A Facility-Level Phaseout Strategy for China's Blast Furnaces to Address Multiple Policy Objectives.

Given the urgency of addressing climate change and the declining demand for steel, it is imperative that China's iron and steel industry begin phasing out its primary production facility, the blast furnace. While there are various studies examining the decarbonization pathways for this sector and the resulting impacts, research exploring how to design decarbonization pathways that consider economic, environmental, and regional aspects equally is lacking. Moreover, it remains unclear how the individual heterogeneity of facilities affects the effectiveness of climate policies. In this study, we address the aforementioned research gaps by proposing a novel strategy that takes into account economic, carbon, water, and health factors in determining the priority for the closure of China's blast furnaces. We developed a bottom-up framework that incorporates a facility-level data set, a stock-driven dynamic material analysis, and retirement metrics with uncertain parameters to measure the multidimensional impacts of various phaseout pathways for China's blast furnaces. We have identified potential pathways that can improve environmental efficiency in multiple aspects compared with the cost-minimization pathway without impeding regional equality.

Mineralize It or Not: Comparative Proteomics and Elemental Analysis Reveal Ancestral Compositions of Iron Mineralized Molluscan Radulae.

The radula is a unique foraging organ to Mollusca, which is important for their evolution and taxonomic classification. Many radulae are mineralized with metals. Although the remarkable mechanical properties of mineralized radulae are well-studied, the formation of mineralization from nonmineralized radulae is poorly understood. Taking advantage of the recently sequenced octopus and chiton genomes, we were able to identify more species-specific radular proteins by proteomics. Comparing these proteomes with the known limpet radula proteome enabled us to gain insight into the molecular components of nonmineralized and mineralized radula, highlighting that iron mineralization in the chiton radula is possibly due to the evolution of ferritins and peroxiredoxins. Through an in vitro binding assay, ferritin is shown to be important to iron accumulation into the nonmineralized radula. Moreover, radular proteomes reflect their adaption to dietary habits to some extent. The octopus radula has many scaffold modification proteins to suit flexibility while the chiton radula has abundant sugar metabolism proteins (e.g., glycosyl hydrolases) to adapt to algae feeding. This study provides a foundation for the understanding of molluscan radula formation and evolution and may inspire the synthesis of iron nanomaterials.

ROS-responsive liposomes as an inhaled drug delivery nanoplatform for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis treatment via Nrf2 signaling.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive fibrotic disease with pathophysiological characteristics of transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß), and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced excessive fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition and extracellular matrix deposition. Macrophages are closely involved in the development of fibrosis. Nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a key molecule regulating ROS and TGF-ß expression. Therefore, Nrf2 signaling modulation might be a promising therapy for fibrosis. The inhalation-based drug delivery can reduce systemic side effects and improve therapeutic effects, and is currently receiving increasing attention, but direct inhaled drugs are easily cleared and difficult to exert their efficacy. Therefore, we aimed to design a ROS-responsive liposome for the Nrf2 agonist dimethyl fumarate (DMF) delivery in the fibrotic lung. Moreover, we explored its therapeutic effect on pulmonary fibrosis and macrophage activation. RESULTS: We synthesized DMF-loaded ROS-responsive DSPE-TK-PEG@DMF liposomes (DTP@DMF NPs). DTP@DMF NPs had suitable size and negative zeta potential and excellent capability to rapidly release DMF in a high-ROS environment. We found that macrophage accumulation and polarization were closely related to fibrosis development, while DTP@DMF NPs could attenuate macrophage activity and fibrosis in mice. RAW264.7 and NIH-3T3 cells coculture revealed that DTP@DMF NPs could promote Nrf2 and downstream heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression and suppress TGF-ß and ROS production in macrophages, thereby reducing fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition and collagen production by NIH-3T3 cells. In vivo experiments confirmed the above findings. Compared with direct DMF instillation, DTP@DMF NPs treatment presented enhanced antifibrotic effect. DTP@DMF NPs also had a prolonged residence time in the lung as well as excellent biocompatibility. CONCLUSIONS: DTP@DMF NPs can reduce macrophage-mediated fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition and extracellular matrix deposition to attenuate lung fibrosis by upregulating Nrf2 signaling. This ROS-responsive liposome is clinically promising as an ideal delivery system for inhaled drug delivery.

