Assessment of ForenSeq mtDNA Whole Genome Kit for forensic application.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is an indispensable genetic marker in forensic genetics. The emergence and development of massively parallel sequencing (MPS) makes it possible to obtain complete mitochondrial genome sequences more quickly and accurately. The study evaluated the advantages and limitations of the ForenSeq mtDNA Whole Genome Kit in the practical application of forensic genetics by detecting human genomic DNA standards and thirty-three case samples. We used control DNA with different amount to determine sensitivity of the assay. Even when the input DNA is as low as 2.5 pg, most of the mitochondrial genome sequences could still be covered. For the detection of buccal swabs and aged case samples (bloodstains, bones, teeth), most samples could achieve complete coverage of mitochondrial genome. However, when ancient samples and hair samples without hair follicles were sequenced by the kit, it failed to obtain sequence information. In general, the ForenSeq mtDNA Whole Genome Kit has certain applicability to forensic low template and degradation samples, and these results provide the data basis for subsequent forensic applications of the assay. The overall detection process and subsequent analysis are easy to standardize, and it has certain application potential in forensic cases.

A Retrospective Study to Evaluate the Effect of Dynamic Fracture Mobility on Cement Leakage in Percutaneous Vertebroplasty and Percutaneous Kyphoplasty in 286 Patients with Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures.

BACKGROUND Cement leakage is the most common complication following percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) and percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs). Dynamic fracture mobility was determined by comparing preoperative standing lateral radiographs with intraoperative prone lateral radiographs. This retrospective study from a single center aimed to evaluate the effect of dynamic fracture mobility on cement leakage in PVP and PKP in 286 patients with OVCFs. MATERIAL AND METHODS Records of patients who underwent PVP or PKP in our department between January 2016 and December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed, showing that 156 patients received PVP and 130 patients received PKP. Variables that were significantly related to presence of cement leakage in the univariate analysis were subsequently included in a multivariate logistic regression analysis for determining the independent risk factors for cement leakage. RESULTS The univariate analysis showed that dynamic fracture mobility (P<0.001), operative approach (P=0.026), peripheral vertebrae wall damage (P<0.001), intravertebral cleft (P<0.001), and cement volume injected (P<0.001) were correlated with cement leakage. Factors that showed differences by univariate analysis underwent multivariate logistic regression analysis, showing that peripheral vertebrae wall damage (OR=11.774,95% CI 4.384-31.619, P=0.000), dynamic fracture mobility (OR=5.884, 95% CI 2.295-15.087, P=0.000), operative approach (OR=3.143, 95% CI 1.136-8.698, P=0.027), and cement volume injected (OR=1.486, 95% CI 1.119-1.973, P=0.006) were independent risk factors for postoperative cement leakage. CONCLUSIONS This retrospective study showed that dynamic fracture mobility, peripheral vertebrae wall damage, operative approach, and cement volume injected were risk factors for cement leak following PVP and PKP.

FAD2 Gene Radiation and Positive Selection Contributed to Polyacetylene Metabolism Evolution in Campanulids.

Polyacetylenes (PAs) are bioactive, specialized plant defense compounds produced by some species in the eudicot clade campanulids. Early steps of PA biosynthesis are catalyzed by Fatty Acid Desaturase 2 (FAD2). Canonical FAD2s catalyze desaturation, but divergent forms can catalyze hydroxylation, conjugation, acetylenation, and epoxygenation. These alternate reactions give rise to valuable unusual fatty acids, including the precursors to PAs. The extreme functional diversity of FAD2 enzymes and the origin of PA biosynthesis are poorly understood from an evolutionary perspective. We focus here on the evolution of the FAD2 gene family. We uncovered a core eudicot-wide gene duplication event giving rise to two lineages: FAD2-α and FAD2-ß. Independent neofunctionalizations in both lineages have resulted in functionally diverse FAD2-LIKEs involved in unusual fatty acid biosynthesis. We found significantly accelerated rates of molecular evolution in FAD2-LIKEs and use this metric to provide a list of uncharacterized candidates for further exploration of FAD2 functional diversity. FAD2-α has expanded extensively in Asterales and Apiales, two main clades of campanulids, by ancient gene duplications. Here, we detected positive selection in both Asterales and Apiales lineages, which may have enabled the evolution of PA metabolism in campanulids. Together, these findings also imply that yet uncharacterized FAD2-α copies are involved in later steps of PA biosynthesis. This work establishes a robust phylogenetic framework in which to interpret functional data and to direct future research into the origin and evolution of PA metabolism.

