Prevalence and molecular characterization of multi-resistant Escherichia coli isolates from clinical bovine mastitis in China.

Different antibiotics are used to treat mastitis in dairy cows that is caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli). Antimicrobial resistance in food-producing animals in China has been monitored since 2000. Surveillance data have shown that the prevalence of multiresistant E. coli in animals has increased significantly. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence and molecular characteristics of resistance determinants in E. coli strains (n = 105) obtained from lactating cows with clinical bovine mastitis (CBM) in China. A total of 220 cows with clinical mastitis, which has swollen mammary udder with reduced and red or gangrenous milk, were selected from 5000 cows. The results showed 94.3% of the isolates were recognized as multidrug resistant. The isolates (30.5%) were positive for the class I integrase gene along with seven gene cassettes that were accountable for resistance to trimethoprim resistance (dfrA17, dfr2d and dfrA1), aminoglycosides resistance (aadA1 and aadA5) and chloramphenicol resistance (catB3 and catB2), respectively. The blaTEM gene was present in all the isolates, and these carried the blaCTX gene. A double mutation in gyrA (i.e., Ser83Leu and Asp87Asn) was observed in all fluoroquinolone-resistant isolates. In total, nine fluoroquinolone-resistant E. coli isolates were identified with five different types of mutations in parC. In four (44.4%) isolates, Ser458Ala was present in parE, and in all nine (9/9) fluoroquinolone-resistant isolates, Pro385Ala was present in gyrB. Meanwhile, fluoroquinolone was observed as highly resistant, especially in isolates with gyrA and parC mutations. In summary, the findings of this research recognize the fluoroquinolone resistance mechanism and disclose integron prevalence and ESBLs in E. coli isolates from lactating cattle with CBM.

Mn2+/CpG Oligodeoxynucleotides Codecorated Black Phosphorus Nanosheet Platform for Enhanced Antitumor Potency in Multimodal Therapy.

Manganese ions (Mn2+)-coordinated nanoparticles have emerged as a promising class of antitumor nanotherapeutics, capable of simultaneously disrupting the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) and triggering the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway-dependent antitumor immunity. However, the activation of STING signaling by Mn2+-based monotherapies is suboptimal for comprehensive stimulation of antigen presenting cells and reversal of immunosuppression in the TME. Here, we report the design of a Mn2+/CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) codecorated black phosphorus nanosheet (BPNS@Mn2+/CpG) platform based on the Mn2+ modification of BPNS and subsequent adsorption of synthetic CpG ODNs. The coordination of Mn2+ significantly improved the stability of BPNS and the adsorption of CpG ODNs. The acidic TME and endosomal compartments can disrupt the Mn2+ coordination, triggering pH-responsive release of CpG ODNs and Mn2+ to effectively activate the Toll-like receptor 9 and STING pathways. As a result, M2-type macrophages and immature dendritic cells were strongly stimulated in the TME, thereby increasing T lymphocyte infiltration and reversing the immunosuppression within the TME. Phototherapy and chemodynamic therapy, utilizing the BPNS@Mn2+/CpG platform, have demonstrated efficacy in inducing immunogenic cell death upon 808 nm laser irradiation. Importantly, the treatment of BPNS@Mn2+/CpG with laser irradiation exhibited significant therapeutic efficacy against the irradiated primary tumor and effectively suppressed the growth of nonirradiated distant tumor. Moreover, it induced a robust immune memory, providing long-lasting protection against tumor recurrence. This study demonstrated the enhanced antitumor potency of BPNS@Mn2+/CpG in multimodal therapy, and its proof-of-concept application as a metal ion-modified BPNS material for effective DNA/drug delivery and immunotherapy.

Double-Layer Hydrogel with Glucose-Activated Two-Stage ROS Regulating Properties for Programmed Diabetic Wound Healing.

