The potential diagnostic power of CD138+ microparticles from the plasma analysis for multiple myeloma clinical monitoring.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is malignant tumor with abnormal proliferation of bone marrow plasma cells. The existing clinical tools used to determine treatment response and tumor relapse are limited in sensitivity. We investigated the CD138+ microparticles (MPs) of MM patients to find out whether MPs could provide a novel means to monitor the malignant cells in MM patients. Our study showed that the levels of MPs were significantly elevated in MM patients. The MP counts in peripheral blood from new diagnosed MM patients were significantly higher than patients in CR and HD. Consist with the total MPs, the number of the PC-derived MPs (CD138+) increased in BM from MM patients compared with CR and HD. The ratio of the PC-derived MPs (CD138+) in BM increased in MM patients compared with CR and HD. The correlation test revealed that the CD138+ MPs in BM and PB were all positively correlated with the plasmacyte ratio in bone marrow (BMPC) and the ß2 -MG. New diagnosed MM patients and controls were compared, and ROC curves were used to identify cutoff points with optimal sensitivity and specificity concerning the ratios and counts of CD138+ MPs in BM and PB. The AUC of the CD138+ MP counts in BM was 0.767, and in PB was 0.680. The AUC of the CD138+ MP ratios in BM was 0.714, and in PB was 0.666. According to this, the counts of CD138+ MPs in BM showed to be a powerful marker of diagnosis. We demonstrated that CD138+ MPs from the plasma provide support for a potential monitoring biomarker of MM.

Berberine-loaded Janus nanocarriers for magnetic field-enhanced therapy against hepatocellular carcinoma.

Berberine, an bioactive isoquinolin alkaloid from traditional Chinese herbs, is considered to be a promising agent based on its remarkable activity against hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the clinical application of this nature compound had been hampered owing to its properties such as poor aqueous solubility, low gastrointestinal absorption, and reduced bioavailability. Therefore, we developed Janus magnetic mesoporous silica nanoparticles (Fe3 O4 -mSiO2 NPs) consisting of a Fe3 O4 head for magnetic targeting and a mesoporous SiO2 body for berberine delivery. A pH-sensitive group was introduced on the surface of mesoporous silica for berberine loading to develop a tumor microenvironment-responsive nanocarrier, which exhibited uniform morphology, good superparamagnetic properties, high drug-loading amounts, superior endocytic ability, and low cytotoxicity. Berberine-loaded Fe3 O4 -mSiO2 NPs exerted extraordinarily high specificity for hepatocellular carcinoma cells, which was due to the pH-responsive berberine release, as well as higher endocytosis capacity in hepatocellular carcinoma cells rather than normal liver cells. More importantly, an external magnetic field could significantly improve antitumor activity of Ber-loaded Fe3 O4 -mSiO2 NPs through enhancing berberine internalization. Taken together, our results suggest that Janus nanocarriers driven by the magnetic field may provide an effective and safe way to facilitate clinical use of berberine against hepatocellular carcinoma.

Preparation of a Fe3O4-Au-GO nanocomposite for simultaneous treatment of oil/water separation and dye decomposition.

A nanocomposite capable of simultaneously controlling multiple water pollutants (soluble organic dye and insoluble chemical solvent) has been obtained. The Au and Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) were modified on a graphene oxide (GO) surface via light reduction and covalent attachment. The obtained Fe3O4-Au-GO nanocomposite has magnetic driving ability and catalytic applications. The nanocomposite can form emulsions after wrapping an insoluble and volatile organic solvent inside; moreover, the multi-layer graphene shell structure may delay volatilization of the solvent, ensuring that the oil droplets are collected efficiently and completely by the Fe3O4-Au-GO nanocomposite. At the same time, the Au NPs on the surface of the composite can effectively catalyze the decomposition of an organic dye in water and the recovery of the nanocomposite catalyst can also be realized using an external magnetic field. The simultaneous treatment of non-soluble oil (organic solvents) and organic dyes in water can be realized by the Fe3O4-Au-GO nanocomposite. Therefore, based on surface modification of GO, one material with two types of water pollution treatment functions was realized. This provides a new way for the simultaneous treatment of oil separation and dye decomposition, and the assembled structure may result in emulsions to give new applications in fuel cells and other fields.