Accuracy of digital complete dentures: A systematic review of in vitro studies.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Reports on digital complete dentures (CDs) are increasing. However, systematic reviews on their accuracy and influencing factors are lacking. PURPOSE: The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the accuracy of digital CDs and to summarize influencing factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An electronic search of the English language literature from January 2009 to October 2019 was performed in the database PubMed/MEDLINE, with the results enriched by manual searches and citation mining. Factors investigated in the selected articles included the fabrication technique, type of computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) system, shape of reference model, long-term service, analytical method, and statistical indicators. RESULTS: A total of 522 articles were identified, of which 14 in vitro articles met the inclusion criteria. Eight articles compared the adaptation of the denture base between digital and conventional methods, 4 studies evaluated the occlusal discrepancies, 4 compared the trueness or adaptation of the denture fabricated with CAD-CAM milling and 3D printing, 1 compared the denture adaptation with 4 different CAD-CAM systems, and 2 evaluated the adaptation of the denture base before and after incubation in artificial saliva. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the studies reported clinically acceptable values for the occlusal trueness and adaptation of digital CDs. The digital CDs showed similar or better adaptation than conventionally fabricated CDs, and the greatest misfit of the intaglio surface was reported in the posterior palatal seal area and border seal area. The fabrication technique, CAD-CAM system, and long-term service were statistically significant in relation to denture accuracy. Clarification is needed concerning the accuracy of digital CDs according to the shape of the cast, the parameters related to the CAD-CAM process, the analytical method, and the statistical indicators. No clear conclusions can be drawn about the superiority of CAD-CAM milling and 3D printing regarding denture accuracy.

Asiatic acid enhances intratumor delivery and the antitumor effect of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin by reducing tumor-stroma collagen.

Tumor-targeted drug delivery systems (Tt-DDSs) are proposed as a promising strategy for cancer care. However, the dense collagen network in tumors stroma significantly reduces the penetration and efficacy of Tt-DDS. In order to investigate the effect of asiatic acid (AA) on antitumor effect of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) by attenuating stroma-collagen, colon cancer xenograft mice (SW620 cell line) were treated by PLD, AA, or combined regimes, respectively; the collagen levels were estimated by Sirius red/fast green dual staining and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining; the intratumor exposure of doxorubicin was visualized by ex vivo fluorescence imaging and quantified by HPLC/MS analysis. In addition, the impact of AA on collagen synthesis of fibroblast cell (HFL-1) and cytotoxic effect of PLD and doxorubicin to cancer cell (SW620) were studied in vitro. In the presence of AA (4 mg/kg), the intratumor collagen level was restricted in vivo (reduced by 22%, from 4.14% ± 0.30% to 3.24% ± 0.25%, P = 0.051) and in vitro. Subsequently, doxorubicin level was increased by ~30%. The antitumor activity of PLD was significantly improved (57.3% inhibition of tumor growth and 44% reduction in tumor weight) by AA combination. Additionally, no significant improvement in cytotoxic effect of PLD or doxorubicin induced by AA was observed. In conclusion, AA is a promising sensitizer for tumor treatment by enhancing intratumor drug exposure via stromal remodeling.

Multifunctional Liposome: A Bright AIEgen-Lipid Conjugate with Strong Photosensitization.

