TCOD: an integrated resource for tropical crops.

Tropical crops are vital for tropical agriculture, with resource scarcity, functional diversity and extensive market demand, providing considerable economic benefits for the world's tropical agriculture-producing countries. The rapid development of sequencing technology has promoted a milestone in tropical crop research, resulting in the generation of massive amount of data, which urgently needs an effective platform for data integration and sharing. However, the existing databases cannot fully satisfy researchers' requirements due to the relatively limited integration level and untimely update. Here, we present the Tropical Crop Omics Database (TCOD, https://ngdc.cncb.ac.cn/tcod), a comprehensive multi-omics data platform for tropical crops. TCOD integrates diverse omics data from 15 species, encompassing 34 chromosome-level de novo assemblies, 1 255 004 genes with functional annotations, 282 436 992 unique variants from 2048 WGS samples, 88 transcriptomic profiles from 1997 RNA-Seq samples and 13 381 germplasm items. Additionally, TCOD not only employs genes as a bridge to interconnect multi-omics data, enabling cross-species comparisons based on homology relationships, but also offers user-friendly online tools for efficient data mining and visualization. In short, TCOD integrates multi-species, multi-omics data and online tools, which will facilitate the research on genomic selective breeding and trait biology of tropical crops.

cGAS Mediates Inflammation by Polarizing Macrophages to M1 Phenotype via the mTORC1 Pathway.

Cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS), as a cytosolic DNA sensor, plays a crucial role in antiviral immunity, and its overactivation induces excess inflammation and tissue damage. Macrophage polarization is critically involved in inflammation; however, the role of cGAS in macrophage polarization during inflammation remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that cGAS was upregulated in the LPS-induced inflammatory response via the TLR4 pathway, and cGAS signaling was activated by mitochondria DNA in macrophages isolated from C57BL/6J mice. We further demonstrated that cGAS mediated inflammation by acting as a macrophage polarization switch, which promoted peritoneal macrophages and the bone marrow-derived macrophages to the inflammatory phenotype (M1) via the mitochondrial DNA-mTORC1 pathway. In vivo studies verified that deletion of Cgas alleviated sepsis-induced acute lung injury by promoting macrophages to shift from the M1 phenotype to the M2 phenotype. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that cGAS mediated inflammation by regulating macrophage polarization through the mTORC1 pathway, and it further provided a potential therapeutic strategy for inflammatory diseases, especially sepsis-induced acute lung injury.

TRIM50 promotes NLRP3 inflammasome activation by directly inducing NLRP3 oligomerization.

Tripartite motif protein (TRIM) 50 is a new member of the tripartite motif family, and its biological function and the molecular mechanism it is involved in remain largely unknown. The NOD-like receptor family protein (NLRP)3 inflammasome is actively involved in a wide array of biological processes while mechanisms of its regulation remain to be fully clarified. Here, we demonstrate the role of TRIM50 in NLRP3 inflammasome activation. In contrast to the conventional E3 ligase functions of TRIM proteins, TRIM50 mediates direct oligomerization of NLRP3, thereby suppressing its ubiquitination and promoting inflammasome activation. Mechanistically, TRIM50 directly interacts with NLRP3 through its RING domain and induces NLRP3 oligomerization via its coiled-coil domain. Finally, we show that TRIM50 promotes NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated diseases in mice. We thus reveal a novel regulatory mechanism of NLRP3 via TRIM50 and suggest that modulating TRIM50 might represent a therapeutic strategy for NLRP3-dependent pathologies.

Comparative metabolomic analysis reveals nutritional properties and pigmentation mechanism of tea-scented rosehips.