Slow healing of wounds induces great pain in diabetic patients. However, developing new approaches to promote diabetic wound healing is still one of the toughest challenges in the medical field. Here, we constructed a new double-layer hydrogel to effectively regulate reactive oxygen species (ROS) on the wound and promote diabetic wound healing. The inner layer contains glucose oxidase (Gox), ferrocene-modified quaternary ammonium chitosan (Fc-QCs), and poly(ß-cyclodextrin) (Pß-CD), which is used to generate hydroxyl radicals (•OH) for antibacterial in the early stage of wound healing and collapses gradually. The outer layer is composed of gelatin and dopamine. In the later stage of wound healing, the outer layer contacts the skin, which is beneficial for ROS clearance on the wound. Antibacterial, ROS scavenging, and wound healing experiments have shown that the double-layer hydrogel possesses two-stage ROS regulating properties for programmed diabetic wound healing. In conclusion, it will be one of the most potential dressings for treating diabetic wounds in the future.

Azadirachtin Inhibits Nuclear Receptor HR3 in the Prothoracic Gland to Block Larval Ecdysis in the Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda.

Azadirachtin has been used to control agricultural pests for a long time; however, the molecular mechanism of azadirachtin on lepidopterans is still not clear. In this study, the fourth instar larvae of fall armyworm were fed with azadirachtin, and then the ecdysis was blocked in the fourth instar larval stage (L4). The prothoracic glands (PGs) of the treated larvae were dissected for RNA sequencing to determine the effect of azadirachtin on ecdysis inhibition. Interestingly, one of the PG-enriched genes, the nuclear hormone receptor 3 (HR3), was decreased after azadirachtin treatment, which plays a critical role in the 20-hydroxyecdysone action during ecdysis. To deepen the understanding of azadirachtin on ecdysis, the HR3 was knocked out by using the CRISPR/Cas9 system, while the HR3 mutants displayed embryonic lethal phenotype; thus, the stage-specific function of HR3 during larval molting was not enabled to unfold. Hence, the siRNA was injected into the 24 h L4 larvae to knock down HR3. After 96 h, the injected larvae were blocked in the old cuticle during ecdysis which is consistent with the azadirachtin-treated larvae. Taken together, we envisioned that the inhibition of ecdysis in the fall armyworm after the azadirachtin treatment is due to an interference with the expression of HR3 in PG, resulting in larval mortality. The results in this study specified the understanding of azadirachtin on insect ecdysis and the function of HR3 in lepidopteran in vivo.

Discovery of novel thiazolyl anthranilic diamide derivatives as insecticidal candidates.

BACKGROUND: Agricultural pests have caused huge losses in agricultural production and threaten global food security. Synthetic insecticides remain the major control method. However, with the rapid development of pest resistance and the increasingly stringent regulations on pesticide usage, the development of efficient insecticides with novel structures is particularly urgent. RESULTS: Twenty-six novel anthranilic diamide derivatives containing the thiazole moiety were designed based on the scaffold hopping strategy. Bioassay results indicated that compound 6e exhibited excellent insecticidal activity against a susceptible strain of diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) with a median lethal concentration (LC50 ) of 0.65 mg L-1 , which was similar to chlorantraniliprole (LC50 = 0.53 mg L-1 ). Compound 6e showed marginally lower (LC50 = 50.45 mg L-1 ) insecticidal activity than chlorantraniliprole (LC50 = 31.98 mg L-1 ) on chlorantraniliprole-resistant P. xylostella larvae, suggesting a cross-resistance of compound 6e with chlorantraniliprole (resistance ratios, 77.6-fold and 60.3-fold, respectively). Compound 6e also showed good insecticidal activity against fall armyworm and beet armyworm with pest mortalities of 74% and 64%, respectively, at 5 mg L-1 concentration. In addition, compounds 6e and 12a showed delayed toxicity against red imported fire ant with mortality rates of 84% and 85% (respectively) after 5 days of treatment at 1.0 mg L-1 , which were superior to that of chlorantraniliprole. CONCLUSION: The introduction of thiazole into anthranilic diamide scaffolds resulted in insecticidal leads 6e and 12a with excellent insecticidal activities and potential application in controlling red imported fire ants. The work also guides the discovery of insecticidal molecules with thiazole-containing anthranilic diamide scaffold. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Mn2+-modified black phosphorus nanosensor for detection of exosomal microRNAs and exosomes.