Self-assembly of nanomaterials at fluid interfaces.

Recent developments in the field of the self-assembly of nanoscale materials such as nanoparticles, nanorods and nanosheets at liquid/liquid interfaces are reviewed. Self-assembly behavior of both biological and synthetic particles is discussed. For biological nanoparticles, the nanoparticle assembly at fluid interfaces provides a simple route for directing nanoparticles into 2D or 3D constructs with hierarchical ordering. The interfacial assembly of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) at liquid interfaces would play a key role in applications such as nanotube fractionation, flexible electronic thin-film fabrication and synthesis of porous SWCNT/polymer composites foams. Liquids can be structured by the jamming of nanoparticle surfactants at fluid interfaces. By controlling the interfacial packing of nanoparticle surfactants using external triggers, a new class of materials can be generated that combines the desirable characteristics of fluids such as rapid transport of energy carriers with the structural stability of a solid.

Assembly of acid-functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes at oil/water interfaces.

The efficient segregation of water-soluble, acid-functionalized, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) at the oil/water interface was induced by dissolving low-molecular-weight amine-terminated polystyrene (PS-NH2) in the oil phase. Salt-bridge interactions between carboxylic acid groups of SWCNTs and amine groups of PS drove the assembly of SWCNTs at the interface, monitored by pendant drop tensiometry and laser scanning confocal microscopy. The impact of PS end-group functionality, PS and SWCNT concentrations, and the degree of SWCNT acid modification on the interfacial activity was assessed, and a sharp drop in interfacial tension was observed above a critical SWCNT concentration. Interfacial tensions were low enough to support stable oil/water emulsions. Further experiments, including potentiometric titrations and the replacement of SWCNTs by other carboxyl-containing species, demonstrated that the interfacial tension drop reflects the loss of SWCNT charge as the pH falls near/below the intrinsic carboxyl dissociation constant; species lacking multivalent carboxylic acid groups are inactive. The trapped SWCNTs appear to be neither ordered nor oriented.

Chitosan-Based Hydrogels for Bioelectronic Sensing: Recent Advances and Applications in Biomedicine and Food Safety.

Due to the lack of efficient bioelectronic interfaces, the communication between biology and electronics has become a great challenge, especially in constructing bioelectronic sensing. As natural polysaccharide biomaterials, chitosan-based hydrogels exhibit the advantages of flexibility, biocompatibility, mechanical tunability, and stimuli sensitivity, and could serve as an excellent interface for bioelectronic sensors. Based on the fabrication approaches, interaction mechanisms, and bioelectronic communication modalities, this review divided chitosan-based hydrogels into four types, including electrode-based hydrogels, conductive materials conjugated hydrogels, ionically conductive hydrogels, and redox-based hydrogels. To introduce the enhanced performance of bioelectronic sensors, as a complementary alternative, the incorporation of nanoparticles and redox species in chitosan-based hydrogels was discussed. In addition, the multifunctional properties of chitosan-based composite hydrogels enable their applications in biomedicine (e.g., smart skin patches, wood healing, disease diagnosis) and food safety (e.g., electrochemical sensing, smart sensing, artificial bioelectronic tongue, fluorescence sensors, surface-enhanced Raman scattering). We believe that this review will shed light on the future development of chitosan-based biosensing hydrogels for micro-implantable devices and human-machine interactions, as well as potential applications in medicine, food, agriculture, and other fields.

Synergistic Degradation of Maize Straw Lignin by Manganese Peroxidase from Irpex lacteus.

