Gy to examine the effects of both the release ratio and the age of the irradiated males on the sterility of their offspring. The control effect of the irradiated male release ratio on S. frugiperda was evaluated using field-cage experiments in a cornfield. The results showed that when the ratio of irradiated males to non-irradiated males reached 12:1, the egg-hatching rate of the offspring of S. frugiperda decreased to less than 26%, and there was also no significant difference in mating competitiveness among the different ages. Field-cage testing showed that when irradiated males were released at ratios of 12:1-20:1 to normal males, the leaf protection effect for the corn reached 48-69% and the reduction in the insect population reached 58-83%. In this study, an appropriate release ratio is suggested, and the mating competitiveness of irradiated and non-irradiated males of S. frugiperda is investigated, thus providing a theoretical basis for the use of sterile insect techniques to control S. frugiperda.

Microfluidic Preparation of Janus Microparticles With Temperature and pH Triggered Degradation Properties.

Based on the phase separation phenomenon in micro-droplets, polymer-lipid Janus particles were prepared on a microfluidic flow focusing chip. Phase separation of droplets was caused by solvent volatilization and Janus morphology was formed under the action of interfacial tension. Because phase change from solid to liquid of the lipid hemisphere could be triggered by physiological temperature, the lipid hemisphere could be used for rapid release of drugs. While the polymer we selected was pH sensitive that the polymer hemisphere could degrade under acidic conditions, making it possible to release drugs in a specific pH environment, such as tumor tissues. Janus particles with different structures were obtained by changing the experimental conditions. To widen the application range of the particles, fatty alcohol and fatty acid-based phase change materials were also employed to prepare the particles, such as 1-tetradecanol, 1-hexadecanol and lauric acid. The melting points of these substances are higher than the physiological temperature, which can be applied in fever triggered drug release or in thermotherapy. The introduction of poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) enabled the formation of multicompartment particles with three distinct materials. With different degradation properties of each compartment, the particles generated in this work may find applications in programmed and sequential drug release triggered by multiple stimuli.

Microfluidic preparation of polymer-lipid Janus microparticles with staged drug release property.

This work demonstrated a microfluidic preparation process for novel Janus microparticles with individual drug release properties in each compartment. A flow-focusing microfluidic chip was designed to produce oil-in-water droplets from a mixed solution of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) and a triglyceride type lipid. Based on solvent evaporation-induced phase separation, droplets evolved and were solidified into Janus particles, each of which had a polymer compartment and a lipid compartment. The ratio of the two compartments in a particle can be discretionarily regulated, and the particle structure can also be flexibly altered to Janus-patchy, triple, quadruple or core-shell type. Phase transition of the chosen lipid from solid to liquid would occur under physiological temperature, which was applied for rapid release of the loaded drug. The polymer compartment would undergo a slow degradation process in physiological environment, facilitating sustained drug release. Paclitaxel was loaded into Janus particles during preparation, and staged release was achieved, leading to a combination of rapid and sustained release, which is highly desired in target drug delivery. This study would start the application of hybrid Janus particles of polymer-lipid type with novel release kinetics in drug delivery systems.

Three-dimensional poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)/silica colloidal crystal microparticles for sustained drug release and visualized monitoring.

In this paper, a three-dimensional (3D) poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)/silica colloidal crystal drug delivery system with sustained drug release and visualized release monitoring was developed. This system had employed silica colloidal crystal microparticles as template skeleton, PLGA as drug carrier and dexamethasone (DEX) as therapeutic agent. The fabrication of the microparticle-based system included droplet formation based-on microfluidics, silica nanoparticle self-assembly and layer-by-layer deposition of PLGA containing DEX. In 370 µm droplets, the silica colloidal nanoparticles could self-assemble orderly into microparticles with a diameter of 187 µm, featuring red structure color. During the deposition of PLGA with the drug into the voids of the template microparticles, the reflection peak red-shifted and weakened until the voids were completely filled. Owing to the gradual degradation of PLGA, the release of DEX was triggered and sustained for 4 weeks with a cumulative release of 94.9%, while the structure color of the microparticles recovered during the release process. The color change could be recognized by the naked eyes, which would benefit the non-invasive monitoring of the drug release. The in vitro cytotoxicity and long-term inhibiting proliferation were investigated on retinal pigment epithelial cells. The inhibition effect of DEX released from the microparticles showed concentration-dependence from 40 to 200 µg mL-1 and time-dependence within 7 days. As a sustained drug delivery system with self-reporting drug release, the particles have potential applications in treatment of intraocular diseases.

Multitarget sensing of glucose and cholesterol based on Janus hydrogel microparticles.