The development and performance of a DNA probe adsorbing Mn2+-modified black phosphorus (BP@Mn2+/DNA) hybrid nanosensor is reported that enables rapid detection of cancer-derived exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) and exosomes. This two-dimensional (2D) nanosensor can spontaneously penetrate the lipid bilayer of exosome membranes owing to its ultra-thin geometry. Subsequently, the adsorbed probe specifically hybridizes with the target miRNA and then dissociates from the nanosensor surface, generating fluorescent signals. Therefore, the BP@Mn2+/DNA nanosensor can differentiate between colorectal cancer (CRC) cell-derived exosomes and those derived from intestinal epithelial cells through sensing of exosomal miRNAs. Furthermore, when the epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) aptamer is adsorbed onto BP@Mn2+ instead of the miRNA probe, the nanosensor is able to distinguish exosomes derived from the plasma of CRC patients from those of healthy controls by the recognition ability of the EpCAM aptamer. By utilizing this nanosensor, we were able to effectively differentiate cancer-derived exosomes through the direct detection of miRNA-21 within the exosomes, as well as the identification of specific exosomal membrane proteins. This nanosensor design paves the way for the development of rapid and efficient cancer-derived exosomal miRNA and exosome biosensing nanoplatforms.

Analysis of dynamic change of nutrition status in primary school children of Furong District of Changsha City from 2019 to 2020.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the nutritional status of primary school children in Furong District of Changsha from 2019 to 2020. METHODS: The physical examination data of students from 35 primary schools (grade 1-6) in Furong District of Changsha in Hunan Provincial People's Hospital from September 2019 to October 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. General information of all children was collected for statistical analysis of malnutrition among children of different gender and age groups. RESULT: The overnutrition rate was 32.73% in 2020. This was 7.42% higher than 25.31% in 2019. The undernourishment rate was 4.70% in 2020. This was 3.94% lower than 8.64% in 2019. In 2019 and 2022, the obesity and overweight rates of boys were higher than those of girls (both P < 0.05). The rates of growth retardation (0.36%, 0.37%) for boys were higher than those for girls (0.27%, 0.24%). The rates of mild wasting (4.31%, 2.36%) were lower than those for girls (4.00%, 2.39%) in 2020 and 2019. The rates of moderate and severe wasting (4.06%, 1.98%) were higher than those for girls (2.75%, 1.47%). In 2020, the undernourishment rate for boys decreased by 4.02% compared to 2019. The undernourishment rate for girls decreased by 2.91% compared to 2019. The growth retardation rate for boys increased by 0.01% compared to 2019. The growth retardation rate for girls decreased by 0.03% compared to 2019. The mild wasting rate for boys decreased by 1.95% as compared to 2019. The mild wasting rate for girls decreased by 1.61% as compared to 2019. The moderate to severe emaciation rate in boys was 2.08% lower in 2020 than in 2019 and 1.28% lower in girls than in 2019. The malnutrition rates of children aged 6-11 decreased by 4.20%, 4.85%, 3.83%, 9.45%, 6.65%, and 6.45% in 2020 compared with that of 2019. CONCLUSION: Compared to 2019, the primary school students in Furong District had abnormal nutritional status in 2020. It is necessary to strengthen the management of children's health care to ensure the healthy growth of children.

Cuproptosis regulatory genes greatly contribute to clinical assessments of hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common abdominal cancer with dissatisfactory therapeutic effects. The discovery of cuproptosis lights on new approach for cancer treatment and assessment. So far, there is extremely limited research investigating the roles of cuproptosis-related (CR) genes in cancers. METHODS: A novel CR risk signature was constructed using the Lasso regression analysis. Its prognostic value was assessed via a series of survival analyses and validated in three GEO cohorts. The effects of CR risk signature on tumor immune microenvironment (TIM) were explored through CIBERSORT, ESTIMATE, and ssGSEA algorithms. Using GESA, we investigated its impacts on various metabolism process. The somatic mutation features of CR signature genes were also explored via cBioPortal database. Using tumor mutation burden, expressions of immune checkpoints, TIDE score, IMvigor 210 cohort, and GSE109211 dataset, we explored the potential associations of CR risk score with the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and sorafenib. Finally, the biofunctions of DLAT in HCC cells were ascertained through qPCR, immunohistochemistry, colony formation, and Transwell assays. RESULTS: FDX1, DLAT, CDKN2A and GLS constituted the CR risk signature. CR risk signature possessed high prognostic value and was also applicable to three validation cohorts. Meanwhile, it could improve the accuracy and clinical making-decision benefit of traditional prognostic model. Moreover, high CR risk was indicative of unfavorable anti-tumor immune response and active metabolisms of glycolysis and nucleotide. As for therapeutic correlation, CR risk score was a potential biomarker for predicting the efficacy of ICIs and sorafenib. Through qPCR and immunohistochemistry detection in clinical samples, we reconfirmed DLAT was significantly upregulated in HCC samples. Overexpression of DLAT could promote the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HepG2 and HuH-7 cells. CONCLUSIONS: The novel CR risk signature greatly contributed to the clinical assessment of HCC. Cuproptosis regulatory gene DLAT possessed cancer-promoting capacities and was expected to be a promising therapeutic target for HCC.