Lignocellulose in maize straw includes cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, and the degradation of lignocellulose is a complex process in which multiple enzymes are jointly involved. In exploring the co-degradation of a certain substrate by multiple enzymes, different enzymes are combined freely for the achievement of the effective synergism. Additionally, some organic acids and small molecule aromatic compounds can also increase the enzymatic activity of lignin enzymes and improve the degradation rate of lignin. In this study, manganese peroxidase (MnP) from Irpex lacteus (I. lacteus) was heterologously expressed in food-grade Schizosaccharomyces pombe (S. pombe). The multiple enzymes co-fermentation conditions were initially screened by orthogonal tests: 0.5% CaCl2, 1% 10,000 U/g Laccase (Lac), 0.3% MnSO4, and 0.4% glucose oxidase (GOD). It was showed that the lignin degradation rate could reach 65.85% after 3 days of synergistic degradation with the addition of 0.02% Tween-80, 0.5 mM oxalic acid. This indicates that oxalic acid has a promoting effect on the activity of MnP, and the promoting effect is more significant when Tween-80 is complexed with oxalic acid.

Recurrence of Local Kyphosis After Percutaneous Kyphoplasty: The Neglected Injury of the Disc-Endplate Complex.

Background: Recurrent of local kyphosis after percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) is rarely reported and discussed. Literatures reported that re-kyphosis is usually a consequence of refractures of augmented or adjacent vertebra. However, whether re-kyphosis should be considered as a complication of refractures and has an impact on clinical efficacy of PKP during follow-up time is unknown. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the related risk factors and clinical significance of the recurrent of local kyphosis in osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OVF) patients without refractures. Patients and Methods: A total of 143 patients who underwent single-level PKP were recruited and assigned into the re-kyphosis group and non-re-kyphosis group. Clinical and radiographic data were collected and compared between the two groups. Then, multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify the related risk factors. Results: During follow-up, 16 of the 143 patients presented postoperative re-kyphosis. The average local kyphosis angle increased from 11.81±8.60° postoperatively to 25.13±8.91° at the final follow-up which showed a statistically significant difference (p<0.05). Both groups had significant improvements in postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores compared to their preoperative values (p<0.05). However, in the re-kyphosis group at final follow-up, the VAS and ODI scores showed worsening compared to the postoperative scores. Logistic regression analysis showed that disc-endplate complex injury (OR=17.46, p=0.003); local kyphosis angle correction (OR=1.84, p<0.001); and vertebral height restoration (OR=1.15, p=0.003) were risk factors for re-kyphosis. Conclusion: Re-kyphosis is not rare in patients with osteoporotic vertebral fracture and tends to have an inferior prognosis following PKP surgery. Patients with disc-endplate complex injury and more correction of vertebral height and kyphosis angle are at a higher risk for re-kyphosis after PKP surgery than others.

Preparation of magnetic porous covalent triazine-based organic polymer for the extraction of carbamates prior to high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometric detection.

A magnetic porous covalent triazine-based organic polymer (M-PCTP) was synthesized by co-precipitation method. The M-PCTP combined both the properties of the PCTP and the magnetism of Fe3O4 nanoparticles, possessing highly porous structure and good magnetism. It was used as a magnetic solid phase extraction (MSPE) adsorbent to extract carbamate pesticides (propoxur, carbaryl, isoprocarb, fenobcarb and diethofencarb) from lemonade and grape juice samples prior to high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometric detection. Under the optimal conditions, a good linearity for the real samples was received in the range from 0.10-0.90 to 80.00 ng mL-1 with the correlation coefficients of 0.9882-0.9983. The method recoveries for the five carbamates were 86.3-108.0%. The limits of detection were 0.02-0.20 ng mL-1 for lemonade sample, and 0.04-0.30 ng mL-1 for grape juice sample. The M-PCTP also demonstrated good extraction capabilities for other different kinds of organic compounds including chlorophenols and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

α-Synuclein in salivary extracellular vesicles as a potential biomarker of Parkinson's disease.

