Transcriptome-wide N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation profiling of long non-coding RNAs in ovarian endometriosis.

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation is the most prevalent internal epigenetic posttranscriptional mechanism for regulating mammalian RNA. Despite recent advances in determining the biological functions of m6A methylation, its association with the pathology of ovarian endometriosis remains uncertain. Herein, we performed m6A transcriptome-wide profiling to identify key lncRNAs with m6A modification involved in ovarian endometriosis development by bioinformatics analysis. We found the total m6A level was lower in ovarian endometriosis than in normal endometrium samples, with 9663 m6A peaks associated with 8989 lncRNAs detected in ovarian endometriosis and 9902 m6A peaks associated with 9210 lncRNAs detected in normal endometrium samples. These m6A peaks were primarily enriched within AAACU motifs. Functional enrichment analysis indicated that pathways involving the regulation of adhesion and development were significantly enriched in these differentially methylated lncRNAs. The regulatory relationships among lncRNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs), and mRNAs were identified by competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) analysis and determination of the network regulating lncRNA-mRNA expression. Several specific lncRNA, including LINC00665, LINC00937, FZD10-AS1, DIO3OS and GATA2-AS1 which were differently expressed and modified by m6A, were validated using qRT-PCR and its interaction with infiltrating immune cells was explored. Furthermore, we found LncRNA DIO3OS promotes the invasion and migration of Human endometrial stromal cells (THESCs) and ALKBH5 regulates the expression of the lncRNA DIO3OS through m6A modification in vitro. Our study firstly revealed the transcriptome-wide map of m6A modification in lncRNAs of ovarian endometriosis. These findings may enable the determination of the underlying mechanism governing the pathogenesis of ovarian endometriosis and provide theoretical basis for further deeper research on the role of m6A in the development of ovarian endometriosis.

Green One-Step Strategy of Conductive Ink for Active Health Monitoring in Rehabilitation and Early Care.

Conductive ink deposited on flexible substrates through simple methods such as dyeing or printing is one of the most promising approaches for scalable fabrication of wearable electronics. However, excessive chemical additives or a complex preparation process has limited the practical applications of conductive inks. Herein, a highly stable and antibacterial AgNPs/CNT/rGO (SACR) conductive ink with the only assistance of sustainable silk sericin (SS) is developed through a green one-step strategy. SS functions as not only the reductant of silver ions and GO by donating electrons but also the dispersant and stabilizer of CNTs through strong noncovalent interactions. The universality of SACR ink is demonstrated by depositing on various flexible substrates through handwriting, screen-printing, and dyeing techniques; meanwhile, the mechanical reliability between SACR ink and substrates is validated by peeling, bending, and twisting measurements. In addition, the synergistic effects of the multilevel hierarchical 0D/1D/2D structure and abundant interfacial interactions in SACR ink are advantageous to enhancing sensing performance. An SACR ink-based strain sensor and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) sensor are fabricated to detect physical and biochemical indicators, demonstrating the enormous potential of SACR ink in intelligent wearables for active health monitoring in early care.

Carboxylated Carbon Nanotube/Polyimide Films with Low Thermal Expansion Coefficient and Excellent Mechanical Properties.

Polyimide (PI) films with excellent heat resistance and outstanding mechanical properties have been widely researched in microelectronics and aerospace fields. However, most PI films can only be used under ordinary conditions due to their instability of dimension. The fabrication of multifunctional PI films for harsh conditions is still a challenge. Herein, flexible, low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and improved mechanical properties films modified by carboxylated carbon nanotube (C-CNT) were fabricated. Acid treatment was adapted to adjust the surface characteristics by using a mixture of concentrated H2SO4/HNO3 solution to introduce carboxyl groups on the surface and improve the interfacial performance between the CNT and matrix. Moreover, different C-CNT concentrations of 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 wt.% were synthesized to use for the PI film fabrication. The results demonstrated that the 9 wt.% and 5 wt.% C-CNT/PI films possessed the lowest CTE value and the highest mechanical properties. In addition, the thermal stability of the C-CNT/PI films was improved, making them promising applications in precise and harsh environments.