Poly ß-Cyclodextrin/Quaternary Ammoniated Chitosan Cryogel with a Porous Structure for Effective Hemostasis.

Uncontrolled bleeding is one of the most important causes threatening human health, but quick hemostasis remains a challenge. We prepared porous cryogels with poly ß-cyclodextrin (Pß-CD) and quaternary ammoniated chitosan (QCs). Pß-CD acts as a "water-grabbing agent" to assist QCs' ability to absorb and concentrate blood rapidly. The rat-tail amputation model and liver injury model exhibited that cryogels had excellent hemostatic performance. Moreover, cryogels showed good antibacterial activity and biocompatibility. Therefore, these cryogels can be used as potential hemostatic materials.

Exploiting total internal reflection geometry for deep broadband terahertz modulation using a GaAs Schottky diode with integrated subwavelength metal microslits.

We developed a GaAs Schottky diode with integrated periodic subwavelength metal microslits with total internal reflection (TIR) geometry to achieve deep broadband THz modulation at high frequency with low insertion loss. The non-resonant electric field enhancement effect in the subwavelength microslits intensifies the evanescent wave in TIR, which increases broadband absorbance of THz light signals by free carriers in the GaAs Schottky diode. Devices with various microslit spatial periods and gap widths were fabricated and measured. Among the devices, that with a microslit period of 10 µm and gap width of 2 µm produced ∼70% modulation depth at frequencies of 0.2 to 1.2 THz, while in the range of 0.25 to 0.4 THz, ∼90% modulation depth was achieved. By encapsulating the device in high refractive index material, ∼100% modulation depth was achieved in the range of 0.4 to 0.6 THz, the 3 dB bandwidth operational frequency was ∼160 kHz, and the insertion loss introduced by the device was less than 8 dB, which is much lower than existing metasurface-based THz modulators. In general, our first-generation device has improved modulation depth, operational bandwidth, insertion loss, and operational frequency. Optimization of the metal microslits, TIR geometry, and doped layer could further improve the performance of our design.

Biological Features and In Planta Transcriptomic Analyses of a Microviridae Phage (CLasMV1) in "Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus".

"Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus" (CLas) is the causal agent of citrus Huanglongbing (HLB, also called citrus greening disease), a highly destructive disease threatening citrus production worldwide. A novel Microviridae phage (named CLasMV1) has been found to infect CLas, providing a potential therapeutic strategy for CLas/HLB control. However, little is known about the CLasMV1 biology. In this study, we analyzed the population dynamics of CLasMV1 between the insect vector of CLas, the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama) and the holoparasitic dodder plant (Cuscuta campestris Yunck.); both acquired CLasMV1-infected CLas from an HLB citrus. All CLas-positive dodder samples were CLasMV1-positive, whereas only 32% of CLas-positive ACP samples were identified as CLasMV1-positive. Quantitative analyses showed a similar distribution pattern of CLasMV1 phage and CLas among eight citrus cultivars by presenting at highest abundance in the fruit pith and/or the center axis of the fruit. Transcriptome analyses revealed the possible lytic activity of CLasMV1 on CLas in fruit pith as evidenced by high-level expressions of CLasMV1 genes, and CLas genes related to cell wall biogenesis and remodeling to maintain the CLas cell envelope integrity. The up-regulation of CLas genes were involved in restriction-modification system that could involve possible phage resistance for CLas during CLasMV1 infection. In addition, the regulation of CLas genes involved in cell surface components and Sec pathway by CLasMV1 phage could be beneficial for phage infection. This study expanded our knowledge of CLasMV1 phage that will benefit further CLas phage research and HLB control.

