Periodontal disease increases the severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a Mendelian randomization study.

BACKGROUND: Recent research suggests that periodontitis can increase the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In this study, we performed two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) and investigated the causal effect of periodontitis (PD) on the genetic prediction of COPD. The study aimed to estimate how exposures affected outcomes. METHODS: Published data from the Gene-Lifestyle Interaction in the Dental Endpoints (GLIDE) Consortium's genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for periodontitis (17,353 cases and 28,210 controls) and COPD (16,488 cases and 169,688 controls) from European ancestry were utilized. This study employed a two-sample MR analysis approach and applied several complementary methods, including weighted median, inverse variance weighted (IVW), and MR-Egger regression. Multivariable Mendelian randomization (MVMR) analysis was further conducted to mitigate the influence of smoking on COPD. RESULTS: We chose five single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as instrumental variables for periodontitis. A strong genetically predicted causal link between periodontitis and COPD, that is, periodontitis as an independent risk factor for COPD was detected. PD (OR = 1.102951, 95% CI: 1.005-1.211, p = 0.039) MR-Egger regression and weighted median analysis results were coincident with those of the IVW method. According to the sensitivity analysis, horizontal pleiotropy's effect on causal estimations seemed unlikely. However, reverse MR analysis revealed no significant genetic causal association between COPD and periodontitis. IVW (OR = 1.048 > 1, 95%CI: 0.973-1.128, p = 0.2082) MR Egger (OR = 0.826, 95%CI:0.658-1.037, p = 0.1104) and weighted median (OR = 1.043, 95%CI: 0.941-1.156, p = 0.4239). The results of multivariable Mendelian randomization (MVMR) analysis, after adjusting for the confounding effect of smoking, suggest a potential causal relationship between periodontitis and COPD (P = 0.035). CONCLUSION: In this study, periodontitis was found to be independent of COPD and a significant risk factor, providing new insights into periodontitis-mediated mechanisms underlying COPD development.

The transcriptional factor Clr-5 is involved in cellulose degradation through regulation of amino acid metabolism in Neurospora crassa.

BACKGROUND: Filamentous fungi are efficient degraders of plant biomass and the primary producers of commercial cellulolytic enzymes. While the transcriptional regulation mechanisms of cellulases have been continuously explored in lignocellulolytic fungi, the induction of cellulase production remains a complex multifactorial system, with several aspects still largely elusive. RESULTS: In this study, we identified a Zn2Cys6 transcription factor, designated as Clr-5, which regulates the expression of cellulase genes by influencing amino acid metabolism in Neurospora crassa during growth on cellulose. The deletion of clr-5 caused a significant decrease in secreted protein and cellulolytic enzyme activity of N. crassa, which was partially alleviated by supplementing with yeast extract. Transcriptomic profiling revealed downregulation of not only the genes encoding main cellulases but also those related to nitrogen metabolism after disruption of Clr-5 under Avicel condition. Clr-5 played a crucial role in the utilization of multiple amino acids, especially leucine and histidine. When using leucine or histidine as the sole nitrogen source, the Δclr-5 mutant showed significant growth defects on both glucose and Avicel media. Comparative transcriptomic analysis revealed that the transcript levels of most genes encoding carbohydrate-active enzymes and those involved in the catabolism and uptake of histidine, branched-chain amino acids, and aromatic amino acids, were remarkably reduced in strain Δclr-5, compared with the wild-type N. crassa when grown in Avicel medium with leucine or histidine as the sole nitrogen source. These findings underscore the important role of amino acid metabolism in the regulation of cellulase production in N. crassa. Furthermore, the function of Clr-5 in regulating cellulose degradation is conserved among ascomycete fungi. CONCLUSIONS: These findings regarding the novel transcription factor Clr-5 enhance our comprehension of the regulatory connections between amino acid metabolism and cellulase production, offering fresh prospects for the development of fungal cell factories dedicated to cellulolytic enzyme production in bio-refineries.

The Morphological and Functional Effects of the Endoscope-Assisted One-Stage Approach for Crooked Nose.