BACKGROUND: Detection of α-synuclein (α-syn) in biological fluids such as saliva may serve as potential biomarker of PD. α-syn pertaining to extracellular vesicles (EVs) has been recently studied in plasma, but not in other biological fluids such as saliva. AIM: 1) To investigate the presence of exosomes in PD saliva; 2) to explore the value of α-syn in salivary EVs as potential biomarker in PD. METHODS: Saliva samples were obtained from 74 PD and 60 healthy controls (HCs). The EVs were extracted from saliva by XYCQ EV Enrichment KIT. Western blot and Nanosight 300 were used to validate the existence of exosomes in EVs and to analyze the size of salivary EVs. Salivary EVs α-syn levels, including total α-syn (α-synTotal), oligomeric α-syn (α-synOlig) and phosphorylated-ser129 α-syn (α-synPS129), were measured by Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) assays. Diagnostic value and clinical relevance of salivary EVs α-syn were assessed by Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) curve and Spearman correlation. RESULTS: Alix and CD9 positive EVs, representing the presence of exosomes, was detected in PD salivary samples. Size of salivary EVs was about 30-400 nm. The levels of α-synOlig and α-synOlig/α-synTotal in the salivary EVs were higher in PD than in HCs (10.39 ± 1.46 pg/ng vs.1.37 ± 0.24 pg/ng, p＜0.001;1.70 ± 0.52 pg/ng vs.0.67 ± 0.26 pg/ng, p＜0.001). There was no significant difference in α-synTotal、α-synPS129、 α-synPS129/α-synTotal ratio between PD and HCs (P = 0.723, 0.634, 0.734, respectively). α-synOlig 2.05 pg/ng distinguished PD from HCs with sensitivity 92% and specificity 86%; α-synOlig /α-synTotal 0.18 pg/ng differentiated PD from HCs with sensitivity 81% and specificity 71%. No significant correlation between salivary EVs α-synOlig, α-synOlig/α-synTotal and disease severity was found. CONCLUSIONS: Exosomes are present in PD saliva. The α-synOlig and α-synOlig/α-synTotal ratio in salivary EVs may serve as potential diagnostic biomarkers for PD.

Novel hyaluronic acid-modified temperature-sensitive nanoparticles for synergistic chemo-photothermal therapy.

This study has developed a versatile nano-system with the combined advantages of photothermal effect, active tumor-targeting, temperature-sensitive drug release, and photoacoustic imaging. The nano-system consists of the core of the phase change material (PCM), the outer polypyrrole (PPY) shell and the hyaluronic acid (HA) modified in the PPY shell. The obtained composite nanoparticles (denoted as DTX/PPN@PPY@HA) were spherical with a mean diameter of about 232.7 nm. In vivo and in vitro photoacoustic imaging experiments show that DTX/PPN@PPY@HA is an effective photoacoustic contrast agent, which can be used for accurate localization of tumor region and real-time guidance of photothermal chemotherapy. DTX/PPN@PPY@HA shows good photothermal effects and temperature-sensitive drug release. In addition, cellular experiments showed that DTX/PPN@PPY@HA could be efficiently internalized into tumor cells and produce significant cytotoxicity with the help of near-infrared (NIR) laser. Furthermore, the remarkable inhibition of DTX/PPN@PPY@HA against tumor growth was achieved in 4T1 tumor-bearing mice model.

Antibacterial and hydroxyapatite-forming coating for biomedical implants based on polypeptide-functionalized titania nanospikes.