A visualized sensing method for glucose and cholesterol was developed based on the hemispheres of the same Janus hydrogel microparticles. Single-phase and Janus hydrogel microparticles were both generated using a centrifugal microfluidic chip. For glucose sensing, concanavalin A and fluorescein labeled dextran used for competitive binding assay were encapsulated in alginate microparticles, and the fluorescence of the microparticles was positively correlated with glucose concentration. For cholesterol sensing, the microparticles embedded with γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles were used as catalyst for the oxidation of 3,3',5,5'-Tetramethylbenzidine by H2O2, an enzymatic hydrolysis product of cholesterol. And the color transition was more sensitive in the microparticles than in solutions, indicating the microparticles are more applicable for visualized determination. Furthermore, Janus microparticles were employed for multitarget sensing in the two hemespheres, and glucose and cholesterol were detected within the same microparticles without obvious interference. Besides, the particles could be manipulated by an external magnetic field. The glucose and cholesterol levels were measured in human serum utilizing the microparticles, which confirmed the potential application of the microparticles in real sample detection.

On-chip preparation of calcium alginate particles based on droplet templates formed by using a centrifugal microfluidic technique.

A novel chip-based approach for the fabrication of oblate spheriodal calcium alginate particles was developed by combining the droplet template method and the centrifugal microfluidic strategy. Circular chips with multiple radial channels were designed. Sodium alginate solutions in radial channels were flung into CaCl2 solutions in the form of droplets under centrifugal force, and the droplets transformed into particles through cross-linking reaction. The size and morphology of particles could be controlled by regulating the centrifugal force, the channel geometry and the distance between the channel outlet and the CaCl2 solution. The throughput of particle production was evidently enhanced by increasing the number of radial channels to 48 and 64. The coefficients of variation of particle sizes were in the range of 5.2-5.6%, which indicated the monodisperse particles could be prepared by using the present method. With the chip configuration readily modified, the same platform could be used to produce Janus particles. The Janus particles showed clear interfaces owing to the high flight speed and the rapid gelling process of the droplets. This method would be capable of generating particles with complicated morphology and multifunction from diverse polymeric materials.

Microfluidic fabrication of multifunctional particles and their analytical applications.

Multifunctional particles have attracted extensive interest in scientific community in recent years for their capability in combining different functions within a single device. The present review focuses on the preparation methods of multifunctional particles using microfluidic techniques, and the applications of multifunctional particles in analytical and bio-analytical chemistry. As confirmed by most research works, microfluidic fabrication platforms can provide multifunctional particles with precisely controlled structure, high homogeneity and good reproducibility. Meanwhttp://live.elsevierproofcentral.com/authorproofs/macm84f82089f9eab0d214807a46cda8088e/supplier hile, multifunctional particles are proved to have enormous promise when applied in bio/chemical analysis. This paper aims to offer a path for the readers to get acquainted with state-of-the-art progress in these advanced materials from the viewpoint of microfluidics.

Analysis of peripapilary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness of healthy Chinese from northwestern Shanghai using Cirrus HD-OCT.

AIM: To investigate peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness of healthy Chinese individuals from northwestern Shanghai using Cirrus HD-OCT (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc. Dublin, CA, USA). METHODS: The peripapillary RNFL thickness of 720 eyes from 360 healthy Chinese participants were measured using the Optic Disc Cube 200×200 protocol. Each eye was scanned 3 times. Global and each quadrant's RNFL thickness around the optic nerve were compared between genders, and interocular differences were analyzed. The correlation between global RNFL thickness and age were also assessed in this study. RESULTS: The mean global, superior, nasal, inferior and temporal RNFL thickness of all the eyes were 96.04±7.40 µm, 118.36±13.52 µm, 67.63±8.60 µm, 125.17±13.48 µm, 72.49±10.70 µm, respectively. When analyzing between genders, the mean nasal RNFL thickness of male and female were 68.29±8.44 µm and 66.97±8.70 µm, with statistically significant difference (P=0.038), while the data of global, superior, inferior and temporal quadrant showed no significant difference (all P>0.05). When analyzing interocular differences, the mean RNFL thickness of all the right eyes and all the left eyes were 116.46±13.17 µm and 120.27±13.61 µm in superior quadrant (P<0.001); 68.74±8.80 µm and 66.52±8.25 µm in nasal quadrant (P<0.001); 73.16±10.95 and 71.83±10.41 in temporal quadrant (P<0.001), all having statistically significant differences. There were no statistically significant interocular differences of global and inferior RNFL thickness (both P>0.05). There was a significantly negative correlation (r=-0.618, P<0.001) between the mean global RNFL thickness and the age. CONCLUSION: In healthy Chinese from northwestern Shanghai, there were no significant differences detected interocular difference and between genders in the mean global RNFL thickness. Nevertheless, significant difference existed in the nasal quadrant between genders, and interocular differences existed in the superior, nasal and temporal quadrants. The RNFL thickness appeared to gradually decrease with age.

Functions of corneal endothelial cells do not change after uptake of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles.