BACKGROUND: The fruits of the genus Rosa, commonly known as rosehips, have attracted significant attention owing to their rich content of various bioactive compounds. However, their utility is generally secondary to the ornamental appeal of their flowers. This study aimed to explore the quality differences among tea-scented rosehips found in Yunnan, China, including those of Rosa odorata var. odorata (RO), Rosa odorata var. gigantea (RG), and Rosa yangii (RY). Morphological characteristics, chemical composition, and antioxidant activity of their fruits were evaluated. RESULTS: The study revealed significant variability in composition and biological activities based on fruit color. RO exhibited the highest levels of polyphenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, carotenoids, and vitamin C, with the strongest antioxidant activity (10.99 µmol Trolox·g-1 ), followed by RG (7.91 µmol Trolox·g-1 ) and RY (6.52 µmol Trolox·g-1 ). This supports RO's potential as a functional food source. Untargeted metabolomics identified and quantified 502 metabolites, with flavonoids (171) and phenolic acids (147) as the main metabolites. The differential metabolites among the fruits are primarily enriched for flavonoid biosynthesis and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathways. Insights into color formation supported the role of anthocyanins, flavones, and flavonols in fruit color variation. CONCLUSION: Tea-scented rosehips offer vibrant colors and high nutritional value with potent biological activities. Rosa odorata var. odorata stands out as a functional food source owing to its rich bioactive compounds. These findings lay the groundwork for utilizing rosehips in functional foods, health supplements, and food additives, emphasizing the practical and beneficial applications of Rosa spp. independent of their ornamental value. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effectiveness of ultraviolet-C disinfection systems for reduction of multi-drug resistant organism infections in healthcare settings: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

This study aimed to summarise the findings of the studies assessing the effectiveness of ultraviolet C (UV-C) room disinfection in reducing the incidence rate of healthcare-associated multi-drug-resistant organism (MDRO) infections. A systematic screening was conducted using PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus for randomised controlled trials (RCTs), quasi-experimental studies, and before-after studies, which assessed the efficacy of the UV-C disinfectant system in reducing the incidence of MDRO infections. A random-effects model was used for the analysis. Effect sizes were described as incidence rate ratio (IRR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Nine studies were included, all of which were conducted in the USA. No statistically significant reduction in Clostridioides difficile (CD) (IRR: 0.90, 95% CI; 0.62-1.32) and vancomycin-resistant enterococcal (VRE) infection rates (IRR 0.72, 95% CI; 0.38-1.37) was observed with the use of UV-C, but the risk of Gram-negative rod infection was reduced (IRR 0.82, 95% CI; 0.68-0.99).

Relationships between talent development environments and mental toughness: The role of basic psychological need satisfaction.

Although the talent development environment and mental toughness are critical for athletes to realise their athletic potential, there is a dearth of literature on whether the talent development environment can enhance mental toughness among those athletes who are identified with athletic potential (i.e., talented athletes). Drawing on self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 2000), this research examined the relationships between the talent development environment, basic psychological needs satisfaction and mental toughness. Talented athletes (n = 261) completed a survey measuring key features of the talent development environment, needs satisfaction and mental toughness. The results of structural equation modelling indicated that three environmental factors (i.e., long-term development focus, holistic quality preparation and communication) were positive predictors of needs satisfaction, which then positively predicted mental toughness. The talent development environment may be considered for promoting talented athletes' mental toughness.

Tumor-stroma ratio is an independent predictor for survival in early cervical carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: Tumor-stroma ratio (TSR) has recently been identified as an independent prognostic parameter for several solid tumors. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic role of TSR in early cervical cancer. METHODS: A cohort of 184 patients who had surgery for early stage cervical cancer (FIGO [International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics] stages IA2-IIA) were enrolled in this study. TSR was estimated on hematoxylin-eosin-stained tissue sections from the most invasive part of the primary tumor. Patients with less than 50% stroma were classified as stroma-poor and patients with ≥ 50% stroma were classified as stroma-rich. The relationship between TSR and survival time was statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The disease-free survival and overall survival rates were 88.44% and 92.52%, respectively, in the stroma-poor group, and 62.16% and 70.27%, respectively, in the stroma-rich group. Both the disease-free and overall survival rates in the stroma-poor group were significantly better than those in the stroma-rich group (p=0.001). In a multivariate analysis, TSR was further confirmed as a significant prognostic factor for disease-free survival (hazard ratio 3.125; p=0.005) and overall survival (hazard ratio 3.464; p=0.003), independent of tumor size, FIGO stage and lymph node metastasis. CONCLUSION: Our study identified that TSR was an independent prognostic factor of early cervical cancer. Patients with stroma-rich tumors had worse prognosis and higher risk of relapse compared with those with stroma-poor tumors. Considering its simplicity and availability for conventional clinical pathology, TSR may serve as a new prognostic histological characteristic in early cervical cancer.