Titanium (Ti)-based implants often suffer from detrimental bacterial adhesion and inefficient healing, so it is crucial to design a dual-functional coating that prevents bacterial infection and enhances bioactivity for a successful implant. Herein, we successfully devised a cationic polypeptide (Pep)-functionalized biomimetic nanostructure coating with superior activity, which could not only kill pathogenic bacteria rapidly and inhibit biofilm formation for up to two weeks, but also promote in situ hydroxyapatite (HAp) formation. Specifically, a titania (TiO2) nanospike coating (TNC) was fabricated by alkaline hydrothermal treatment firstly, followed by immobilization of rationally synthesized Pep via robust coordinative interactions, named TNPC. This coating was able to effectively kill (>99.9%) both Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria, while being non-toxic to murine MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells. Furthermore, the in vivo infection studies denoted that the adherent bacteria numbers on the TNPC implants were significantly reduced by 6 orders of magnitude than those on the pure Ti implants (p < 0.001). Importantly, in the presence of cationic amino groups and residual Ti-OH groups, substantial HAp deposition on the TNPC surface in Kokubo's simulated body fluid (SBF) occurred after 14 days. Altogether, our results support the clinical potential of this biomimetic dual-functional coating as a new approach with desirable antibacterial properties and HAp-forming ability in orthopedic and dental applications.

A Versatile Theranostic Nanoemulsion for Architecture-Dependent Multimodal Imaging and Dually Augmented Photodynamic Therapy.

To design a clinically translatable nanomedicine for photodynamic theranostics, the ingredients should be carefully considered. A high content of nanocarriers may cause extra toxicity in metabolism, and multiple theranostic agents would complicate the preparation process. These issues would be of less concern if the nanocarrier itself has most of the theranostic functions. In this work, a poly(ethylene glycol)-boron dipyrromethene amphiphile (PEG-F54 -BODIPY) with 54 fluorine-19 (19 F) is synthesized and employed to emulsify perfluorohexane (PFH) into a theranostic nanoemulsion (PFH@PEG-F54 -BODIPY). The as-prepared PFH@PEG-F54 -BODIPY can perform architecture-dependent fluorescence/photoacoustic/19 F magnetic resonance multimodal imaging, providing more information about the in vivo structure evolution of nanomedicine. Importantly, this nanoemulsion significantly enhances the therapeutic effect of BODIPY through both the high oxygen dissolving capability and less self-quenching of BODIPY molecules. More interestingly, PFH@PEG-F54 -BODIPY shows high level of tumor accumulation and long tumor retention time, allowing a repeated light irradiation after a single-dose intravenous injection. The "all-in-one" photodynamic theranostic nanoemulsion has simple composition, remarkable theranostic efficacy, and novel treatment pattern, and thus presents an intriguing avenue to developing clinically translatable theranostic agents.

Biodegradable Polymers as a Noncoding miRNA Nanocarrier for Multiple Targeting Therapy of Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Therapeutic strategy based on the restoration of tumor suppressor-microRNAs (miRNAs) is a promising approach for cancer therapy, but the low delivery efficiency of miRNA remains a huge hurdle due to the lack of safe and efficient nonviral carriers. In this work, with the use of newly developed PEGylated biodegradable charged polyester-based vectors (PEG-BCPVs) as the carrier, the miR26a and miR122 codelivering therapeutic strategy (PEG-BCPVs/miR26a/miR122 as the delivery formulation) is successfully developed for efficient treatment of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In vitro study results show that PEG-BCPVs are capable of effectively facilitating miRNA cellular uptake via a cell endocytosis pathway. Consequently, the restoration of miR26a and miR122 remarkably inhibit the cell growth, migration, invasion, colony formation, and induced apoptosis of HepG2 cells. More importantly, the chemosensitivity of HepG2 to anticancer drug is also considerably enhanced. After treatment with the PEG-BCPV-based miRNA delivery system, the expression of the multiple targeted genes corresponding to miR26a and miR122 in HepG2 cells is greatly downregulated. Accordingly, the newly developed miRNA restoration therapeutic strategy via biodegradable PEG-BCPVs as the carrier should be a promising modality for combating HCC.

Investigation of the variability of NIR in-line monitoring of roller compaction process by using Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) analysis.