To avoid donor tissue shortages, ex vivo cultured human corneal endothelial cell (HCEC) transplantation is a promising therapeutic resource. Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle (SPION) cell labeling assists HCEC transplantation by attaching the posterior corneal stroma in ex vivo animal models. However, possible functional changes of the HCECs following SPION labeling remain to be determined. In this study, we used SPIONs to label cultured rabbit CECs (RCECs) in order to observe important cell functions and the levels of cell markers. The synthetic SPIONs exhibited superparamagnetism at room temperature, with saturation magnetization of 55.4 emu/g and negligible remanence or coercivity. The ζ-potential was -24.5 mV and the diameter was 101 ± 55 nm. Immunostaining demonstrated a normal density of zonula occluden-1 (ZO-1), nestin and Ki-67 at cellular junctions or in nuclei from RCECs following SPION labeling at 16 µg/ml. MTT cytotoxicity assay, homotypic adhesion assay, quantitative flow cytometric Ki-67 analysis and RCEC pump function measurement demonstrated no significant differences between the cells with or without SPION labeling (P<0.05, for all assays). Results of this study demonstrated successful labeled cultured RCECs with synthetic SPIONs. Labeled cells possessed several important characteristics required to maintain the transparency and refractive parameters of the cornea, including hexagonal cell morphology, higher cell adhesion ability and proliferative potential, cell pump function and the positive expression of several cell markers.

Betulinic acid and betulin ameliorate acute ethanol-induced fatty liver via TLR4 and STAT3 in vivo and in vitro.

Ethanol consumption leads to many kinds of liver injury and suppresses innate immunity, but the molecular mechanisms have not been fully delineated. The present study was conducted to determine whether betulinic acid (BA) or betulin (BT) would ameliorate acute ethanol-induced fatty liver in mice, and to characterize whether Toll like receptor 4 (TLR4) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) were involved in ethanol-stimulated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). EtOH (5mg/kg) and BA or BT (20 or 50mg/kg) were applied in vivo, while EtOH (50mM) and BA or BT (12.5 or 25µM) were applied in vitro. Administration of BA or BT significantly prevented the increases of serum ALT and AST caused by ethanol, as well as serum TG. Supplement of BA or BT prevented ethanol-induced acidophilic necrosis, increased hepatocyte nuclei and stromal inflammation infiltration as indicated by liver histopathological studies. Administration of BA or BT significantly decreased CYP2E1 activities and expression of SREBP-1caused by ethanol, however, lower dosage of BA or BT showed slight effects on CYP2E1 activity or expression of SREBP-1c. BA or BT administration significantly decreased the expression of TLR4, and increased the phosphorylation of STAT3. In vitro, BA or BT treatment reduced the expressions of α-SMA and collagen-I in ethanol-stimulated HSCs via regulation of TLR4 and STAT3, coincided with in vivo. All of these findings demonstrated that BA or BT might ameliorate acute ethanol-induced fatty liver via TLR4 and STAT3 in vivo and in vitro, promising agents for ethanol-induced fatty liver therapies.

miRNA-21-5p is an important contributor to the promotion of injured peripheral nerve regeneration using hypoxia-pretreated bone marrow-derived neural crest cells.

JOURNAL/nrgr/04.03/01300535-202501000-00035/figure1/v/2024-05-14T021156Z/r/image-tiff Our previous study found that rat bone marrow-derived neural crest cells (acting as Schwann cell progenitors) have the potential to promote long-distance nerve repair. Cell-based therapy can enhance peripheral nerve repair and regeneration through paracrine bioactive factors and intercellular communication. Nevertheless, the complex contributions of various types of soluble cytokines and extracellular vesicle cargos to the secretome remain unclear. To investigate the role of the secretome and extracellular vesicles in repairing damaged peripheral nerves, we collected conditioned culture medium from hypoxia-pretreated neural crest cells, and found that it significantly promoted the repair of sensory neurons damaged by oxygen-glucose deprivation. The mRNA expression of trophic factors was highly expressed in hypoxia-pretreated neural crest cells. We performed RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis and found that miR-21-5p was enriched in hypoxia-pretreated extracellular vesicles of neural crest cells. Subsequently, to further clarify the role of hypoxia-pretreated neural crest cell extracellular vesicles rich in miR-21-5p in axonal growth and regeneration of sensory neurons, we used a microfluidic axonal dissociation model of sensory neurons in vitro, and found that hypoxia-pretreated neural crest cell extracellular vesicles promoted axonal growth and regeneration of sensory neurons, which was greatly dependent on loaded miR-21-5p. Finally, we constructed a miR-21-5p-loaded neural conduit to repair the sciatic nerve defect in rats and found that the motor and sensory functions of injured rat hind limb, as well as muscle tissue morphology of the hind limbs, were obviously restored. These findings suggest that hypoxia-pretreated neural crest extracellular vesicles are natural nanoparticles rich in miRNA-21-5p. miRNA-21-5p is one of the main contributors to promoting nerve regeneration by the neural crest cell secretome. This helps to explain the mechanism of action of the secretome and extracellular vesicles of neural crest cells in repairing damaged peripheral nerves, and also promotes the application of miR-21-5p in tissue engineering regeneration medicine.