BACKGROUND: A crooked nose is an external nose deformity predominantly caused by congenital aplasia or acquired secondary to trauma or surgery, often accompanied by a deviated nasal septum. Patients with crooked nose have dual needs to improve both esthetic and functional problems. METHODS: The clinical and photographic information of 48 patients diagnosed with a crooked nose and nasal septum deviation treated from January 2018 to January 2022 was acquired. The morphology and functional effects were investigated by evaluating the general condition of the operation, measuring the esthetic indexes of the nose, and subjectively scoring. RESULTS: For both morphology and function, endoscopy-assisted one-stage correction showed positive results in this study. The external nose deviation distance postoperatively measured 1.28 (0.85, 1.97) mm, which significantly decreased from the preoperative value of 3.96 (3.31, 5.29) mm. The scores of doctors and irrelevant medical students on nose morphology increased significantly from 4.75±1.88 and 3.84±0.76 to 6.48±1.21 and 7.21±0.67, respectively. The rhinoplasty outcome evaluation score and the "nasal obstruction symptom evaluation "score of patients were both significantly improved ( t = -7.508 and t =6.310, respectively, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Endoscope-assisted one-stage correction of the crooked nose can restore nasal morphology, improve the symptoms of nasal obstruction, and achieve patient satisfaction. It is a minimally invasive, safe, effective, and fast recovery approach for patients who need to solve both esthetic and functional problems.

Monitoring the Opening of Rapid Palatal Expansion (RPE) in a 3D-Printed Skull Model Using Fiber Optic F-P Sensors.

We present a novel method for the online measurement of multi-point opening distances of midpalatal sutures during a rapid palatal expansion (RPE) using fiber optic Fabry-Perot (F-P) sensors. The sensor consists of an optical fiber with a cut flat end face and an optical reflector, which are implanted into the palatal base structure of an expander and is capable of measuring the precise distance between two optical reflective surfaces. As a demonstration, a 3D-printed skull model containing the maxilla and zygomaticomaxillary complex (ZMC) was produced and a miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expander (MARPE) with two guide rods was used to generate the midpalatal suture expansion. The reflected spectrums of the sensors were used to dynamically extract cavity length information for full process monitoring of expansion. The dynamic opening of the midpalatal suture during the gradual activation of the expander was measured, and a displacement resolution of 2.5 µm was demonstrated. The angle of expansion was derived and the results suggested that the midpalatal suture was opened with a slight V-type expansion of 0.03 rad at the first loading and subsequently expanded in parallel. This finding might be useful for understanding the mechanical mechanisms that lead to different types of expansion. The use of a fiber optic sensor for mounting the rapid palatal expander facilitates biomechanical studies and experimental and clinical evaluation of the effects of RPE.

Dual-reporter Imaging and its Potential Application in Tracking Studies.

By tracking reporter molecules such as green fluorescent protein and luciferase, researchers can determine physiological status and follow processes both in vitro and in vivo.Here, we describe a dual-reporter imaging method, in which a fusion of eGFP and Luc2 is introduced into hosts using lentiviral particles based on HIV-1. The fusion molecule is both fluorescent and bioluminescent, and is therefore ideal as an optical marker in clinical and research applications.We characterized multiple technical indices of the molecule,including sensibility, biocompatibility, lifetime, and others.Lentiviral particles carrying the reporter were strongly infective in endothelial progenitor (EPC) and GL261 glioma cells,as well as in live mice. By transforming Luc2-eGFP into hosts, morphological and quantitative data can be collected not only from tissue specimens but also from live animal models.

Regulating inflammation and apoptosis: A smart microgel gene delivery system for repairing degenerative nucleus pulposus.

The progression of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is attributed to the gradual exacerbation of cellular apoptosis and impaired extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis, both of which are induced by progressive inflammation. Therefore, it is crucial to address the inflammatory microenvironment and rectify the excessive apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) to achieve intervertebral disc (IVD) regeneration. In this study, we devised a smart microgel gene delivery system that incorporates functionalized gene nanoparticles (NPs) for the purpose of IVD regeneration. siGrem1 was loaded into the NPs to enhance their antiapoptotic ability and protective effects. Furthermore, the encapsulation of HADA further endows the NPs (referred to as HSGN) with targeted delivery and anti-inflammatory effects, as well as reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging capacities. To create an microenvironment-responsive microgel system, phenylboronic acid-functionalized microspheres (referred to as M.S.) were fabricated and dynamically loaded with the HSGN. This microgel system (MHSGN), which is highly biocompatible, enables the sustained release of siGrem1, effectively modulating inflammation, scavenging ROS, and alleviating apoptosis in NPCs. These multifunctional capabilities promote the restoration of metabolic homeostasis within the nucleus pulposus ECM, ultimately leading to delayed IDD.

