Detecting Aflatoxin B1 in Peanuts by Fourier Transform Near-Infrared Transmission and Diffuse Reflection Spectroscopy.

Aflatioxin B1 (AFB1) has been recognized by the International Agency of Research on Cancer as a group 1 carcinogen in animals and humans. A fast, batch, and real-time control and no chemical pollution method was developed for the discrimination and quantification prediction of AFB1-infected peanuts by applying Fourier transform near-infrared (FT-NIR) coupled with chemometrics. Initially, the near-infrared transmission (NIRT) and diffuse reflection (NIRR) modules were applied to collect spectra of the samples. The principal component analysis (PCA) method was employed to extract the characteristic wavelength, followed by different preprocessing methods (seven methods) to build an effective linear discriminant analysis (LDA) classification and partial least squares (PLS) quantification models. The results showed that, for both the NIRT or NIRR modules, the LDA classification models satisfactorily distinguished peanuts infected with AFB1 or from those not infected, with external validation showing a 100% correct identification rate and a 0% misjudgment rate. In addition, combined with the concentration of AFB1 in peanuts determined by enzyme-linked immunoassay assay, the best partial least squares (PLS) models were established, with a combination of the first derivative and the Norris derivative filter smoothing pretreatment (Rc2 = 0.937 and 0.984, RMSECV = 3.92% and 2.22%, RPD = 3.98 and 7.91 for NIRR and NIRT, respectively). The correlation coefficient between the predicted value and the reference value in the external verification was 0.998 and 0.917, respectively. This study highlights that both spectral acquisition modules meet the requirements of online, rapid, and accurate identification of peanut AFB1 infection in the early stages.

Smart-Temporary-Film-Based Local-Delivery System with Controllable Drug-Release Behavior.

The development of a simple local drug-delivery system that exhibits the advantages of macro- and microscale carriers with controllable drug-release behavior is still highly desired. Herein, in this work, a smart temporary film was prepared from doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded shape-memory microgels via a simple hot-compression programming method. The temporary film showed a very smooth surface and easy handing, as well as macroscopy mechanical properties, which could disintegrate into the microgels with heating at 45 °C. In this case, the temporary film showed a controllable DOX release behavior when compared with the microgels, which could release the DOX on demand. Consequently, the temporary film exhibited weaker cytotoxicity to normal cells and a much longer antitumor capability, as well as a higher drug-utilization efficiency when compared with microgels. Therefore, the smart temporary film has high potential as a candidate for use as a local drug-delivery system.

Fabrication of gentamicin loaded Col-I/HA multilayers modified titanium coatings for prevention of implant infection.

In this study, gentamicin loaded collagen I/hyaluronic acid multilayers modified titanium coating (TC-AA(C/H)6-G) was fabricated via a layer-by-layer (LBL) covalent immobilization method. The drug releasing properties of collagen I/Hyaluronic acid (Col-I/HA) multilayers and the effect of loaded gentamicin on the antibacterial properties and cytocompatibility of modified TC were investigated. The gentamicin release assay indicated that the Col-I/HA multilayers modified TC exhibited agreeable drug-loading amount (537.22 ± 29.66 µg of gentamicin) and controlled-release performance (240 h of sustained release time). TC-AA(C/H)6-G revealed satisfactory antibacterial activity and inhibited the colonization and biofilm formation of S. aureus. Fortunately, the functions of hMSCs on TC-AA(C/H)6-G did not affected by the loaded gentamicin, and TC-AA(C/H)6-G could improve the adhesion, proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of cells, as well as TC-AA(C/H)6. In vivo animal study indicated that TC-AA(C/H)6-G could effectively control intramedullary cavity infection caused by S. aureus and prevent bone destruction.

Fabrication of a gradient hydrophobic surface with parallel ridges on pyrolytic carbon for artificial heart valves.

