Inhibitory Activity of Antibacterial Mouthwashes and Antiseptic Substances against Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Improved treatment and prevention strategies, such as antimicrobial mouthwashes, may be important for addressing the public health threat of antimicrobial-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Here, we describe the activity of seven common antibacterial mouthwashes and antiseptics against N. gonorrhoeae isolates, incorporating the use of a human saliva test matrix. Our data demonstrate that antibacterial mouthwashes and antiseptics vary in their ability to inhibit the in vitro growth of N. gonorrhoeae and saliva may impact this inhibitory activity.

Vertical stability of different orthognathic treatments for correcting skeletal anterior open bite: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Several orthognathic procedures have been applied to correct skeletal anterior open bites (SAOB). Which method is most stable has been debated and no consensus has been reached and there is no conclusive evidence for clinicians to use. OBJECTIVE: To analyse whether maxillary, mandibular, or bimaxillary surgery provides a better stability. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic search was conducted up to December 2020 using PubMed, EMBASE, Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane CENTRAL, and Google Scholar. We made direct comparisons among the controlled trials and also made indirect comparisons via subgroup analysis on the aspects of occlusional, skeletal, and dento-alveolar stability to assess the overall stability of each method. RESULTS: Finally 16 cohort studies were identified. At the occlusional level, pooled change in overbite was 0.21 mm in maxillary surgery, 0.37 mm in bimaxillary surgery, and -0.32 mm in mandibular surgery. At the skeletal level, pooled sella-nasion-Point A angle (SNA) was -0.12 degrees in bimaxillary surgery, -0.37 degrees in maxillary surgery and -0.20 degrees in mandibular surgery. The sella-nasion to palatal plane angle (SNPP) relapsed to a statistically significant degree in all samples received single maxillary surgery. Relapse of the sella-nasion-Point B angle (SNB) was 0.47 degrees in mandibular setback, -1.8 degrees in mandibular advancement, and -0.48 degrees in maxillary surgery. The Sella-Nasion to mandibular plane angle (SNMP) relapsed more in procedures involving bilateral sagittal split osteotomy than in other procedures. As for dento-alveolar changes, intrusion of molars and extrusion of incisors took place in most patients. CONCLUSIONS: Bimaxillary surgery produced the most beneficial post-operative increase in overbite, maxillary surgery led to a lesser but still positive overbite change, and mandibular surgery correlated with some extent of relapse. Skeletally, bimaxillary surgery was more stable than maxillary surgery at both SNA and SNPP; SNB was more stable in mandibular setback than advancement; and SNMP was unstable in both mandibular and bimaxillary surgeries versus maxillary surgery with comparable surgical changes. Dento-alveolar compensation helped maintain a positive overbite. REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42020198088.

Epidemiologic relationship between periodontitis and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: To systematically review the epidemiologic relationship between periodontitis and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: Four electronic databases were searched up until December 2018. The manual search included the reference lists of the included studies and relevant journals. Observational studies evaluating the relationship between T2DM and periodontitis were included. Meta-analyses were conducted using STATA. RESULTS: A total of 53 observational studies were included. The Adjusted T2DM prevalence was significantly higher in periodontitis patients (OR = 4.04, p = 0.000), and vice versa (OR = 1.58, p = 0.000). T2DM patients had significantly worse periodontal status, as reflected in a 0.61 mm deeper periodontal pocket, a 0.89 mm higher attachment loss and approximately 2 more lost teeth (all p = 0.000), than those without T2DM. The results of the cohort studies found that T2DM could elevate the risk of developing periodontitis by 34% (p = 0.002). The glycemic control of T2DM patients might result in different periodontitis outcomes. Severe periodontitis increased the incidence of T2DM by 53% (p = 0.000), and this result was stable. In contrast, the impact of mild periodontitis on T2DM incidence (RR = 1.28, p = 0.007) was less robust. CONCLUSIONS: There is an evident bidirectional relationship between T2DM and periodontitis. Further well-designed cohort studies are needed to confirm this finding. Our results suggest that both dentists and physicians need to be aware of the strong connection between periodontitis and T2DM. Controlling these two diseases might help prevent each other's incidence.