Role of GLI1 in Hypoxia-Driven Endometrial Stromal Cell Migration and Invasion in Endometriosis.

Endometriosis (EMs) is a benign disease with the characteristics of invasion and migration, and its pathogenesis is related to hypoxia. The abnormal activation of glioma-associated oncogene homolog 1 (GLI1) plays an important role in the metastasis of multiple types of tumors. However, it is not clear whether GLI1 regulates the migration and invasion of endometrial stromal cells under hypoxic condition. Therefore, we use comprehensive analysis to explore the effects of hypoxic on GLI1 expression and their regulation on the pathogenesis of EMs. In this study, from immunohistochemistry, RT-qPCR, and western blot analysis, we discovered that the expression of hypoxia-induced factor-1α (HIF-1α) and GLI1 was significantly increased in eutopic and ectopic endometrium of patients with EMs. In human primary eutopic endometrial stromal cells (ESCs), hypoxia can increase the expression of HIF-1α and GLI1 in a time-dependent manner. And hypoxia could promote GLI1 expression in a HIF-1α-dependent manner. Moreover, data from transwell assays manifested that the migration and invasion ability of ESCs was significantly enhanced under hypoxia, and this effect could be reversed by silencing GLI1. Furthermore, the expression of MMP2 and MMP9 was also increased under hypoxia, while silencing GLI1 could reverse this event. In summary, our research verified that GLI1, which activated by hypoxia, may contribute to the migration and invasion of ESCs through the upregulation of MMP2 and MMP9 and can be a novel therapeutic target in EMs.

Super-strong CNT composite yarn with tight CNT packing via a compress-stretch process.

Carbon nanotube yarn (CNTY) with a large size and excellent mechanical properties could have wide technological influence in fields ranging from electrical devices to wearable textiles; however, inventing such CNTY has remained excessively challenging. Herein, we introduce an interesting approach to produce highly densified, robust CNT/polyvinyl alcohol composite yarn (CNT/PVA-P CY) with a large diameter and excellent comprehensive properties via a compressing and stretching method. Our method allows the PVA polymer chains to be well-dispersed into CNT intra- and inner-bundles with a controllable diameter and desirable mechanical properties. The resulting CNT/PVA-P CY exhibits an ultra-large diameter (∼140 µm), admirable mechanical properties (tensile strength of up to 1475 MPa and Young's modulus of up to 24.98 GPa), light weight (1.28 g cm-3), high electrical conductivity (792 S cm-1), outstanding flexibility, and anti-abrasive abilities. The successful obtainment of such attractive properties in yarns may provide new insights for the construction and exploitation of CNTY as a potential candidate to replace traditional carbon fibers for various applications.

Ti3C2Tx@nonwoven Fabric Composite: Promising MXene-Coated Fabric for Wearable Piezoresistive Pressure Sensors.

Although Ti3C2Tx MXene/fabric composites have shown promise as flexible pressure sensors, the effects of MXene composition and structure on piezoresistive properties and the effects of the textile structure on sensitivity have not been systematically studied. Herein, impregnation at room temperature was used as a cost-effective and scalable method to prepare composite materials using different fabrics [plain-woven fabric, twill-woven fabric, weft plain-knitted fabric, jersey cross-tuck fabric, and nonwoven fabric (NWF)] and MXene nanosheets (Ti3C2Tx, Ti2CTx, Ti3CNTx, Mo2CTx, Nb2CTx, and Mo2TiC2Tx). The MXene nanosheets adhered to the fabric surface through hydrogen bonding, resulting in a conductive network structure. The Ti3C2Tx@NWF composite was found to be the optimal flexible pressure sensor, demonstrating high sensitivity (6.31 kPa-1), a wide sensing range (up to 150 kPa), fast response/recovery times (300 ms/260 ms), and excellent durability (2000 cycles). Furthermore, the sensor was successfully used to monitor full-scale human motion, including pulse, and a 4 × 4 pixel flexible sensor array was shown to accurately locate pressure and recognize the pressure magnitude. These findings provide a basis for the rational design of MXene/textile composites as wearable pressure sensors for medical diagnosis, human-computer interactions, and electronic skin applications.