Bidirectional mRNA transfer between Cuscuta australis and its hosts.

The holoparasitic dodder (Cuscuta spp.) is able to transfer mRNA and certain plant pathogens (e.g., viruses and bacteria) from the host plant. "Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus," the phloem-limited causative agent of citrus Huanglongbing, can be transferred from citrus to periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) mediated by dodder. However, characterization of mRNA transport between dodder and citrus/periwinkle remains unclear. In this study, we sequenced transcriptomes of dodder and its parasitizing host, sweet orange (Citrus sinensis "Newhall") and periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus), to identify and characterize mRNA transfer between dodder and the host plant during parasitism. The mRNA transfer between dodder and citrus/periwinkle was bidirectional and most of the transfer events occurred in the interface tissue. Compared with the citrus-dodder system, mRNA transfer in the periwinkle-dodder system was more frequent. Function classification revealed that a large number of mRNAs transferred between dodder and citrus/periwinkle were involved in secondary metabolism and stress response. Dodder transcripts encoding proteins associated with microtubule-based processes and cell wall biogenesis were transferred to host tissues. In addition, transcripts involved in translational elongation, plasmodesmata, and the auxin-activated signaling pathway were transmitted between dodder and citrus/periwinkle. In particular, transcripts involved in shoot system development and flower development were transferred between the host and dodder in both directions. The high abundance of dodder-origin transcripts, encoding MIP aquaporin protein, and S-adenosylmethionine synthetase 1 protein, in citrus and periwinkle tissues indicated they could play an important biological role in dodder-host interaction. In addition, the uptake of host mRNAs by dodder, especially those involved in seed germination and flower development, could be beneficial for the reproduction of dodder. The results of this study provide new insights into the RNA-based interaction between dodder and host plants.

Enhanced terahertz sensitivity for glucose detection with a hydrogel platform embedded with Au nanoparticles.

We presented a strategy for enhancing the sensitivity of terahertz glucose sensing with a hydrogel platform pre-embedded with Au nanoparticles. Physiological-level glucose solutions ranging from 0 to 0.8 mg/mL were measured and the extracted absorption coefficients can be clearly distinguished compared to traditional terahertz time domain spectroscopy performed directly on aqueous solutions. Further, Isotherm models were applied to successfully describe the relationship between the absorption coefficient and the glucose concentration (R2 = 0.9977). Finally, the origin of the sensitivity enhancement was investigated and verified to be the pH change induced by the catalysis of Au nanoparticles to glucose oxidation.

Bioinspired Ultra Tear-Resistant Elastomer with a Slidable Double-Network Structure.

Tear resistance is of vital importance in the fabrication and application of synthetic soft materials. However, the paradox of simultaneously improving the tearing energy and elasticity remains a huge challenge for conventional approaches. Here, inspired by the skin, we successfully constructed an extraordinary tear-resistant, superelastic elastomer by the introduction of nanosized polycyclodextrin into the elastomer network to form a slidable interpenetrate double network structure. The tearing energy of the SDEP elastomer is up to 274 KJ/m2, which is comparable to metals and alloys and increased more than 100 times compared with the chemically cross-linked elastomer. The fracture strain exceeded 3300%, which is hardly achieved by other materials with high tearing energy. This comprehensive improvement of antitearing and super elasticity property was achieved by (i) a slide ring effect to dissipate energy and blunt a crack tip; (ii) straightening and reorientation of the slidable double network to deflect the advancing of a crack tip; (iii) a double network sharing the load. These results provide a novel strategy to fabricate elastic, tear-resistant soft material, which may contribute to the practical application as tear-resistant flexible electronics and irregular-shaped stretchable devices.

Evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic value of NUSAP1 in papillary thyroid carcinoma and identify the relationship with genes, proteins, and immune factors.