Effective surface modification to endow pyrolytic carbon (PYC) with long-term anti-thrombotic performance is highly demanded. In this work, a gradient hydrophobic surface on PYC was prepared by creating parallel ridges via the combination of laser etching technology and surface fluorosilanization. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation confirms that the gradient hydrophobic surface is composed of a bare PYC region and four regions of parallel ridges with varying distances. The gradient hydrophobic surface is stable in air, phosphate buffer solution (PBS), and flowing PBS. Additionally, the gradient hydrophobic surface on PYC shows spontaneous droplet motion and much lower flow resistance than bare PYC. Compared to bare PYC, the gradient hydrophobic surface on PYC exhibits better blood compatibility and anti-adhesion performance. The results presented in this paper confirm that creating a gradient hydrophobic surface is an effective way of achieving long-lasting anti-thrombosis property.

Enhanced Physicochemical and Biological Properties of a Low-Temperature Copperized Layer on Gradient Nanograined Pure Titanium.

The application of titanium as medical implants is limited to a certain extent due to its insufficient corrosion resistance, biological activity, and antibacterial ability. In this work, a gradient nanograined (GNG) layer was fabricated on the titanium surface by surface ultrasonic rolling treatment (SURT). The subsequent copperizing kinetics was greatly enhanced so that a thick copperized layer could be obtained on the surface of GNG Ti at a relatively low diffusion temperature (450 °C). Meanwhile, the GNG structure accelerated the release rate of Cu2+, which endows GNG Cu/Ti with strong antibacterial activity. Moreover, the corrosion resistance and cytocompatibility of GNG Cu/Ti were also evidently improved compared with coarse-grained Ti, indicating a good biomedical application prospect.

Heparinization and hybridization of electrospun tubular graft for improved endothelialization and anticoagulation.

Constructing biomimetic structure and immobilizing antithrombus factors are two effective methods to ensure rapid endothelialization and long-term anticoagulation for small-diameter vascular grafts. However, few literatures are available regarding simultaneous implementation of these two strategies. Herein, a nano-micro-fibrous biomimetic graft with a heparin coating was prepared via a step-by-step in situ biosynthesis method to improve potential endothelialization and anticoagulation. The 4-mm-diameter tubular graft consists of electrospun cellulose acetate (CA) microfibers and entangled bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) nanofibers with heparin coating on dual fibers. The hybridized and heparinized graft possesses suitable pore structure that facilitates endothelia cells adhesion and proliferation but prevents infiltration of fibrous tissue and blood leakage. In addition, it shows higher mechanical properties than those of bare CA and hybridized CA/BNC grafts, which match well with native blood vessels. Moreover, this dually modified graft exhibits improved blood compatibility and endothelialization over the counterparts without hybridization or heparinization according to the testing results of platelet adhesion, cell morphology, and protein expression of von Willebrand Factor. This novel graft with dual modifications shows promising as a new small-diameter vascular graft. This study provides a guidance for promoting endothelialization and blood compatibility by dual modifications of biomimetic structure and immobilized bioactive molecules.

Controllable synthesis of biomimetic nano/submicro-fibrous tubes for potential small-diameter vascular grafts.

Mimicking the morphological structure of native blood vessels is critical for the development of vascular grafts. Herein, small-diameter composite vascular grafts that integrate the nanofibrous bacterial cellulose (BC) and submicrofibrous cellulose acetate (CA) were fabricated via a combined electrospinning and step-by-step in situ biosynthesis. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation shows the nano/submicro-fibrous morphology and well-interconnected porous structure of the BC/CA grafts. It is found that the BC/CA graft with a suitable BC content demonstrates lower potential of thrombus formation and enhanced endothelialization as compared to the BC and CA counterparts. Western blotting and RT-qPCR results suggest that the BC/CA-2 graft promotes endothelialization by improving expressions of genes vWF-1 and CD31 and protein CD31. The in vivo tests demonstrate much lower inflammatory response to the BC/CA graft. These results suggest that the BC/CA graft shows a great potential as an artificial graft for rapid formation of an endothelial cell monolayer.

Laser-induced wettability gradient surface on NiTi alloy for improved hemocompatibility and flow resistance.