The purpose of this research was to investigate the variability of the roller compaction process while monitoring in-line with near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. In this paper, a pragmatic method in determining this variability of in-line NIR monitoring roller compaction process was developed and the variability limits were established. Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) analysis was used to study the source of the systematic fluctuations of the NIR spectra. An off-line variability analysis method was developed as well to simulate the in-line monitoring process in order to determine the variability limits of the roller compaction process. For this study, a binary formulation was prepared composed of acetaminophen and microcrystalline cellulose. Different roller compaction parameters such as roll speed and feeding rates were investigated to understand the variability of the process. The best-fit line slope of NIR spectra exhibited frequency dependence only on the roll speed regardless of the feeding rates. The eccentricity of the rolling motion of rollers was identified as the major source of variability and correlated with the fluctuations of the slopes of NIR spectra. The off-line static and dynamic analyses of the compacts defined two different variability of the roller compaction; the variability limits were established. These findings were proved critical in the optimization of the experimental setup of the roller compaction process by minimizing the variability of NIR in-line monitoring.

Responses of wastewater biofilms to chronic CeO2 nanoparticles exposure: Structural, physicochemical and microbial properties and potential mechanism.

With the accelerated application of CeO2 nanoparticles (NPs), wastewater treatment plants will increasingly receive CeO2 NPs, thus inevitably causing CeO2 NPs to encounter microaggregates. Here, we comprehensively elucidate the responses in the structural, physicochemical and microbial properties of wastewater biofilms to chronic exposure (75 days) to different CeO2 NPs concentrations, with a particular emphasis on the protective mechanisms of stratified extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs). Chronic exposure to 0.1 mg/L CeO2 NPs boosted the content and broadened the distribution of α-d-glucopyranose polysaccharides (PS), while the sharply increased production and breadth of ß-d-glucopyranose PS, forming a formidable shield, was a response to 10 mg/L CeO2 NPs. After the bacteria were exposed to CeO2 NPs, loosely bound EPSs (LB-EPSs) aggregated into macromolecules (increasing in apparent molecular weight (AMW)) but at a lower abundance, whereas the average AMW in tightly bound EPSs (TB-EPSs) decreased. The acetyl content and (α-helix+3-turn helix)/ß-sheet value of TB-EPSs increased to resist CeO2 NPs. Furthermore, long-term exposure to CeO2 NPs decreased cell viability, reduced microbial diversity and shifted the microbial composition. N-acylated-l-homoserine lactone concentrations increased with increased density of Pseudomonas, which was associated with PS-regulated control, thus promoting PS production in EPSs in response to CeO2 NPs. These results expand the understanding of how microaggregates resist environmental stress caused by NPs.

Stereocomplex micelle efficiently transports Doxorubicin for enhanced lymphoma suppression in vivo.

The application of Doxorubicin (DOX) in the chemotherapy for lymphoma is seriously hampered by the side effects of DOX, especially the cardiotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. Nanoscale micelle as a promising drug delivery system has gained more and more interest in malignancy chemotherapy. In this study, we successfully fabricated DOX-loaded stereocomplex micelle (SCM/DOX) from the equimolar mixture of the enantiomeric four-armed poly(ethylene glycol)-polylactide (PDM and PLM) copolymers. The SCM/DOX showed proper hydrodynamic size of ~90 nm and slow DOX release in phosphate-buffered saline at pH 7.4. The antitumor activities of DOX, PDM/DOX, PLM/DOX, and SCM/DOX toward lymphoma cells were tested in vitro and in vivo. Our data demonstrated that the SCM/DOX more effectively inhibited the cell proliferation than PDM/DOX, PLM/DOX, and free DOX in vitro. In the in vivo antitumor test, the SCM/DOX more effectively inhibited the growth of EL4 lymphoma, too. In addition, the body weight loss caused by SCM/DOX was alleviated than DOX. More importantly, the cardiotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and hepatotoxicity caused by DOX in mice were obviously attenuated compared to the free DOX treatment group. Taken together, all the results indicated that the SCM/DOX could inhibit the growth of EL4 lymphoma cells and attenuate the toxicity of DOX more efficiently, which suggested SCM/DOX was promising for the prevention and treatment of lymphoma.