Efficacy of Oral Appliance for Mild, Moderate, and Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Oral appliances (OA) are the recommended first-line option for mild-to-moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)-hypopnea. However, there is a lack of evidence to compare the effectiveness of OA in different severities of OSA. The purpose of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of preferred OA (tongue retention devices [TRD] and mandibular advancement device [MAD]) in different severities of OSA. DATA SOURCES: PubMed/MEDLINE, The Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. REVIEW METHODS: Concentrating on the efficacy of OA, 2 authors searched 3 databases up to November 10, 2022, independently and systematically, following the requirements and steps of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines. RESULTS: Ultimately, 42 studies with 2265 patients met the criteria for inclusion in OA. Overall, the apnea-hypopnea index improved by 48% (5.6), 67% (14.92), and 62% (32.1) in mild, moderate, and severe OSA, respectively. Subgroup analysis showed a significant difference between MAD and TRD efficacy in mild OSA (58% vs 21%). However, no significant difference was seen between MAD and TRD efficacy in moderate (67% vs 66%) and severe OSA (66% vs 51%). There was no significant difference across groups in the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, oxygen desaturation index (ODI), and lowest oxygen saturation (LSAT). CONCLUSION: Overall, both TRD and MAD are effective treatments for moderate and severe OSA. MAD is efficacious in mild OSA, while TRD requires further validation. Furthermore, mild-moderate and severe OSA received similar improvements in sleepiness, ODI, and LSAT. This study complements the evidence for the efficacy of OA.

Finite element analysis and clinical study of chest wall reconstruction using carbon fiber artificial rib.

Carbon fiber composites are emerging as a promising new biomaterial for chest wall reconstruction implants due to their mechanical properties and biocompatibility. This work evaluates the biomechanics of carbon fiber artificial ribs using finite element analysis and clinical implementation. Static simulations of normal breathing process show the maximum stress on the implant is only 2.83 MPa, far below the material ultimate strength of 60 MPa, indicating the excellent fit for maintaining respiratory function. Dynamic collision simulations demonstrate the artificial rib model could withstand a 4 kg rigid object impact at 2 m/s without fracture. Reconstructing the artificial rib with a human rib in the finite element analysis model increases the overall stress tolerance. The impact force required for fracture increases 48% compared to the artificial rib alone, suggesting improved strength from rib integration. Clinically, 10 of 13 patients receiving the artificial rib implants show no significant loss of pulmonary function based on spirometry tests. Based on our findings, the combined simulations and clinical results validate the strong mechanical performance and biocompatibility of the carbon fiber artificial ribs for chest wall reconstruction under static and dynamic loading while maintaining normal respiratory function.

Superhydrophilic and topography-regulatable surface grafting on PEEK to improve cellular affinity.

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) has been widely used in the preparation of orthopedic implants due to its biological inertness and similar mechanical modulus to natural bone. However, the affinity between biological tissue (bone and soft tissue) and PEEK surface is weak, leading to low osseointegration and an increased risk of inflammation. The situation could be improved by modifying PEEK surface. Surfaces with good hydrophilicity and proper microtopography would promote cellular adhesion and proliferation. This work presented a two-step surface modification method to achieve the effect. Polyacrylic acid (PAA) chains were grafted on PEEK surface by UV irradiation. Then, ethylenediamine (EDA) was added to introduce amino groups and promote the cross-linking of PAA chains. Furthermore, a mathematical model was built to describe and regulate the surface topography growth process semi-quantitatively. The model fits experimental data quite well (adjusted R2 = 0.779). Results showed that the modified PEEK surface obtained superhydrophilicity. It significantly improved the adhesion and proliferation of BMSCs and MFBs by activating the FAK pathway and Rho family GTPase. The cellular affinity performed better when the surface topography was in network structure with holes in about 25 µm depth and 20-50 µm diameter. Good hydrophilicity seems necessary for the FAK pathway activation, but simply improving surface hydrophilicity might not be enough for cellular affinity improvement. Surface topography at micron scale should be a more important cue. This simple surface modification method could be contributed to further study of cell-microtopography interaction and have potential applications in clinical PEEK orthopedic implants.

Molecular assembly of extracellular polymeric substances regulating aggregation of differently charged nanoplastics and subsequent interactions with bacterial membrane.

Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) represent an interface between microbial cells and aquatic environment, where nanoplastics acquire coatings to alter their fate and toxicity. However, little is known about molecular interactions governing modification of nanoplastics at biological interfaces. Molecular dynamics simulations combining experiments were conducted to investigate assembly of EPS and its regulatory roles in the aggregation of differently charged nanoplastics and interactions with bacterial membrane. Driven by hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions, EPS formed micelle-like supramolecular structures with hydrophobic core and amphiphilic exterior. Different components, depending on their hydrophobicity and charge, were found to promote or suppress EPS assembly. Neutral and hydrophobic nanoplastics showed unbiased adsorption of EPS species, while cationic and anionic nanoplastics were distinct and attracted specific molecules of opposite charges. Compared with isolated EPS, assembled EPS concealed hydrophobic groups to be less adsorbed by nanoplastics. Aggregation of nanoplastics was alleviated by EPS due to electrostatic repulsion plus steric hindrance. ESP suppressed binding of cationic nanoplastics to the bacterial membrane through reducing the surface charge. Neutral and anionic nanoplastics showed weak membrane association, but their binding interactions were promoted by EPS. The structural details revealed here provided molecular level insights into modifications of nanoplastics at the eco-environment interface.

Facile preparation of biocompatible and antibacterial water-soluble films using polyvinyl alcohol/carboxymethyl chitosan blend fibers via centrifugal spinning.

Water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol/carboxymethyl chitosan (PVA/CMCS) blend fiber films were successfully prepared using a plane-collection centrifugal spinning machine. The addition of CMCS significantly increased the shear viscosity of the PVA/CMCS blend solution. The effects of spinning temperature on the shear viscosity and the centrifugal spinnability of PVA/CMCS blend solution were discussed. The PVA/CMCS blend fibers were uniform, and their average diameters ranged from 1.23 µm to 29.01 µm. It was found that the CMCS was distributed evenly in the PVA matrix and increased the crystallinity of PVA/CMCS blend fiber films. The hydrogen bonds between the hydroxyl group of PVA and the carboxymethyl group of CMCS were also detected. An in vitro cell study of human skin fibroblast cells on the PVA/CMCS blend fiber films confirmed biocompatibility. The maximum tensile strength and elongation at break of PVA/CMCS blend fiber films could reach 3.28 MPa and 29.52 %, respectively. The colony-plate-count tests indicated that the PVA16-CMCS2 presented 72.05 % and 21.36 % antibacterial rates against Staphylococcus aureus (104 CFU/mL) and Escherichia coli (103 CFU/mL), respectively. These values indicated that the newly prepared PVA/CMCS blend fiber films are promising materials for cosmetic and dermatological applications.

pH-Responsive Injectable Multifunctional Pluronic F127/Gelatin-Based Hydrogels with Hydrogen Production for Treating Diabetic Wounds.

Diabetic chronic wounds remain a major clinical challenge with long-term inflammatory responses and extreme oxidative damage. Hence, a pH-responsive injectable multifunctional hydrogel [Gel/CUR-FCHO/Mg (GCM) micromotors] via a Schiff base reaction between gelatin and benzaldehyde-grafted Pluronic F127 drug-loaded micelles (FCHO) was fabricated for the first time. Dynamic Schiff base linkage endowed the GCM hydrogel with the ability to be self-healing, injectable, and pH-responsive for on-demand drug delivery at the wound site. Curcumin (CUR), a hydrophobic drug with antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial activities, was encapsulated into the hydrogel matrix by micellization (CUR-FCHO micelles). Simultaneously, magnesium-based micromotors (Mg micromotors) were physically entrapped into the system for providing active hydrogen (H2) to scavenge reactive oxygen species and alleviate inflammatory responses. As a result, the GCM micromotor hydrogel displayed an inherent antibacterial property, extraordinary antioxidative performance, and remarkable biocompatibility. In the diabetic mouse with a full-thickness cutaneous defect wound, the GCM hydrogel could remodel the inflammatory microenvironment and stimulate vascularization and collagen deposition, thereby facilitating wound closure and enhancing tissue regeneration, which offered a promising therapeutic option for diabetic chronic wound management.