Liposomes have been used as popular drug delivery systems for cancer therapy. However, it is difficult to track traditional liposome delivery systems in an efficient and stable fashion to assess their delivery efficacy and biodistribution after administration. Meanwhile, conventional fluorescent liposomes containing optical tracers face the challenge of aggregation-caused quenching. Herein, we report a strategy for the integration of an aggregation-induced emission fluorogen with a liposome to yield an AIEgen-lipid conjugate, termed "AIEsome". The AIEsome exhibits bright red fluorescence along with great photostability and biocompatibility, and can be used for in vitro cancer cell labeling and in vivo tumor targeting. Meanwhile, benefiting from the excellent photosensitizing ability of the AIEgen and its good oxygen exposure in aqueous media, the AIEsome also performs well in efficient photodynamic therapy (PDT) for both in vitro cancer cell ablation and in vivo antitumor therapy after white light illumination.

Beneficial effect of corncob acid hydrolysate on the lipid production by oleaginous yeast Trichosporon dermatis.

In this work, corncob acid hydrolysate and its simulated medium whose sugar composition was the same as the corncob acid hydrolysate were used as fermentation substrate for lipid production by oleaginous yeast Trichosporon dermatis. On the corncob acid hydrolysate, after 7 days of fermentation, the biomass, lipid content, lipid yield, and lipid coefficient of T. dermatis were 17.3 g/L, 40.2%, 7.0 g/L, and 16.5%, respectively. Interestingly, during the lipid fermentation on the corncob acid hydrolysate, glucose, xylose, arabinose, and even acetic acid could be well utilized as carbon sources by T. dermatis. Surprisingly, the lipid yield (7.0 g/L) of T. dermatis on the corncob acid hydrolysate was much higher than that (3.8 g/L) on the simulated medium, in spite of the fact that the lipid coefficient (17.4%) on the simulated medium was a little higher. This phenomenon further showed that lignocellulosic acid hydrolysate was a suitable substrate for lipid fermentation by T. dermatis. This work would help the comprehensive utilization of lignocellulosic biomass for lipid production.

A novel combined therapeutic strategy of Nano-EN-IR@Lip mediated photothermal therapy and stem cell inhibition for gastric cancer.

Recurrence and metastasis of gastric cancer is a major therapeutic challenge for treatment. The presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) is a major obstacle to the success of current cancer therapy, often leading to treatment resistance and tumor recurrence and metastasis. Therefore, it is important to develop effective strategies to eradicate CSCs. In this study, we developed a combined therapeutic strategy of photothermal therapy (PTT) and gastric cancer stem cells (GCSCs) inhibition by successfully synthesizing nanoliposomes loaded with IR780 (photosensitizer) and EN4 (c-Myc inhibitor). The nanocomposites are biocompatible and exhibit superior photoacoustic (PA) imaging properties. Under laser irradiation, IR780-mediated PTT effectively and rapidly killed tumor cells, while EN4 synergistically inhibited the self-renewal and stemness of GCSCs by suppressing the expression and activity of the pluripotent transcription factor c-Myc, preventing the tumor progression of gastric cancer. This Nano-EN-IR@Lip is expected to be a novel clinical nanomedicine for the integration of gastric cancer diagnosis, treatment and prevention.

Biphasic calcium phosphate recruits Tregs to promote bone regeneration.

The use of bone substitute materials is crucial for the healing of large bone defects. Immune response induced by bone substitute materials is essential in bone regeneration. Prior research has mainly concentrated on innate immune cells, such as macrophages. Existing research suggests that T lymphocytes, as adaptive immune cells, play an indispensable role in bone regeneration. However, the mechanisms governing T cell recruitment and specific subsets that are essential for bone regeneration remain unclear. This study demonstrates that CD4+ T cells are indispensable for ectopic osteogenesis by biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP). Subsequently, the recruitment of CD4+ T cells is closely associated with the activation of calcium channels in macrophages by BCP to release chemokines Ccl3 and Ccl17. Finally, these recruited CD4+ T cells are predominantly Tregs, which play a significant role in ectopic osteogenesis by BCP. These findings not only shed light on the immune-regenerative process after bone substitute material implantation but also establish a theoretical basis for developing bone substitute materials for promoting bone tissue regeneration. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Bone substitute material implantation is essential in the healing of large bone defects. Existing research suggests that T lymphocytes are instrumental in bone regeneration. However, the specific mechanisms governing T cell recruitment and specific subsets that are essential for bone regeneration remain unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that activation of calcium channels in macrophages by biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) causes them to release the chemokines Ccl3 and Ccl17 to recruit CD4+ T cells, predominantly Tregs, which play a crucial role in ectopic osteogenesis by BCP. Our findings provide a theoretical foundation for developing bone substitute material for bone tissue regeneration.