[Physical exercise and mental health: cognition, anxiety, depression and self-concept].

This review focuses on the benefits of regular physical activity participation have mainly focused on cognitive functioning, anxiety and depression, and self-concept. It is well documented that ex- ercise can enhance cognitive functioning, improve executive function at old age, and improve mental abil- ity of children labeled as educational subnormal or disability. Regular exercise has been used to reduce stress and ward off anxiety and feelings of depression. In addition, exercise can improve self-esteem and positive outlook in life. Studies in these three main areas were reviewed and issues and future directions were highlighted.

Gene cloning of an important eukaryotic translation initiation factor family, eIF2A gene in halophytic Leymus chinensis (Trin.).

Eukaryotic initiation factors eIF2A and eIF2 both play important roles in the mRNA translation of protein synthesis, whereas the functions of eIF2A are usually overlooked, as both functions of binding methyionly-tRNAi (Met-tRNAi) to 40S are similar under the same complementary factor and nucleotide requirements. Recently, the functions of eIF2A were reported to differ from those of eIF2 in manners when binding Met-tRNAi to 40S. Given that eukaryotic initiation factor eIF2 has been well known, eIF2A was still deficient in understanding of its sequence, structure and functions. In this work, we collected a high salt-tolerant grass Leymus chinensis (Trin.) as the object of study, and cloned and sequenced the eIF2A gene from this species. Based on the DNA alignment and analysis of eIF2A gene sequences from other organisms, an effective primer set was newly designed. Using this primer set, a DNA fragment with length of about 500 bp was obtained, and we have submitted this sequencing result to NCBI GenBank database (accession number: KF279515). The Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) result showed that our sequence is highly identical to eIF2A gene sequences that existed in NCBI GenBank database. This work would help to further understand the function of eIF2A, and provide more potential target genes for studying their functions in relation to stress tolerance mechanisms.

Genetic relationship in mulberry (Morus L.) inferred through PCR-RFLP and trnD-trnT sequence data of chloroplast DNA.

Ten universal primer pairs of the plant chloroplast genome were used to amplify the chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) non-coding regions in eight mulberry (Morus spp.) genotypes, including M. mongolica, M. bombycis, M. alba, M. atropurpurea and M. multicaulis. Subsequently, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products were digested by seven restriction enzymes and the trnD-trnT fragment for sequence alignment, and the variations were expected to provide the genetic information for system classification. The results from this study showed that: (1) 10 cpDNA primer pairs could be used for successful amplification in the tested materials, with approximately 17.1 kb of the chloroplast genome analysed. The 152 marker loci were detected by 70 primer/restriction endonuclease combinations, among which the trnD-trnT non-coding region digested by AluI, HinfI, MvaI and RsaI was detected by visible fragment length variation in different genotypes of the genus Morus. (2) eight Morus L. genotypes were divided into two groups based on the digesting pattern discrepancy through cpDNA. The M. multicaulis genotypes displayed diversity on an intraspecies level. 'Nongsang No.12' was identical with the female parent 'Beiqu No.1' (M. atropurpurea) in the surveyed sequence, but different from the male parent 'Tongxiangqing' (M. multicaulis), suggesting that the cpDNA was maternal inheritance in Morus L. (3) There were two deletion fragments (451-456 bp; 840-863bp) and six base point mutations in the trnD-trnT region based on homologous sequence alignment. The sequence of trnD-trnT in the cpDNA of mulberry could provide more genetic information for phylogenetic analysis and pedigree identification.

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) variety discrimination and hybridization analysis based on the 5S rRNA region.

The tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a major vegetable crop worldwide. To satisfy popular demand, more than 500 tomato varieties have been bred. However, a clear variety identification has not been found. Thorough understanding of the phylogenetic relationship and hybridization information of tomato varieties is very important for further variety breeding. Thus, in this study, we collected 26 tomato varieties and attempted to distinguish them based on the 5S rRNA region, which is widely used in the determination of phylogenetic relations. Sequence analysis of the 5S rRNA region suggested that a large number of nucleotide variations exist among tomato varieties. These variable nucleotide sites were also informative regarding hybridization. Chromas sequencing of Yellow Mountain View and Seuwiteuking varieties indicated three and one variable nucleotide sites in the non-transcribed spacer (NTS) of the 5S rRNA region showing hybridization, respectively. Based on a phylogenetic tree constructed using the 5S rRNA sequences, we observed that 16 tomato varieties were divided into three groups at 95% similarity. Rubiking and Sseommeoking, Lang Selection Procedure and Seuwiteuking, and Acorn Gold and Yellow Mountain View exhibited very high identity with their partners. This work will aid variety authentication and provides a basis for further tomato variety breeding.

Investigating the impact of cellulose microgel nanofabrication on the rheological properties of this binary rheology modifier.

The multifunctionality of advanced laundry detergents primarily relies on the inclusion of functional solid particles, such as pearlescent powder, enzymes, and perfume microcapsules. However, the high-content surfactants in these detergents can render most existing suspending rheology modifiers ineffective, making it challenging to achieve uniform suspension of these functional particles. This compromises the overall functionality of laundry products. To address this, we have developed a binary rheology modifier comprising cellulose microgel and HPMC (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose), acting as the "island" and "chain," respectively. Together, they form an interconnected dynamic network that effectively "encapsulates" the functional particles. Furthermore, the cellulose microgel/HPMC rheology modifier demonstrates versatility, proving effective with various surfactants. Despite its potential, the suspension mechanism of cellulose microgel/HPMC remains elusive. Therefore, we conducted a comprehensive investigation, fabricating cellulose microgels with varying nanofabrication degrees and surface charges through TEMPO oxidation. Our findings highlight the critical role of the surficial structure of T-Microgel, specifically its nanofabrication degree, in influencing the dynamic network's fabrication, thereby impacting yield and thixotropic properties. The surface charge of T-microgel does not significantly influence the process. This research not only elucidates the intricate dynamics of cellulose microgel/HPMC interaction but also provides fundamental insights essential for the development of innovative rheology modifiers tailored for high-content surfactant applications.

PEI functionalized cell membrane for tumor targeted and glutathione responsive gene delivery.

Polyethylenimine (PEI) is a broadly exploited cationic polymer due to its remarkable gene-loading capacity. However, the high cytotoxicity caused by its high surface charge density has been reported in many cell lines, limiting its application significantly. In this study, two different molecular weights of PEI (PEI10k and PEI25k) were crosslinked with red blood cell membranes (RBCm) via disulfide bonds to form PEI derivatives (RMPs) with lower charge density. Furthermore, the targeting molecule folic acid (FA) molecules were further grafted onto the polymers to obtain FA-modified PEI-RBCm copolymers (FA-RMP25k) with tumor cell targeting and glutathione response. In vitro experiments showed that the FA-RMP25k/DNA complex had satisfactory uptake efficiency in both HeLa and 293T cells, and did not cause significant cytotoxicity. Furthermore, the uptake and transfection efficiency of the FA-RMP25k/DNA complex was significantly higher than that of the PEI25k/DNA complex, indicating that FA grafting can increase transfection efficiency by 15 %. These results suggest that FA-RMP25k may be a promising non-viral gene vector with potential applications in gene therapy.

Comparative metabolomics profiling reveals the unique bioactive compounds and astringent taste formation of rosehips.

Rosehips are a prominent source of numerous bioactive compounds. However, despite their extensive potential, the metabolic profiles among different rosehip species have not been fully elucidated. In this study, 523 secondary metabolites from rosehips of 12 Rosa species were identified using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. They were primarily composed of flavonoids and phenolic acids. A K-means analysis revealed the characteristic metabolites in different rosehips. For example, R. persica contained a more abundant supply of phenolic acids, while R. roxburghii harbored a richer array of terpenoids. A total of 73 key active ingredients were screened from traditional Chinese medicine databases, and they indicated that R. persica is more promising for use in functional foods or health supplements compared with the other fruits. Moreover, a differential analysis identified 47 compounds as potential contributors to the astringent taste of rosehips, including ellagic acid 4-O-glucoside and cadaverine. This study provides valuable information to develop new functional foods of rosehips and improve the quality of their fruits.