Blood contacting materials with anti-thrombotic surfaces are highly demanded in clinics. Despite considerable research on surface modifications, limited progress has been made on effective prevention of thrombosis for artificial implants such as mechanical valve prosthesis. Herein, wettability gradient surface, which can ideally exhibit good hemocompatibility and low flow resistance, was developed for potential reduction of thrombosis. The wettability gradient surface on a model substrate of nickel-titanium (NiTi) alloy was prepared via a simple and economic method that combined laser microfabrication and surface stearic acid self-assembly approach. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation confirmed that the wettability gradient surface was composed of a smooth NiTi region and three porous regions with different pore sizes and distances. Contact angle measurement revealed that, together with a low surface energy layer, the structural topography gradient could create a wettability gradient surface on NiTi alloy which could drive droplet motion. When compared with bare NiTi, such wettability gradient surface exhibited better anti-adhesion property, which was beneficial to the hemocompatibility and thus showing a lower hemolysis rate. Additionally, the wettability gradient surface also showed much lower flow resistance than bare NiTi. These results demonstrate that the developed wettability gradient surface may be used to reduce thrombosis.

Novel three-dimensional 3d-4f microporous magnets exhibiting selective gas adsorption behavior.

Three microporous Ln-Co-pyta heterometallic compounds [Ln4Co3(pyta)6(H2O)9].5H2O (Ln = Sm (1), Eu (2), Gd (3); H3pyta = 2,4,6-pyridinetricarboxylic acid) have interesting selective adsorption abilities towards H2/N2 and CO2/N2 because of size-selective effects; magnetic analysis reveals that has a ferromagnetic behavior.

Reactivity of 4-amino-3,5-bis(pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazole, structures and magnetic properties of polynuclear and polymeric Mn(II), Cu(II) and Cd(II) complexes.

Five new complexes were obtained from solution or hydrothermal reactions of M(OAc)(2) (M = Mn, Cu and Cd) or CuCl(2) with 4-amino-3,5-bis(pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazole (abpt) and NaN(3) or 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid (btcH(3)) in different molar ratios. Structural analysis reveals that Cd(abpt) units in [Cd(abpt)(mu(1,1)-N(3))(2)](n) (1) are bridged by double mu(1,1) end-on (EO) azides into 1D zigzag coordination chains. Similar structural motifs, i.e. the chelation of abpt to the metal center and the double bridges of EO azides, are found in [Mn(4)(abpt)(4)(mu(1,1)-N(3))(8)(H(2)O)(2)] (2). The terminal aqua molecules and the monodentate N(3)(-) groups lead to the formation of a tetranuclear complex rather than a polymeric compound. The abpt underwent deamination in the presence of copper ions during the process of coordination and became 3,5-bis(pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazolate (bpt-H) in 3-5. [Cu(4)(bpt-H)(4)(N(3))(4)].4.5H(2)O (3) is a neutral tetranuclear grid-like complex, in which the azides act as monodentate ligands. A similar [Cu(4)(bpt-H)(4)](4+) grid-like unit was found in [Cu(4)(bpt-H)(4)(mu-btcH)Cl(2)].2H(2)O (4) and a pair of symmetry-related copper atoms are bridged by the mu-btcH(2)(-) coligand in a butterfly-shaped structure. In [Cu(2)(bpt-H)(mu(6)-btc)(H(2)O)](n) (5), the tetranuclear {Cu(4)(mu-bpt-H)(2)(mu(3)-carboxylate)(2)}(4+) units are bridged by mu(6)-btc(3-) ligands in a 2D step-like layer structure. Temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal that the double mu(1,1)-N(3)(-) bridges in 2 transmit the ferromagnetic interactions between Mn(2+) centers (J(1) = J(2) = +3.09(4) cm(-1), g(Mn(II)) = 2.02(1)), and the mu-(bpt-H)(-) bridges transmit moderate antiferromagnetic interactions in both 3 (J = -12.78(13) cm(-1)) and 4 (J(1) = -14.96(11) cm(-1)). In 4 the antiferromagnetic coupling via the mu-btcH(2-) bridge was found as the second coupling pathway (J(2) = -9.48(7) cm(-1)). The coexistence of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic coupling between four Cu(2+) centers occurs in 5 (J(1) = -0.88(3) cm(-1) and J(2) = +5.01(2) cm(-1)). The magneto-structural relationship for tetranuclear copper pyrazolate/triazolate compounds has been discussed.