Tim4 deficiency reduces CD301b+ macrophage and aggravates periodontitis bone loss.

Periodontitis is a common chronic inflammatory disease that causes the periodontal bone destruction and may ultimately result in tooth loss. With the progression of periodontitis, the osteoimmunology microenvironment in periodontitis is damaged and leads to the formation of pathological alveolar bone resorption. CD301b+ macrophages are specific to the osteoimmunology microenvironment, and are emerging as vital booster for conducting bone regeneration. However, the key upstream targets of CD301b+ macrophages and their potential mechanism in periodontitis remain elusive. In this study, we concentrated on the role of Tim4, a latent upstream regulator of CD301b+ macrophages. We first demonstrated that the transcription level of Timd4 (gene name of Tim4) in CD301b+ macrophages was significantly upregulated compared to CD301b- macrophages via high-throughput RNA sequencing. Moreover, several Tim4-related functions such as apoptotic cell clearance, phagocytosis and engulfment were positively regulated by CD301b+ macrophages. The single-cell RNA sequencing analysis subsequently discovered that Cd301b and Timd4 were specifically co-expressed in macrophages. The following flow cytometric analysis indicated that Tim4 positive expression rates in total macrophages shared highly synchronized dynamic changes with the proportions of CD301b+ macrophages as periodontitis progressed. Furthermore, the deficiency of Tim4 in mice decreased CD301b+ macrophages and eventually magnified alveolar bone resorption in periodontitis. Additionally, Tim4 controlled the p38 MAPK signaling pathway to ultimately mediate CD301b+ macrophages phenotype. In a word, Tim4 might regulate CD301b+ macrophages through p38 MAPK signaling pathway in periodontitis, which provided new insights into periodontitis immunoregulation as well as help to develop innovative therapeutic targets and treatment strategies for periodontitis.

Targeted paclitaxel prodrug nanoassemblies to improve therapeutic effects for liver cancer.

Prodrug nanoassemblies fabricated by anticancer drug conjugates exhibited more advantages in controlled drug release and bioavailability and favorable antitumor efficacy. In this paper, lactobionic acid (LA) was connected with polyethylene glycol through amido linkages, and paclitaxel was joined with polyethylene glycol by means of ester bonds to form the prodrug copolymer LA-PEG-PTX. Then, LA-PEG-PTX was automatically assembled into LA-PEG-PTX nanoparticles (LPP NPs) by dialysis. The LPP NPs had a relatively uniform size of approximately 200 nm, a negative potential (-13.68 mV), and a spherical shape under TEM. The drug loading of LPP NPs was 3.91%, which was measured by HPLC. The in vitro release profile of LPP NPs exhibited a sustained release feature. The results of the pharmacokinetic test in rats showed that LPP NPs had higher T1/2 and AUC values than the control group (free PTX) and a prolonged in vivo circulation time, thus increasing the bioavailability of PTX. Remarkably, the LPP NPs were absorbed into HepG2 cells after galactose-directed internalization and enhanced cytotoxicity. Consequently, LPP NPs displayed notable antitumor activity in Kunming mice with H22 hepatocellular carcinoma. Collectively, these findings suggested that paclitaxel prodrug-based self-assembled nanoparticles were a promising alternative for improving the bioavailability and antitumor effect of PTX.