Insight into the role of niche concept in deciphering the ecological drivers of MPs-associated bacterial communities in mangrove forest.

Myriad inherent and variable environmental features are controlling the assembly and succession of bacterial communities colonizing on mangrove microplastics (MPs). However, the mechanisms governing mangrove MPs-associated bacterial responses to environmental changes still remain unknown. Here, we assessed the dissimilarities of MPs-associated bacterial composition, diversity and functionality as well as quantified the niche variations of each taxon on plastispheres along river-mangrove-ocean and mangrove landward-to-seaward gradients in the Beibu Gulf, China, respectively. The bacterial richness and diversity as well as the niche breadth on mangrove sedimentary MPs dramatically decreased from landward to seaward regions. Characterizing the niche variations linked the difference of ecological drivers of MPs-associated bacterial populations and functions between river-mangrove-ocean (microplastic properties) and mangrove landward-to-seaward plastispheres (sediment physicochemical properties) to the trade-offs between selective stress exerted by inherent plastic substrates and microbial competitive stress imposed by environmental conditions. Notably, Rhodococcus erythropolis was predicted to be the generalist species and closely associated to biogeochemical cycles of mangrove plastispheres. Our work provides a reliable pathway for tackling the hidden mechanisms of environmental factors driving MPs-associated microbe from perspectives of niches and highlights the spatial dynamic variations of mangrove MPs-associated bacteria.

Comparative genomic analysis of the RabGAP gene family in seven Rosaceae species, and functional identification of PbrRabGAP10 in controlling pollen tube growth by mediating cellulose deposition in pear.

Rab GTPase-activating proteins (RabGAPs), serving as crucial signaling switches, play essential roles in several physiological processes related to plant growth and development. However, despite their importance, information regarding the RabGAP gene family and their biological functions remains unknown in the Rosaceae. In this study, we identified a total of 127 RabGAP genes in seven Rosaceae species, which were divided into five subfamilies. Our findings indicate that whole genome duplication (WGD) events or dispersed duplication events largely contributed to the expansion of RabGAP family members within Rosaceae species. Through tissue-specific expression analyses, we revealed that the PbrRabGAP genes exhibited distinct expression patterns in different pear tissues. Furthermore, by examining the expression pattern during pollen development and employing an antisense oligonucleotide approach, we demonstrated that PbrRabGAP10, located in the cytoplasm, mediates the imbalance of cellulose distribution, thus regulating pollen tube elongation. In conclusion, the present study offers an overview of the RabGAP family in Rosaceae genomes and serves as the basis for further functional studies.

Secreted salt and hydrodynamic factors combine to affect dynamic fluctuations of microplastics on mangrove leaves.

Mangrove leaves have been acknowledged as crucial sink for coastal microplastics (MPs). Whereas, the temporal dynamics of MPs intercepted by mangrove leaves have remained poorly understood. Here, we detected MPs intercepted by submerged and non-submerged mangrove leaves over time and the potential driving factors. Abundance and characteristics of MPs interception by mangrove leaves exhibited dynamic fluctuations, with the coefficient of variation (CV) of submerged mangrove leaves (CV = 0.604; 1.76 n/g to 15.45 n/g) being approximately twofold higher than non-submerged mangrove leaves (CV = 0.377; 0.74 n/g to 3.28 n/g). Partial least squares path model (PLS-PM) analysis further illustrated that MPs abundance on submerged mangrove leaves were negative correlated to hydrodynamic factors (i.e., current velocity and tidal range). Intriguingly, secreted salt as a significantly driver of MPs intercepted by mangrove leaves. Results of this work highlights that MPs intercepted by mangrove leaves is characterized by dynamic fluctuations and reveals the importance of hydrodynamic factors and secreted salt. Overall, this work identifies the pivotal buffering role played by mangrove leaves in intercepting MPs, which provides basic knowledge for better understanding of microplastic pollution status and control from mangrove plants.