Dexmedetomidine attenuates ferroptosis by Keap1-Nrf2/HO-1 pathway in LPS-induced acute kidney injury.

Previous research has demonstrated that Dexmedetomidine (DEX), an α2 adrenergic agonist commonly used for its sedative and analgesic properties, can attenuate lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute kidney injury (AKI). This study explores the possibility that DEX's protective effects in LPS-induced AKI are mediated through the inhibition of ferroptosis, a form of regulated cell death characterized by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation, and the activation of the antioxidant response through the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway. We induced AKI in 42 mice using LPS and divided them into six groups: saline control, LPS, LPS + DEX, LPS + Ferrostatin-1 (LPS + Fer-1; a ferroptosis inhibitor), LPS + DEX with α2-receptor antagonist Altipamizole (LPS + DEX + ATI), and LPS + DEX with Nrf2 inhibitor ML385 (LPS + DEX + ML385). After 24 h, we analyzed blood and kidney tissues. LPS exposure resulted in AKI, with increased serum creatinine, BUN, and cystatin C, and tubular damage, which DEX and Fer-1 ameliorated. However, Altipamizole and ML385 negated these improvements. The LPS group exhibited elevated oxidative stress markers and mitochondrial damage, reduced by DEX and Fer-1, but not when α2-adrenergic or Nrf2 pathways were blocked. Nrf2 and HO-1 expression declined in the LPS group, rebounded with LPS + DEX and LPS + Fer-1, and fell again with inhibitors; inversely, Keap1 expression varied. Our results demonstrate that DEX may protect against LPS-induced AKI, at least partially by regulating ferroptosis and the α2-adrenergic receptor/Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, suggesting a potential therapeutic role for DEX in AKI management by modulating cell death and antioxidant defenses.

Restoration of chemosensitivity in cancer cells with MDR phenotype by deoxyribozyme, compared with ribozyme.

One of the main mechanisms for multidrug resistance (MDR) involves multidrug resistance gene 1 (MDR1) which encodes P-glycoprotein (Pgp). Pgp acts as a drug efflux pump and exports chemotherapeutic agents from cancer cells. Specific inhibition of Pgp expression by gene therapy is considered a well-respective strategy having less innate toxicities. At present, the investigation of DRz in reversal MDR is scarce. In the study, phosphorothioate DRz that targets to the translation initiation codon AUG was synthesized and transfected into breast cancer cells and leukemia cells with MDR phenotype. ASODN (antisense oligonucleotide) and ribozyme targets to the same region were also synthesized for comparison analysis. Alterations in MDR1 mRNA and Pgp were determined by RT-PCR, Northern blot, flow cytometry and Rh123 retention tests. Chemosensitivity of the treated cells was determined by MTT assay. The results showed that DRz could significantly suppress expression of MDR1 mRNA and inhibit synthesis of Pgp. The efflux activity of Pgp was inhibited accordingly. Chemosensitivity assay showed that a 21-fold reduction in drug resistance for Adriamycin and a 45-fold reduction in drug resistance for Vinblastine were found in the treated cells 36h after transfection. These data suggest that DRz targeted to the translation initiation codon AUG can reverse MDR phenotype in cancer cells and restore their chemosensitivity. Moreover, the reversal efficiency of DRz is better than that of ribozyme and ASODN targets to the same region of MDR1 mRNA.

Sensitivity of translation initiation factor eIF1 as a molecular target of salt toxicity to sodic-alkaline stress in the halophytic grass Leymus chinensis.

Eukaryotic translation initiation factors (eIFs) have been shown to be critical in the initiation of protein synthesis. Here, we report the cloning and characterization of a novel gene, LceIF1, from a potentially interesting forage grass, Leymus chinensis (Trin.). The expression results show that LceIF1 is expressed in most organisms under normal conditions, but the transcription patterns differ under sodic-saline and sodic-alkaline stresses. Sodic-saline stress induced a persistent decrease, and sodic-alkaline stress induced overexpression of LceIF1. Potassic-saline and alkaline stresses did not cause any changes in expression of eIF1. These results indicate that not only pH but also Na(+) concentration affects overtranscription of LceIF1. The eIF1 transgenic lines showed relatively high eIF1 expression, resulting in potentially higher stress resistance. Combined with eIF1 transcription in transgenic lines, LceIF1 as a molecular target of salt toxicity is believed to help enhance salt tolerance.