Gut Bacteria of Wood-Boring Streltzoviella insularis and Their Involvement in Pinoresinol Degradation of Ash Tree (Fraxinus sp.) Host.

Insect gut microbiota have been widely reported to help the insects to overcome host tree defense. Streltzoviella insularis (Lepidoptera: Cossidae) is one of the most common wood borers in China, attacking various hosts, including ash trees (Fraxinus sp.), but little is known about its gut microbial associates and their involvement in host tree defense. We isolated gut bacteria of S. insularis larvae, analyzed their ability to degrade pinoresinol (a defense compound of ash trees) and cellulose, and identified pinoresinol degradation products. Larval mortality increased with increasing pinoresinol concentration (reflecting natural variation observed in the host trees). All the five detected gut bacteria isolates were able to degrade pinoresinol, two of which were also capable of cellulose degradation. Furthermore, gut bacteria were also shown to degrade pinoresinol via the gluconeogenesis pathway. These results suggest that S. insularis-associated microorganisms help to overcome host pinoresinol defense and possibly contribute to insects or gut microbial nutrition via carbohydrate synthesis.

CD301b+ macrophage: the new booster for activating bone regeneration in periodontitis treatment.

Periodontal bone regeneration is a major challenge in the treatment of periodontitis. Currently the main obstacle is the difficulty of restoring the regenerative vitality of periodontal osteoblast lineages suppressed by inflammation, via conventional treatment. CD301b+ macrophages were recently identified as a subpopulation that is characteristic of a regenerative environment, but their role in periodontal bone repair has not been reported. The current study indicates that CD301b+ macrophages may be a constituent component of periodontal bone repair, and that they are devoted to bone formation in the resolving phase of periodontitis. Transcriptome sequencing suggested that CD301b+ macrophages could positively regulate osteogenesis-related processes. In vitro, CD301b+ macrophages could be induced by interleukin 4 (IL-4) unless proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) were present. Mechanistically, CD301b+ macrophages promoted osteoblast differentiation via insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1)/thymoma viral proto-oncogene 1 (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling. An osteogenic inducible nano-capsule (OINC) consisting of a gold nanocage loaded with IL-4 as the "core" and mouse neutrophil membrane as the "shell" was designed. When injected into periodontal tissue, OINCs first absorbed proinflammatory cytokines in inflamed periodontal tissue, then released IL-4 controlled by far-red irradiation. These events collectively promoted CD301b+ macrophage enrichment, which further boosted periodontal bone regeneration. The current study highlights the osteoinductive role of CD301b+ macrophages, and suggests a CD301b+ macrophage-targeted induction strategy based on biomimetic nano-capsules for improved therapeutic efficacy, which may also provide a potential therapeutic target and strategy for other inflammatory bone diseases.

Removal of Fermentation Inhibitors from Sugarcane Bagasse Hydrolysate via Post-cross-linked Hydrophilic-Hydrophobic Interpenetrating Polymer Networks.

The efficient and economical removal of fermentation inhibitors from the complex system of biomass hydrolysate was one of the basics and keys in bio-chemical transformation. In this work, post-cross-linked hydrophilic-hydrophobic interpenetrating polymer networks (PMA/PS_pc IPNs and PAM/PS_pc IPNs) were proposed to remove fermentation inhibitors from sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate for the first time. PMA/PS_pc and PAM/PS_pc IPNs can obviously enhance the adsorption performance towards fermentation inhibitors due to their higher surface area and hydrophilic-hydrophobic synergetic surface properties, especially PMA/PS_pc IPNs has higher selectivity coefficients of 4.57, 4.63, 4.85, 16.0, 49.43, and 22.69, and higher adsorption capacity of 24.7 mg/g, 39.2 mg/g, 52.4 mg/g, 9.1 mg/g, 13.2 mg/g, and 144.9 mg/g towards formic acid, acetic acid, levulinic acid (LA), 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), furfural, and acid-soluble lignin (ASL), respectively, in a lower total sugar loss of 2.03%. The adsorption kinetics and isotherm of PMA/PS_pc IPNs were studied to elucidate its adsorption behavior towards fermentation inhibitors. In addition, the cyclic utilization property of PMA/PS_pc IPNs was stable. Synthesizing PMA/PS_pc IPNs is a new strategy to provide an efficient adsorbent for the removal of fermentation inhibitors from lignocellulosic hydrolysate.