Distinctive Craniofacial and Oral Anomalies in MN1 C-terminal Truncation Syndrome.

MN1 C-terminal truncation (MCTT) syndrome was first reported in 2020 and only 28 patients have been recorded to date. Since MCTT syndrome is a newly defined and rare syndrome with many clinical features, the present study reviewed the manifestations and management of oral and dental anomalies. Gene variants of MCTT syndrome and their positive phenotypes were summarised. The phenotypes of variants in two exons differed from each other mainly in the craniomaxillofacial region, including brain MRI abnormalities and palatal morphology. Pathogenic mechanisms, especially in craniofacial and oral anomalies, were discussed. Appropriate treatments in the stomatology and respiratory departments could improve the symptoms of MCTT syndrome. The different sites of MN1 gene variants may influence the clinical symptoms and there may be racial differences in MCTT syndrome. We recommend oral and pulmonary evaluations for the multidisciplinary treatment of MCTT syndrome.

Cellulose microfibril twist, mechanics, and implication for cellulose biosynthesis.

All-atom molecular dynamics simulations with explicit water solvent were used to investigate the microstructure and conformational dynamics of cellulose Iß microfibrils as a function of microfibril length and cross-sectional size and shape. Cellulose microfibrils quickly develop a right-handed twist, which then remains stable over the entire 10 ns simulation time. The helical angle is independent of microfibril length and inversely proportional to its cross-sectional area, in accord with the expectations of continuum theory for an intrinsic chiral twist that is opposed by torsional shear. These calculations provide-to our knowledge-the first estimates of the shear modulus of a cellulose microfibril from MD simulations. The internal strains caused by this helical twist, propagated indefinitely along the microfibril axis, could be relaxed by periodic regions of amorphous structure along the axis of the cellulose microfibrils.

Preparation of nanoscale Ni-B amorphous alloys and their application in the selective hydrogenation of cinnamic acid.

A series of metal modified nanoscale Ni-B amorphous alloys was prepared by chemical reduction and tested in the selective hydrogenation of cinnamic acid. A Co modified Ni-B amorphous alloy (Ni-Co-B) exhibited excellent catalytic performance in this reaction with both 100.0% conversion of cinnamic acid and 100.0% selectivity for hydrocinnamic acid under the optimized reaction conditions. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results indicated that the addition of Co had not changed the amorphous structure of Ni-B; whereas, its addition was believed not only to favor decreased agglomeration of the active Ni species, as proven by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), but also to contribute to adsorption of hydrogen itself. Thus, Ni-Co-B showed a larger BET surface area, smaller particle size, and greater number of active species resulting in optimum H2-chemisorption compared to Ni-B and accounting for its excellent catalytic performance in cinnamic acid hydrogenation.

Distinct microplastics abundance variation in root-associated sediments revealed the underestimation of mangrove microplastics pollution.

Mangrove sediment is acknowledged as the critical sink of microplastics (MPs). However, the potential effect of mangrove root systems on the MPs migration in sediment remains largely unknown. Here, our study characterized the spatial distribution of MPs trapped in root hair, rhizosphere, and non-rhizosphere zones, and analyzed their correlations with physicochemical properties of sediments. The significantly increased MPs abundances toward root systems shed light on the distinct effect on the migration of MPs exerted by mangrove root systems. Partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) analysis revealed that pore water content and pH influenced the abundances of different MP characteristics (shape, color, size, and type) and further promoted the accumulation of MPs toward the root systems. In different mangrove areas from landward to seaward, other sediment properties (median grain size, clay content, and salinity) also controlled MP distribution. Additionally, smaller-sized MPs (<1000 µm) were more easily transported to the root systems. Our study emphasizes the importance of considering root systems effect when investigating the mechanisms of MPs distribution and migration in mangrove sediments.

[Three-dimensional assessment and study on temporomandibular joint and the maxillary characteristics of skeletal Class â ¢ mandibular deviation patients].