Integrated optofluidic-microfluidic twin channels: toward diverse application of lab-on-a-chip systems.

Optofluidics, which integrates microfluidics and micro-optical components, is crucial for optical sensing, fluorescence analysis, and cell detection. However, the realization of an integrated system from optofluidic manipulation and a microfluidic channel is often hampered by the lack of a universal substrate for achieving monolithic integration. In this study, we report on an integrated optofluidic-microfluidic twin channels chip fabricated by one-time exposure photolithography, in which the twin microchannels on both surfaces of the substrate were exactly aligned in the vertical direction. The twin microchannels can be controlled independently, meaning that fluids could flow through both microchannels simultaneously without interfering with each other. As representative examples, a tunable hydrogel microlens was integrated into the optofluidic channel by femtosecond laser direct writing, which responds to the salt solution concentration and could be used to detect the microstructure at different depths. The integration of such optofluidic and microfluidic channels provides an opportunity to apply optofluidic detection practically and may lead to great promise for the integration and miniaturization of Lab-on-a-Chip systems.

Facile Synthesis of Core-shell Magnetic Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for pH-sensitive Anticancer Drug Delivery.

The facile synthesis of core-shell magnetic mesoporous silica nanoparticles (Fe3 O4 @mSiO2 NPs) was reported in aqueous phase using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide as a template under alcohol-free conditions. Compared to the conventional synthesis method for core-shell Fe3 O4 @mSiO2 NPs, the approach in this study is rapid (only 5-min reaction time), cheap (without using organic agents), and environmentally friendly (one-step synthesis in alcohol-free medium). Doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded Fe3 O4 @mSiO2 NPs exert extraordinarily high specificity for liver cancer cells, which was due to the pH-sensitive doxorubicin release, as well as higher endocytosis capacity in liver cancer cells rather than normal liver cells. The potential advantages of using such Fe3 O4 @mSiO2 NPs as the vehicle of anticancer drugs were that the Fe3 O4 @mSiO2 NPs exhibit good biocompatibility, high loading and protection of the guest molecules, selective killing effect, and efficient cellular uptake. The exciting pH-dependent release properties of doxorubicin-loaded Fe3 O4 @mSiO2 NPs make their use a promising strategy for enhancing efficient therapy toward tumors, while reducing the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin to human normal neutral tissue or cells.

Self-propelled micromotors based on Au-mesoporous silica nanorods.

Here, a chemical powered micromotor from the assembly of Au-SiO2 nanorods is presented. This new micromotor can be propelled efficiently by hydrogen bubbles generated from a hydrolysis reaction of aqueous NaBH4 and KBH4 and by oxygen bubbles produced by decomposition of H2O2. The monodisperse Au nanoparticles in mesoporous silica particles could catalyze the decomposition of two different kinds of fuels and produce bubbles. High speeds of 80 µm s(-1) and recycles of more than 30 times are achieved in both NaBH4 and H2O2 media. Locomotion and rolling forms of movement were found. The locomotion forms can be obtained in a larger proportion by patterning the Au-SiO2 nanorods and a PDMS membrane. These micromotors that use multiple fuel sources to power them offer a broader scope of preparation and show considerable promise for diverse applications of nanomotors in different chemical environments.

Magnetic/upconversion luminescent mesoparticles of Fe3O4@LaF3:Yb3+, Er3+ for dual-modal bioimaging.

Multifunctional magnetic/upconversion luminescent mesoparticles, consisting of a Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticle core and a LaF(3):Yb(3+), Er(3+) nanocrystal shell, have been developed using a facile co-precipitation approach. Owing to their excellent superparamagnetic properties, superior T(2)-enhanced magnetic resonance effect and strong upconversion emissions, the as-formed mesoparticles have great potential in diverse medical diagnostics and biological imaging.