Enhanced hydrophilicity and anticoagulation of polysulfone materials modified via dihydroxypropyl, sulfonic groups and chitosan.

A novel modified polysulfone (PSF) is successfully prepared for hemodialysis by grafting with a well-defined heparin-like polymer, sulfonated dihydroxypropyl chitosan (SDHPCS), which is obtained in proper sequence via alkalization of chitosan, etherification and sulfonation. PSF is modified via chloroacetyl chloride, and then, the chloroacylated polysulfone (CAPSF) with pristine PSF is transformed into CAPSF/PSF blend membrane via the phase inversion, followed introducing amino group into CAPSF on the surface and taking glutaraldehyde as bridge between modified PSF membrane and SDHPCS. The result of 1H NMR spectrum of prepared CAPSF indicates that the degree of the substitution of chloroacetyl group. The SEM, EDS mapping, FTIR and XPS show that SDHPCS-g-PSF membranes are successfully prepared. The hydrophilicity of the membrane modified by SDHPCS is improved obviously, and the contact angle remarkably reduced from 87 ° to below 45°, exhibiting much better hydrophilicity. The hemocompatibility characterizations including BSA adsorption, Plasma recalcification time (PRT), hemolysis ratio (HR), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT), thrombin time (TT) also certificates that SDHPCS-g-PSF possesses lower BSA adsorption and enhanced blood compatibility.

[Application of CAD in custom tray design for teaching of dental postgraduates].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the teaching effect of making custom trays via CAD in dental postgraduates. METHODS: Twenty-seven dental postgraduates from first to third grade at the School and Hospital of Stomatology, Tongji University, Shanghai were given an informed consent to explain and request participation in the study. First, a lecture about the theory and process of fabricating custom tray via traditional hand-made method and CAD technique was given, then the students fabricated custom trays via the two methods and completed an online survey. The working time, margin extension and students' preference were analyzed with SPSS 22.0 software package. RESULTS: The working time was shorter, the margin extension was superior, and students' preference was higher via CAD than traditional method, the difference was significant(P＜0.05). CONCLUSIONS: CAD is more conducive to enhance students' understanding of custom tray manufacturing process and relevant theoretical knowledge. It is recommended to integrate digital technology into dental curriculum.

Trueness of One Stationary and Two Mobile Systems for Three-Dimensional Facial Scanning.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the trueness of one stationary and two mobile systems for 3D facial scanning. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty participants were included in this study. After marking facial soft tissue landmarks, their faces were scanned using three facial scanning systems: the Bellus3D Dental Pro app on an iPad Pro 2020 (Apple; IP); the ARC-7 Face Scanning System (Bellus3D; BA); and the EinScan Pro 2X Plus (Shining 3D Tech; EP) following the manufacturers' operating instructions. Three-dimensional images were reconstructed with corresponding software and saved in object (OBJ) file format. The interlandmark distances were measured and compared to direct caliper measurements, and absolute error (AE) was chosen as the measurement to determine the trueness of the three scanners. The normal distribution and variance of homogeneity were measured, and then the data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis H test. The significance level was set at P = .05. RESULTS: For the measurement of interlandmark distances, no significant differences were found among the four measuring techniques, and the mean AEs of the IP, BA, and EP systems were 1.17 ± 0.80 mm, 0.76 ± 0.61 mm, and 0.69 ± 0.65 mm. CONCLUSION: The three facial scanning systems tested provided a reliable 3D facial reconstruction. The portable IP system could meet the clinical requirements for facial scanning, but it is suggested to select the EP and BA systems when a higher trueness is required.