PURPOSE: To study the temporomandibular joint morphology and position and the maxillary characteristics of skeletal Class Ⅲ mandibular deviation patients with vertical disproportion in bilateral gonions. METHODS: Overall 79 adult patients with skeletal Class Ⅲ malocclusions were selected. Craniofacial spiral CT scanning was performed, and three-dimensional reconstruction of the temporomandibular joint(TMJ) was carried out by using ProPlan CMF3.0 three-dimensional analysis software. The patients were divided into two groups according to the deviation degree of the mentum: symmetric group (the S group: n=24) and deviation group (n=55). The deviation group was divided into two subgroups according to whether there was vertical disproportion in bilateral gonions, i.e., ASV group: there were vertical differences in bilateral gonions(n=27), and ASNV group: there was no vertical difference in bilateral gonions (n=28). Seven condylar morphological and position indicators and nine maxilla-related indicators were measured. SPSS 22.0 software package was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: In deviation group, the condylar length on the deviated side was shorter than the opposite side, the difference value between the two sides was greater than the symmetric group, and there were asymmetry and different degrees of disproportion in the three-dimensional direction in the maxilla. In ASV group, the angle of the condylar axis to the horizontal plane on the deviated side was smaller and the anteroposterior diameter of the condyle was smaller. In ASV group, the mediolateral dimension of condyle on the deviated side were smaller. From variance analysis and multiple comparisons, the difference of condylar length on both sides in ASV group and ASNV group was greater than that in the symmetric group. There were asymmetries in the maxillae in ASV group and ASNV group, and the maxillary width on the deviated side was greater than that on non-deviated side. Transverse maxillary disproportion was more likely to occur in the ASNV group. The vertical maxillary disproportion on both sides in ASV group was larger than that in ASNV group and S group, and the deviated side was smaller than the opposite side. CONCLUSIONS: The TMJ morphology and position of skeletal Class Ⅲ mandibular deviation patients with vertical disproportion in bilateral gonions and the maxillary asymmetry in the three-dimensional direction require attention in the diagnosis and conceptual design of surgical-orthodontic treatment.

Surface Texture Designs to Improve the Core-Veneer Bond Strength of Zirconia Restorations Using Digital Light Processing.

Veneered zirconia ceramics are widely used for dental restorations. However, the relatively poor bonding strength between the ceramic core and veneer porcelain remains a common problem in clinical applications. To address this issue, this study focused on enhancing the core-veneer bond strength of zirconia restorations through the implementation of surface textures using digital light processing (DLP) technology. The light intensity was precisely tuned to optimize mechanical strength and minimize light scattering. Subsequently, hexagonal or square grids were printed on the surface of the zirconia ceramic core. Following veneering procedures, the shear bond strength (SBS) test was conducted using a universal testing machine. Dates were compared using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the least significant difference (LSD) test. Furthermore, optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to examine the failure modes and observe the cross-sectional structures, respectively. The results indicated that the presence of a 0.09 mm high hexagon grid led to a significant 21% increase in the SBS value. However, grids with heights of 0.2 and 0.3 mm showed less improvement, owing to the formation of large defects at the interface during the fusion process. This study demonstrated the potential of DLP technology in preparing zirconia ceramics with complex structures and high mechanical strength, thereby offering promising solutions for overcoming challenges associated with dental applications.

Colorimetric immunosensing using liposome encapsulated MnO2 nanozymes for SARS-CoV-2 antigen detection.

Development of specific signal reporters with signal amplification effect are highly needed for sensitive and accurate detection of pathogen. Herein, we design a colorimetric immunosensing nanosystem based on liposome encapsulated quantum dots-sized MnO2 nanozyme (MnO2QDs@Lip) as a signal reporter for ultrasensitive and fast detection of SARS-CoV-2 antigen. The pathogenic antigens captured and separated by antibody-conjugated magnetic beads (MBs) are further connected with antibody-modified MnO2QDs@Lip to form a sandwich-like immunocomplex structure. After triggered release, MnO2 QDs efficiently catalyze colorless 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) to blue oxidized TMB, which can be qualitatively observed by naked eyes and quantitatively analyzed by UV-Vis spectra or smartphone platforms. By taking advantages of immuno-magnetic separation, excellent peroxidase-like catalytic activity of MnO2 QDs, and high encapsulation efficiency of MnO2QDs@Lip, ultrasensitive detection of SARS-CoV-2 antigen ranging from 0.1 pg/mL to 100 ng/mL is achieved within 20 min. The limit of detection (LOD) is calculated to be 65 fg/mL in PBS buffer. Furthermore, real clinical samples of SARS-CoV-2 antigens can be effectively identified by this immunosensing nanosystem with excellent accuracy. This proposed detection nanosystem provides a strategy for simple, rapid and ultrasensitive detection of pathogens and may shed light on the development of new POCT detection platforms for early diagnosis of pathogens and surveillance in public health.