Toxicological effects of micro/nano-plastics on mouse/rat models: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Micro/nano-plastics (MNPs) are considered a heterogeneous class of environmental contaminants that cause multiple toxic effects on biological species. As the commonly used mammalian models to study the effects of MNPs with regard to their toxic effects, the mouse and rat models are making a great contribution to the disciplines of environmental toxicology and medical health. However, the toxic effects of MNPs have not been systematically summarized. Therefore, a systematic review and a meta-analysis of the toxic effects of MNPs on mouse/rat models were conducted. A total of seven main categories were established in this systematic review, and 24 subcategories were further divided according to the specific physiological significance of the endpoint or the classification of the physiological system, which covered all the selected pieces of literature. A total of 1,762 biological endpoints were found, and 52.78% of them were significantly affected. This fact indicates that there are relative factors, including the size, polymer type, concentration, and exposure time of MNPs and different sexes of mouse/rat models that could significantly affect the biological endpoints. These biological endpoints can be classified into various factors, such as the dose-response relationships between MNP concentration and physiological categories of the nervous system, growth, reproduction, digestive tract histopathology, and inflammatory cytokine level, among others. MNPs negatively affected the blood glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, and reproductive function in mice. The reproductive function in male mice is more sensitive to the toxic effects of MNPs. These findings also provide insights into and directions for exploring the evidence and mechanisms of the toxic effects of MNPs on human health. It is clear that more research is required on the pathological mechanisms at the molecular level and the long-term effects of tissue accumulation.

Polystyrene micro(nano)plastics damage the organelles of RBL-2H3 cells and promote MOAP-1 to induce apoptosis.

The ubiquity of microplastics increases the exposure risks and health threats to humans. In this study, rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells were exposed to polystyrene particles (PS-particles) of 50 nm, 500 nm and 5 µm to investigate organelle damage and the mechanism of cell death. PS-particles induced oxidative stress, which in turn led to mitochondrial and lysosomal damage, arrested the cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase, and finally caused apoptosis. Anti-apoptotic genes (Bcl-2) were down regulated, and pro-apoptotic genes (Bax) and a key gene (caspase-3) in apoptosis were upregulated. The molecular mechanism of apoptosis was further explored via the combination of transcriptome sequencing, RT-qPCR verification and small interfering RNA (siRNA) technology. The modulator of apoptosis-1 (MOAP-1) was significantly upregulated, and apoptosis was abolished by knocking down MOAP-1. This finding clarifies that PS-particles promote MOAP-1 to induce apoptosis. Hence, PS-particles may promote the binding of MOAP-1 and Bax, which ultimately activates caspase-3 and causes apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway. The 50-nm PS-particles resulted in the most serious mitochondrial damage and apoptosis. Eventually, PS-particles cause oxidative stress, damage organelles and induce apoptosis by promoting MOAP-1. Altogether, our study emphasizes the need to assess the cytotoxicity of micro(nano)plastics and helps to predict the health risks.

[Effect of Microplastics on Soil Water Infiltration and Evaporation].

In order to explore the influences of microplastics with different abundances (0.5%, 1%, and 2% of the dry weight of the soil) and different types (PP, PVC, and PE) on the moisture infiltration and evaporation of the soil, we adopted the method of indoor soil column simulation to elaborate the influences of the microplastics with different abundances and different types on the moisture accumulated infiltration time, moisture containing rate, wetting front, and evaporation characteristics, among which the A1, A2, and A3; Q1, Q2, and Q3; and Z1, Z2, and Z3 respectively represented the experimental number of PE, PVC, and PP under the abundances of 0.5%, 1%, and 2%. The influences of the microplastics with different types and different abundances on the moisture infiltration and evaporation of the soil showed obvious differentiation. Under the same types of conditions, when the abundances of the microplastics increased, the accumulated infiltration time also increased significantly. However, under the occurrence condition of the microplastics of different types but the same abundances, the accumulated infiltration time of the PP experiment group>that of the PVC experiment group>that of the PE experiment group>that of the blank experiment group. Under the occurrence condition of microplastics, the maximum moisture rate of the soil basically appeared at the depth from 10 to 25 cm, and the CK of the blank group appeared at the depth from 20-25 cm. Within the same infiltration time, when the abundances of the microplastics increased, the moving distance and the moving rate of wetting front of the soil decreased accordingly. When the infiltration time was 60 minutes, the wetting moving distances of A1, A2, and A3; Q1, Q2, and Q3; and Z1, Z2, and Z3, respectively, decreased 4.38%, 8.76%, and 10.58%; 7.30%, 10.22%, and 14.60%; and 10.95%, 13.14%, and 15.33% compared to those of the CK groups, among which the influence of PP microplastics was the most significant. The occurrence of the microplastics had a prohibition function to the moisture evaporation of the soil; when the microplastics had the same types, the accumulated amount of the soil decreased with the increase in abundance. When evaporating for 27 hours, the accumulated evaporation amount of the experiment soil column of PP, PVC, and PE microplastics with the added abundances of 2% respectively decreased 22.9%, 19.4%, and 13.3% compared to that in the CK. The Rose evaporation model relatively truly reflected the changing situation of the soil accumulated evaporation amount with time under the occurrence situation of the microplastics. This research can provide a theoretical basis for the changing study of the soil moisture movement under the occurrence condition of microplastics.