Multifunctional and Ultrasensitive-Reduced Graphene Oxide and Pen Ink/Polyvinyl Alcohol-Decorated Modal/Spandex Fabric for High-Performance Wearable Sensors.

Sensitive and flexible sensors capable of monitoring physiological signals of human body for healthcare have been developed in recent years. It is still a challenge to fabricate a wearable sensor-integrated multifunctional performances and a good fit to human body. Here, an rGO and pen ink/PVA-layered strain-humidity sensor based on MS fabric is prepared through a cost-effective and scalable solution process. The conductive fabric as a strain sensor has a workable strain range (∼300%), ultrahigh sensitivity (maximum gauge factor of 492.8), great comfort, and long-term stability. Notably, a step increase in relative resistance variation will be achieved by controlling the coverage of an ink layer. Moreover, the reliable linear humidity-dependent resistance void of hysteresis and excellent repeatability renders conductive fabrics an opportunity as humidity sensors. Based on these superior multifunctions, the resultant conductive fabric can be applied to detect both human motions and skin humidity, showing potential in applications of wearable electronics for professional athletes.

A novel and ultrasensitive nonenzymatic glucose sensor based on pulsed laser scribed carbon paper decorated with nanoporous nickel network.

Functional laser scribing carbon paper (LSCP) decorated with highly uniform Ni nanoparticles were constructed through a facile electroless plating. The nanocomposites were characterized by high resolution scanning electron microscope, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The results showed high electron transferring kinetics of this sensor, which can be ascribed to their excellent properties such as rich pore channels, excellent structural durability, and large surface area. These properties facilitated mass transfer and electron conductions. Notably, a systematical response surface methodology simulating-modeling-predicting-optimizing design was employed to simulate, model and optimize processing parameters to gain the optimal conductivity of 8.52 × 106 S m-1. The obtained sensor owned high electrochemical activity and wide linear responses (0.80 µM-2.50 mM and 4.50 mM-15.20 mM), low detection limit of 20 nM (S/N = 3) to the glucose detection. The glucose determination in human serum and perspiration samples are also successful. Therefore, LSCP/NN provides an excellent sensing platform towards flexible biosensors in monitoring physical conditions.

Enhanced X-Band Electromagnetic-Interference Shielding Performance of Layer-Structured Fabric-Supported Polyaniline/Cobalt-Nickel Coatings.

Despite tremendous efforts, fabrication of lightweight conductive fabrics for high-performance X-band electromagnetic-interference (EMI) shielding remains a daunting technical challenge. We herein report an ingenious and efficient strategy to deposit polyaniline/cobalt-nickel (PANI/Co-Ni) coatings onto lyocell fabrics that involves consecutive steps of in situ polymerization and electroless plating. The PANI-Co-Ni ternary-component system successfully induced a synergistic effect from EM wave-absorption and EM wave-reflection and, moreover, upgraded the match level between magnetic loss and dielectric loss. By the judicious control of polymerization cycles and plating time, low-weight fabric-supported PANI/Co-Ni composites (with PANI and Co-Ni loading of 2.86 and 3.99 mg·cm-2, respectively) were prepared, which displayed relatively high EMI shielding effectiveness (SE) (33.95-46.22 dB) when compared to their single peers (PANI-coated fabric and Co-Ni-coated fabric) or even the sum of them. Inspired by the so-called "1 + 1 > 2" phenomenon, here we demonstrated that there was an EMI SE enhancement effect in this conductive polymer/metal system that may be associated with interphase chemical and/or physical interactions. Further analysis revealed that this EMI SE enhancement effect was evident under circumstances of relatively low metal content and became weak with the increase of metal content. The mechanisms involved were interpreted through a series of fundamental measurements, including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and vector network analysis (VNA). The linkage between PANI and Co-Ni coatings was in the form of Co-N/Ni-N, which mimics the atomic configuration occurring in cobalt porphyrins. The Co-N/Ni-N configuration strengthened the interphase adhesion and thus resulted in shielding fabrics with high durability for practical applications.