Functionalized pyrite nanozyme probe and imprinted polymer modified with hydrophilic layer for rapid colorimetric analysis of glycoprotein in serum.

The biological molecules used in the sandwich detection method have problems such as complex extraction processes, high costs, and uneven quality. Therefore we integrated glycoprotein molecularly controllable-oriented surface imprinted magnetic nanoparticles (GMC-OSIMN) and boric acid functionalized pyrite nanozyme probe (BPNP) to replace the traditional antibody and horseradish peroxidase for sensitive detection of glycoproteins through sandwich detection. In this work, a novel nanozyme functionalized with boric acid was used to label glycoproteins that were captured by GMC-OSIMN. The substrate in the working solution catalyzed by the nanozyme labeled on the protein underwent visible color changes to the naked eye, and the generated signal can be quantitatively detected by a spectrophotometer, and the best color development conditions of the novel nanozyme under the influence of many factors were determined through multi-dimensional investigation. The optimum conditions of sandwich are optimized with ovalbumin (OVA), and it was extended to the detection of transferrin (TRF) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the application. The detection range for TRF was 2.0 × 10-1-1.0 × 104 ng mL-1 with a detection limit of 1.32 × 10-1 ng mL-1, The detection range for ALP was 2.0 × 10-3-1.0 × 102 U L-1 with the detection limit of 1.76 × 10-3 U L-1. This method was subsequently used to detect TRF and ALP levels in 16 liver cancer patients, and the standard deviation of the test results of each patient was less than 5.7%.

A Molten-Salt Method to Synthesize Co9 S8 Embedded, N, S Co-Doped Mesoporous Carbons from Melamine Formaldehyde Resins for Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Reactions.

We developed a molten salts process to prepare Co9 S8 nanoparticles (NPs) entrapped, S, N co-doped carbons. Cobalt chloride was used as the cobalt source. The melamine-formaldehyde (MF) resin provided the carbon source and nitrogen source, and thiourea provided sulfur source. In addition, common inorganic salts were added as templates to generate pores. The characterization results showed that the prepared materials contained high contents of N, S and Co, and were mesoporous composites. At the same time, the porosity of electrocatalyst depended on the type of salt and the mass ratio of precursor to salt, which further affected the electrocatalytic activity of hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The best prepared catalyst showed excellent HER performance. The onset overpotential of the catalyst was low (33 mV) and had a small Tafel slope (61.1 mV dec-1 ), in addition to good stability in alkaline media.

An efficient photothermal-chemotherapy platform based on a polyacrylamide/phytic acid/polydopamine hydrogel.

In this work, the polyacrylamide/phytic acid/polydopamine (termed as PAAM/PA/PDA) hydrogel is used as a drug loading matrix and photothermal conversion reagent, which is prepared by copolymerization of dopamine with acrylamide through a phytic acid crosslinker. Due to the porous structure of PAAM and strong near-infrared light (NIR)-absorption of PDA, the PAAM/PA/PDA hydrogel exhibits a high doxorubicin (DOX)-loading capacity (170 mg g-1) and efficient photothermal transduction efficiency (47.4%) even under low power density 808 nm NIR laser (0.75 W cm-2) irradiation, which is superior to those of most conventional photothermal conversion agents reported in the literature. With NIR laser irradiation, the PAAM/PA/PDA hydrogel loaded with DOX (termed as PAAM/PA/PDA/DOX) shows excellent synergistic interaction between photothermal therapy (PTT) and enhanced chemotherapy, resulting in the completely suppressed growth of mouse-bearing SW620 tumors. Furthermore, the PAAM/PA/PDA hydrogel shows good physicochemical stability, negligible cytotoxicity and low toxicity in vivo. All these characteristics render the as-prepared PAAM/PA/PDA hydrogel promising for biomedical applications.