Charge-Convertible Carbon Dots for Imaging-Guided Drug Delivery with Enhanced in Vivo Cancer Therapeutic Efficiency.

Carbon dots (CDs) are remarkable nanocarriers due to their promising optical and biocompatible capabilities. However, their practical applicability in cancer therapeutics is limited by their insensitive surface properties to complicated tumor microenvironment in vivo. Herein, a tumor extracellular microenvironment-responsive drug nanocarrier based on cisplatin(IV) prodrug-loaded charge-convertible CDs (CDs-Pt(IV)@PEG-(PAH/DMMA)) was developed for imaging-guided drug delivery. An anionic polymer with dimethylmaleic acid (PEG-(PAH/DMMA)) on the fabricated CDs-Pt(IV)@PEG-(PAH/DMMA) could undergo intriguing charge conversion to a cationic polymer in mildly acidic tumor extracellular microenvironment (pH ∼ 6.8), leading to strong electrostatic repulsion and release of positive CDs-Pt(IV). Importantly, positively charged nanocarrier displays high affinity to negatively charged cancer cell membrane, which results in enhanced internalization and effective activation of cisplatin(IV) prodrug in the reductive cytosol. The in vitro experimental results confirmed that this promising charge-convertible nanocarrier possesses better therapeutic efficiency under tumor extracellular microenvironment than normal physiological condition and noncharge-convertible nanocarrier. The in vivo experiments further demonstrated high tumor-inhibition efficacy and low side effects of the charge-convertible CDs, proving its capability as a smart drug nanocarrier with enhanced therapeutic effects. The present work provides a strategy to promote potential clinical application of CDs in the cancer treatment.

Detection of α-synuclein oligomers in red blood cells as a potential biomarker of Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by intracellular α-synuclein (α-syn) deposition. Alterations in α-syn levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma of PD patients have been thought to be potential PD biomarkers; however, contamination arising from hemolysis often influences the accuracy of detecting α-syn levels in the CSF and plasma. In this study, α-syn oligomer levels in red blood cells (RBCs) obtained from 100 PD patients, 22 MSA patients, and 102 control subjects were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We showed that the ratio of α-syn oligomer/total RBC protein was higher in PD patients than in controls (29.0±19.8 ng/mg vs. 15.4±7.4 ng/mg, P<0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) indicated a sensitivity of 79.0%, specificity of 64.7% and a positive predictive value of 68.7%, with an AUC of 0.76 for increased α-syn oligomer/total RBC protein ratio. However, there was no correlation between RBC α-syn oligomer levels and age at onset, disease duration, age, UPDRS motor scale score or progression of motor degeneration in PD patients. The ratio of RBC α-syn oligomer/total protein was also higher in MSA patients than in controls (22.9±13.9 ng/mg vs. 15.4±7.4 ng/mg, P<0.001). However, no significant difference was found for α-syn oligomer/total protein ratio between PD and MSA (29.0±19.8 ng/mg vs. 22.9±13.9 ng/mg, P>0.05). The present results suggest that the RBC α-syn oligomer/total protein ratio can be a potential diagnostic biomarker for PD.

N-Acetyl cysteine (NAC)-mediated reinforcement of alpha-tricalcium phosphate/silk fibroin (α-TCP/SF) cement.

Calcium phosphate cements (CPCs) are popular bone filling materials and drug carriers. However poor mechanical properties and lack of osteoinduction restrict their clinical applications. Recent studies suggested the osteogenic properties of NAC. In our study, we incorporated NAC with α-TCP/SF. We found that the compressive strength of α-TCP/SF-NAC composites increased with increase in NAC concentration, possibly due to complex three-dimensional networks of SF induced by NAC, which was large and chemically heterogeneous and induced compact oriented growth of HA crystals. However the setting time increased slightly with the addition of NAC, due to the ruptured disulfide bonds in SF. The α-TCP/SF-NAC composites also showed decent biocompatibility in vitro. As a result, these composites hold great potential as bone filling materials for clinical applications, including minimally invasive surgeries.