[Study on quality of five hybrid corn kernels by FTIR spectroscopy].

The aim of this work was to study the feasibility of evaluating quality of corn kernels using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The spectra of five kinds of hybrid corn kernels were obtained by infrared spectrometer rapidly. The infrared spectrum between 1 776 and 952 cm(-1) was composed of absorption bands of protein, starch and lipid mainly. The absorption band of starch was strong, and the band of protein was weak. The characteristic bands of starch, protein and lipid were highly overlapped, and main information was concealed. Curve-fitting the spectrum between 1 776 and 952 cm(-1), significant information was presented. The percentage of band area at 1 051 and 1 548 cm(-1) in total band area has a linear relationship with the concentration of starch and protein. The results showed that Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy combined with curve-fitting could be used to analyse the concentration of starch and protein in corn kernel, and provides a rapid and convenient method to study hybrid corn.

Development of a biomimetic DNA delivery system by encapsulating polyethyleneimine functionalized silicon quantum dots with cell membranes.

Quantum dots (QDs) are renowned for their remarkable optoelectronic properties, making them suitable for applications such as bioimaging and optoelectronics. However, their use in gene delivery has been restricted due to the low DNA loading capacity. This study aimed to develop a biomimetic DNA delivery system by encapsulating polyethyleneimine (PEI) functionalized silicon QDs (SiQDs) with cell membranes and evaluate its potential as a gene vector in vitro. To achieve this, hydrophilic dispersed silicon QDs (PQDs) were prepared through a one-pot hydrothermal reaction of PEI and 3-Aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS). Subsequently, red blood cell membrane (RBCM) encapsulated biomimetic QDs (CM-PQDs) was obtained through the extrusion method. The CM-PQDs exhibited higher DNA loading capacity and better stability than naked SiQDs. The CM-PQDs/DNA complex was effectively taken up by cells, as observed through the fluorescence characteristics of QDs themselves. Both CM-P10QDs (prepared with PEI10k) and CM-P25QDs (prepared with PEI25k) could deliver DNA into cells and express the reporter protein successfully. CM-P25QDs showed a higher transfection efficiency of 77.32% in 293 T cells and 47.11% in HeLa cells than SiQDs and CM-P10QDs. The results also indicated that cell membrane encapsulation could effectively reduce the cytotoxicity of SiQDs further. Therefore, the study concludes that CM-PQDs have the potential to serve as a safe and traceable biomimetic gene delivery system.

The combined plasma membrane coating and cluster bombing strategy for improved tumor-targeting gene delivery of silicon nanoclusters.

With the promising biosafety and favorable cell imaging efficiency, silicon quantum dots (SiQDs) was broadly exploited as non-viral gene carriers in recent years. However, the low transfection efficiency and weak targeting ability hindered its further clinical applications. In this study, the combined plasma membrane coating and cluster bombing strategy was adopted to enhance the gene delivery potential of silicon quantum dots nanoclusters (SiNC). Initially, SiNC was generated via 3, 3'-Dithiodipropionic acid (DipA) crosslinking of SiQDs, then the obtained nanoclusters were coated by distinct plasma membrane. Interestingly, cell membrane coated SiNC (CM-SiNC) underwent particle size change, the typical character of "cluster bombing", when exposed to high GSH concentration, which was observed in the tumor microenvironment. Meanwhile, CM-SiNC can be efficiently uptaken by HEK 293T and HeLa cells, therefore transferring DNA into those cells. More importantly, among the particles coated by HeLa (HeLa-M), Red Blood (RBC-M) or RAW267.4 (RAW-M) cell membrane, HeLa cell membrane coating exhibited better cellular uptake and transfection efficiency in HeLa cells, which suggested the encouraging tumor targeting ability. In sum, these data suggested that cluster bombing of SiNC could be beneficial for physical stability and biodistribution, the additional plasma membrane coating further endowed SiNC the efficient gene delivery and tumor targeting ability. Therefore, CM-SiNC had the potential as a gene delivery vector and its application should be further addressed in vivo.