Toxic effects of nanoplastics with different sizes and surface charges on epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in A549 cells and the potential toxicological mechanism.

As a newly emerging hazardous material, airborne nanoplastics are easily inhaled and accumulated in human and animal alveoli. We previously found that polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) induced apoptosis and inflammation of human alveolar epithelial A549 cells, implying they increase the risk of pulmonary fibrosis. In this study, we investigated whether PS-NPs induce epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), the prelude to lung fibrosis, in A549 cells. A549 cells treated with PS-NPs of different sizes and surface charges exhibited increased migration and EMT markers accompanied with up-regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4), an ROS generator located in the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Moreover, PS-NPs caused mitochondrial dysfunction as demonstrated by membrane potential changes and impaired cellular energy metabolism. PS-NPs also activated ER stress as indicated by the up-regulated ER stress markers. As expected, smaller PS-NPs with a positive surface charge had stronger effects. Furthermore, the effects of PS-NPs on A549 cells were reversed by NOX4 gene knock-down, which verified the involvement of NOX4. Our results suggest that PS-NPs induce EMT in A549 cells through multiple mechanisms, and NOX4 is a key mediator in this process. Our findings contribute to understanding the toxicological mechanisms of nanoplastics on the respiratory system.

In vitro study on the toxicity of nanoplastics with different charges to murine splenic lymphocytes.

Nanoplastics can be ingested by organisms and penetrate biological barriers to affect multiple physiological functions. However, few studies have focused on the effects of nanoplastics on the mammalian immune system. We evaluated the effects and underlying mechanism of nanoplastics of varying particle sizes and surface charges on murine splenic lymphocytes. We found that nanoplastics penetrated into splenic lymphocytes and that nanoplastics of a diameter of 50 nm were absorbed more efficiently by the cells. The nanoplastics decreased cell viability, induce cell apoptosis, up-regulated apoptosis-related protein expression, elicited the production of reactive oxygen species, altered mitochondrial membrane potential, and impaired mitochondrial function. Positively charged nanoplastics exerted the strongest toxicity. Negatively charged and uncharged nanoplastics caused oxidative stress and mitochondrial structural damage in lymphocytes, while positively charged nanoplastics induced endogenous apoptosis directly. Moreover, nanoplastics inhibited the expression of activated T cell markers on the T cell surface, while inhibiting the differentiation of CD8+ T cells and the expression of helper T cell cytokines. In terms of the mechanism, a series of key signaling molecules in the pathways of T cell activation and function were markedly down-regulated after exposure to nanoplastics.

Mesoporous knitted inverse vulcanised polymers.

Elemental sulfur is generated in large quantities when crude oil is refined. This elemental sulfur has limited use other than the production of sulfuric acid. Recently, the development of 'inverse vulcanised' polymers has attracted the attention of researchers. These polymers are formed from elemental sulfur and a small molecule alkene. The affinity of sulfur for heavy metals gives these polymers potential for specific adsorption; however, there is a lack of incorporation of high specific surface areas in pure polymers. Herein, we report the first mesoporous polymer generated using inverse vulcanised polymers, with a BET surface area of 236.04 m2 g-1. We explore the properties of polymers as an absorption medium for potent neurotoxin Hg(ii).

Cellular internalization and release of polystyrene microplastics and nanoplastics.