BACKGROUND: Nucleolar spindle-associated protein 1 (NUSAP1) is reported to be a useful diagnostic and prognostic marker for a variety of cancers, but relevant studies are lacking in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). METHODS: The relationship between NUSAP1 expression and the overall survival (OS) of pan-cancer was examined by GEPIA and KMplot. We explored the relationship between NUSAP1 and clinical PTC data based on the THCA dataset of TCGA and the GEO dataset of NCBI; GO, KEGG analysis, and ceRNA networks were performed on co-expressed genes through LinkedOmics and Starbase. We assessed the relevance between NUSAP1 and the tumor microenvironment using ESTIMATE, correlations between NUSAP1 and immune cells with TIMER, the relationship between NUSAP1 and immunotherapy by TCIA, and small-molecule drugs targeting NUSAP1 that can be discovered using the CMap database. RESULTS: Higher expression of NUSAP1 in pan-cancer tissues was correlated with shorter OS. NUSAP1 was also significantly expressed in PTC tissues and was an independent prognostic risk factor. Compared to the NUSAP1 low expression group, the NUSAP1 high expression group was more likely to also have lymph node metastasis, pathological PTC type, shorter progression-free survival (PFS), and higher scores for immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment. The genes associated with NUSAP1 were mostly involved in the cell cycle, immune-related pathways, and AITD. Ten lncRNAs (GAS5, SNHG7, UCA1, SNHG1, HCP5, DLEU2, HOTAIR, TP53TG1, SNHG12, C9orf106), eleven miRNAs (hsa-miR-10a-5p, hsa-miR-10b-5p, hsa-miR-18a-5p, hsa-miR-18b-5p, hsa-miR-128-3p, hsa-miR-214-3p, hsa-miR-219a-2-3p, hsa-miR-339-5p, hsa-miR-494-3p, hsa-miR-545-3p, hsa-miR-769-5p), and one mRNA (NUSAP1) were constructed. NUSAP1 participated in the formation of the tumor microenvironment. CMap predicted the 10 most important small molecules about NUSAP1. CONCLUSIONS: In PTC, NUSAP1 shows good diagnostic value and prognostic value; NUSAP1 impacts the cell cycle, immune-related pathways, and AITD and has a complex effect on the tumor microenvironment in PTC.

Enhanced sensitivity of dilute aqueous adrenaline solution with an asymmetric hexagonal ring structure in the terahertz frequencies.

Quantitative detection of neurotransmitters in aqueous environment is crucial for the early diagnosis of many neurological disorders. Terahertz waves, as a non-contact and non-labeling tool, have demonstrated large potentials in quantitative biosensing. Although the detection of trace-amount analyte has been achieved with terahertz metamaterials in the recent decades, most studies have been focused on dried samples. Here, a hexagonal asymmetric metamaterial sensor was designed and fabricated for aqueous solution sensing with terahertz waves in the reflection geometry. An absorption enhancement of 43 was determined from the simulation. Dilute adrenaline solutions ranging from 30 µM to 0.6 mM were measured on our sensor using a commercial terahertz time-domain spectroscopy system, and the effective absorption was found to be linearly correlated with the concentration (R2 = 0.81). Furthermore, we found that as the concentration becomes higher (>0.6 mM), a non-linear relationship starts to take place, which confirmed the previous theory on the extended solvation shell that can be probed on the picosecond scale. Our sensor, without the need of high-power and stable terahertz sources, has enabled the detection of subtle absorption changes induced by the solvation dynamics.

Highly sensitive terahertz sensing with 3D-printed metasurfaces empowered by a toroidal dipole.

Highly sensitive terahertz (THz) sensing with metasurfaces has attracted considerable attention recently. However, ultrahigh sensing sensitivity remains a huge challenge for practical applications. To improve the sensitivity of these devices, herein we have proposed an out-of-plane metasurface-assisted THz sensor consisting of periodically arranged bar-like meta-atoms. Benefiting from elaborate out-of-plane structures, the proposed THz sensor with high sensing sensitivity of 325 GHz/RIU can be easily fabricated via a simple three-step fabrication process, and the maximum sensing sensitivity can be ascribed to toroidal dipole resonance-enhanced THz-matter interactions. The sensing ability of the fabricated sensor is experimentally characterized by the detection of three types of analytes. It is believed that the proposed THz sensor with ultrahigh sensing sensitivity and its fabrication method might provide great potential in emerging THz sensing applications.