Loading drugs into liposomes by temperature up-down cycle procedure with controllable results fitting prediction by mathematical and thermodynamic process.

Liposomes are a useful carrier for delivering drugs but rarely make a poorly water-soluble drug (PWSD) realize its therapeutic potential. A key barrier lies in that, by conventional methods, PWSD is mainly loaded just in liposome bilayer membranes, which rarely provide sufficient room to accommodate drugs satisfying clinical therapy. In this investigation, a novel procedure of temperature up-down cycle (TUDC) was developed for loading PWSDs into the liposome interiors instead of bilayer membranes to hold enough agents. In particular, the TUDC procedure renders PWSDs such as curcumin (Cur) entrapment purposely controllable, as evidenced by the encapsulation efficiency (EE) of Cur varies nearly from 0% to 100% in response to changes the determinant factors of the procedure. In addition, several mathematical equations that could calculate the loading efficiency by TUDC were established and proved, when combined with thermodynamic process, able to successfully predict the loading results through including thermodynamic parameters, such as temperature and deduced drug solubility, thus remarkably cutting down the laborious experiments and enhancing liposome development efficiency. Cryo-TEM, SAXS, XRD and DSC tests proved that TUDC is feasible to load a PWSD into PEG-liposomes but rendering the drug in the amorphous state. Thus, the novel TUDC procedure and the established mathematical and thermodynamic process may provide a useful tool to promote the development of liposome products.

Biodegradable microplastics (BMPs): a new cause for concern?

With the increasingly serious pollution of plastics, biodegradable plastics (BDPs) have attracted attention as a new material that can replace conventional plastics in certain applications. The global production of BDPs also gradually increases in recent years. However, unfortunately, with the application of BDPs, some potential problems are gradually exposed. The biodegradability of BDPs needs suitable conditions, which is difficult for the natural environment to reach the necessary conditions. If the degradation conditions are not met, BDPs and conventional plastics are basically the same in terms of the longevity. The biodegradable microplastics (BMPs) can also be formed by BDPs entering the environment. Up to now, the research on the degradation and application of BDPs is relatively common. The environmental and ecological effects of the BMPs, the adsorption and release of toxic substances, and the role of BMPs as vectors of microorganisms, epiphytes, and plants still need to be studied. This paper focuses on the formation mechanism and the environmental behavior of BMPs. The role of BMPs as multiple stronger vectors of microorganisms and pollutants compared to conventional microplastics is also discussed. Systematic research on environmental pollution and ecotoxicology of BMPs should be carried out as soon as possible.

Recent advances in the analysis methodologies for microplastics in aquatic organisms: current knowledge and research challenges.

The widespread occurrence and high bioavailability of microplastics have increasingly attracted wide attention of society. Because of the presence of microplastics in aquatic organisms, it is necessary to investigate their abundance in different species. Recently, the diversity of research methods for microplastics in aquatic organisms has resulted in different detection rates of microplastics; problematically, different results are poorly comparable. As a new global environmental problem, there is an urgent need to reach a consensus on the investigation and analysis methods involving microplastics. The formulation of standardized methods for microplastics in aquatic organisms is a scientific problem that needs to be resolved urgently in the research of microplastics. The current review systematically summarizes the recent progress in the extraction, separation, quantitative analysis and qualitative identification of microplastics in aquatic organisms. The advantages and disadvantages of the different methods are discussed. In addition, challenges faced by the development of standardized analytical methods for microplastics are discussed from the perspectives of the sampling representativeness of aquatic organisms, control of background values, analysis of nanoplastics, and application of identification technology. Further, the necessity and urgency of the standardization of analytical methods for microplastics are discussed.