Microplastics and nanoplastics can accumulate in organisms after being ingested, be transported in the food web, and ultimately threaten human health. An understanding of the cellular internalization and release of micro(nano)plastics is important to predict their cytotoxicity. In this study, 50 nm, 500 nm and 5 µm polystyrene particles (PS50, PS500 and PS5000) were exposed to both model cell membranes and rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells. PS50 and PS500 absorb on the model membrane due to hydrophobic interactions and Van der Waals' forces, and may also penetrate the model membrane. PS50 and PS500 are internalized into living cells via both passive membrane penetration and active endocytosis. The passive membrane penetration is due to the partition of polystyrene particles in the water-phospholipid system. The endocytosis of PS50 occurs through the clathrin-mediated pathway, the caveolin-mediated pathway and macropinocytosis, but endocytosis of PS500 is mainly via the macropinocytosis. PS5000 cannot adhere to the cell membrane or be internalized into cells due to its large size and weak Brownian motion. The endocytosed PS50 and PS500 mainly accumulate in the lysosomes. The passively internalized PS50 and PS500 initially distribute in the cytoplasm not in lysosomes, but are transported to lysosomes with energy supply. PS50 and PS500 are excreted from cells via energy-free penetration and energy-dependent lysosomal exocytosis. The masses of the internalized PS50 inside the cells and the excreted PS50 outside the cells were both higher than the masses of PS500, indicating that the smaller particles are more easily enter or leave cells than do their larger counterparts. Our findings will contribute to the risk assessment of micro(nano)plastics and their safe application.

In vivo biocompatibility and efficacy of dexamethasone-loaded PLGA-PEG-PLGA thermogel in an alkali-burn induced corneal neovascularization disease model.

Challenges of ophthalmic drug delivery arise not only from the limited solubility of hydrophobic therapeutics, but also the restricted permeability and fast clearance of drugs due to the complex anatomy and physiology of eyes. Excellent biocompatibility of a thermosensitive polymer, PLGA-PEG-PLGA (1800-1500-1800, LA:GA ratio = 3:1), as an ophthalmic delivery system was demonstrated in our previous work. In this study, delivery of dexamethasone using this thermogel via a single subconjunctival injection for prolonged treatment was evaluated with corneal neovascularization using an alkali-burn diseased model in rat. Solubility of dexamethasone in the polymeric solution was increased by 5.2-fold and the resulting drug-loaded solution formed in situ rigid gel at body temperature. Prolonged in vitro release of dexamethasone from the gel structure was noted. Dexamethasone gel formulation was demonstrated to be more effective in reducing the burn stimulus and neovascularization in the rat diseased model. The findings suggest the PLGA-PEG-PLGA in situ gelling system can be applied for ophthalmic drug delivery to achieve sustained drug release and improved efficacy.

Nanostraw membrane stamping for direct delivery of molecules into adhesive cells.

Delivering ions and molecules into living cells has become an important challenge in medical and biological fields. Conventional molecular delivery, however, has several issues such as physical and chemical damage to biological cells. Here, we present a method of directly delivering molecules into adhesive cells with an Au-based nanostraw membrane stamp that can physically inject a target molecule into the cytoplasm through a nanostraw duct. We successfully delivered calcein target molecules into adhesive cells with high efficiency (85%) and viability (90%). Furthermore, we modeled the molecular flow through Au nanostraws and then demonstrated the control of calcein flow by changing the concentration and geometry of Au nanostraws. Our Au membrane stamping provides a new way of accessing the cytoplasm to modulate cellular functions via injected molecules.

Oligonucleotide-conjugated nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery via scavenger receptors class A: An in vitro assessment for proof-of-concept.

Spherical nucleic acid gold nanoparticles represent a unique nanotechnology in which the spherical arrangement of oligonucleotides enables the nanoparticles to be efficiently internalized into cells expressing scavenger receptors class A (SR-A). Herein, we seek to replace the gold core with a biodegradable polymeric construct and explore their potential applications in targeted drug delivery. Oligonucleotide-conjugated poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(ε-caprolactone) was synthesized and characterized by 1H NMR and gel electrophoresis. This polymer was applied to fabricate micellar nanoparticles (OLN-NPs) by an anti-solvent method. These nanoparticles have a mean particle size about 58.1nm with a narrow size distribution (PDI <0.2) and they were also non-cytotoxic. Relative to non-targeted NPs, OLN-NPs exhibited substantially better uptake (3.94×) in a mouse endothelial cell line (C166), attributing to lipid-raft-mediated endocytosis via SR-A. To explore the potential applications of OLN-NPs as drug carriers, paclitaxel, a poorly soluble anti-angiogenic compound, was selected as the model. OLN-NPs increased the solubility of paclitaxel by at least 300×. The boosted drug solubility in conjunction with improved cellular uptake translated into enhanced in vitro efficacy in the inhibition of angiogenesis. In conclusions, OLN-NPs show considerable promise in targeted drug delivery and their potential applications should be further investigated.