Novel Fe(III)-Polybasic acid coordination polymer nanoparticles with targeted retention for photothermal and chemodynamic therapy of tumor.

The development of Fe-coordination polymer-based nanoparticles, with safe and high anti-tumor effects, for the treatment of tumor is facing challenges such as limited resources and poor targeting. In this study, we prepared Fe-polyhydroxy coordination polymer nanoparticles (TA-Fe@MNPs), based on tartaric acid (TA)-Fe(III) coordination polymer as the new photothermal agent, mannose (M) as the target, and bovine serum albumin (BSA) and polyethyleneimine (PEI) as the carrier materials, and investigated them for targeting the multifunctional therapy of tumors. The TA-Fe@MNPs synthesized via a simple coordination of Fe3+ with TA, bovine serum albumin, and polyethyleneimine under ambient conditions exhibited an appropriate size (~125 nm), electrically neutral surfaces, good biocompatibility, and low normal cell toxicity. The TA-Fe@MNPs are the first to exhibit a remarkable photothermal performance. They also showed a pH-sensitive Fenton-like response that was further enhanced via glutathione response. Interestingly, after a single injection, the TA-Fe@MNPs could be retained at the tumor site for 36 h with an effective photothermal dose, which was attributed to the reduced protein adsorption and slow elimination in tumor cells with the aid of M modification and carrier materials, while that for the TA-Fe@NPs did so for only 2 h. Tumor ablation was demonstrated by in vivo photothermal and chemokinetic therapy using TA-Fe@MNPs, and their safety was evident from the weight changes and blood parameters. These results indicated that the TA-Fe@MNPs, as new photothermal and CDT agents, have the potential to be used in clinical tumor therapy nanoplatforms.

Enhanced dielectric and conductivity properties of carbon-coated SiC nanocomposites in the terahertz frequency range.

C-coated SiC nanocomposites (SiC@C NCs) were one-step synthesized under a mixture atmosphere of Ar and CH4 using a DC arc-discharge plasma method. The microstructure of the composites could be controlled by varying the volume ratio of Ar and CH4. A strong response to the terahertz (THz) field was observed due to the existence of a graphite shell. The dielectric properties of SiC@C NCs can be enhanced by altering the thickness of the graphite shell. The thicker graphite shell results in a stronger absorption of THz waves and an enhanced real part of conductivity. Fitting the measured conductivity data using the Drude-Smith model reveals that the carrier transport in the SiC@C NCs and its counterpart, the SiC nanoparticles, is dominated by backscattering. The SiC@C NCs with enhanced conductivity are believed to be fundamental materials for various functionalized optoelectronic devices.

Ultrahigh Carbon Dioxide-Selective Composite Membrane Containing a γ-CD-MOF Layer.

Mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) for CO2 separation have overcome the trade-off between gas permeability and gas selectivity to some extent. However, most MMMs still are prepared in lab- and pilot-scales since the permeability and selectivity of CO2 are not good enough to reach the economically available requirements. Moreover, the fabrication of few MMMs with good separation performance is time-consuming or need harsh conditions. In this study, a novel MOF-based composite membrane (PAN-γ-CD-MOF-PU membrane) was successfully fabricated by a facile and fast spin-coating method. In the two-step coating process, we applied a uniform selective layer of γ-cyclodextrin-MOF (γ-CD-MOF) on porous polyacrylonitrile and then coated a layer of polyurethane on the γ-CD-MOF layer. The entire membrane formation process was about 30 s. The formation of a unique γ-CD-MOF layer greatly improved the separation ability of CO2 (the CO2 permeability is 70.97 barrers; the selectivity to CO2/N2 and CO2/O2 are 253.46 and 154.28, respectively). The gas separation performance can exceed the Robeson upper limit obviously and the selectivity is better than other MOF-based composite membranes. In addition, the PAN-γ-CD-MOF-PU membrane is strong and flexible. Therefore, the PAN-γ-CD-MOF-PU membrane developed in this study has great potential in large-scale industrial separation of CO2.