Wool keratin/zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 composite shape memory sponge with synergistic hemostatic performance for rapid hemorrhage control.

Uncontrollable hemorrhage and subsequent wound infection pose severe threats to life, especially in the case of deep, non-compressible, massive bleeding. Here, a wool keratin/zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (WK/ZIF-8) composite shape memory sponge is prepared by incorporating ZIF-8 nanoparticles into wool keratin. The combination of keratin and ZIF-8 particles not only reduces the effect of ZIF-8 particles on cell viability but also bolsters the mechanical properties of the keratin sponge and endows it with antibacterial efficacy. Due to the synergistic effect of the excellent hemostatic performance of keratin and Zn2+ release from ZIF-8 nanoparticles, the porous structure suitable for blood cell adhesion and the shape recovery ability of sponges, the WK/ZIF-8 composite sponge exhibits superior hemostatic performance to commercial medical sponges in SD rat and rabbit hemorrhage models. In addition, in vitro and in vivo antibacterial experiments demonstrate the anti-infection activity of the composite sponge. Overall, the WK/ZIF-8 composite sponge provides a promising approach to rapidly control bleeding and promote wound healing.

Polydopamine functionalized polyurethane shape memory sponge with controllable expansion performance triggered by near-infrared light for incompressible hemorrhage control.

Uncontrolled expansion of shape memory sponges face a significant challenge in the treatment of lethal incompressible hemorrhage, which can lead to blood overflow or damage to the surrounding tissue. Herein, we developed a polydopamine functionalized polyurethane shape memory sponge (PDA-TPI-PU) with a controllable degree of expansion by near-infrared (NIR) light-triggered stimulation for the treatment of incompressible hemorrhage. The sponge has excellent liquid absorption performance and robust mechanical strength as well as good photothermal conversion ability. Under NIR light of 0.32 W/cm2, the maximum recovery rate of the fixed-shape compression sponge was 91% within 25 s in air and 80% within 25 s in blood. In the SD rat liver penetrating injury model, compared with commercial medical gelatin sponge and PVA sponge, the PDA-TPI-PU sponge could effectively control the bleeding under the NIR light irradiation and did not cause excessive compression of the wound. The sponge with these characteristics shows potential application prospects as a hemostatic material.

Photo-controllable burst generation of peroxynitrite based on synergistic interactions of polymeric nitric oxide donors and IR780 for enhancing broad-spectrum antibacterial therapy.

The newly attractive peroxynitrite (ONOO-) therapy can prominently enhance antibacterial therapeutic efficacy. However, it is a great challenge but urgently needed to generate ONOO- with adjustable release rate and dosage in order to satisfy personalized treatments for different disease types and severities. Herein, PSNO@IR780 nanoparticles are fabricated via co-assembly of an amphiphilic PEG-b-PAASNO block copolymer grafted with abundant nitric oxide (NO) donor units and IR780 as a photothermal and photodynamic agent. Photo-controllable burst generation of ONOO- from PSNO@IR780 nanoparticles could be realized based on synergistic reactions of rapid NO release induced by increased local temperature and efficiently produced superoxide anion radical (O2•-) from IR780. The maximum ONOO- release dosage is up to 6.73 ± 0.07 µM and release rate is up to 98.1 ± 1.38 nM/s. Furthermore, the ONOO- release behavior can be precisely manipulated by varying sample concentrations, irradiated durations, output power densities, and laser switches, respectively. Ultra-efficiently generated ONOO- from biocompatible PSNO@IR780 nanoparticles significantly elevated broad spectrum antibacterial efficiency through damaging bacterial membranes. Thus, PSNO@IR780 nanoparticles may present a new insight into preparation of burst and controllable generating ONOO- materials, and provide new opportunities for antibacterial therapy. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: 1. Polymeric NO donor (PEG-b-PAASNO) grafted with abundant NO donor units was synthesized. 2. PSNO@IR780 nanoparticles were prepared by co-assembly of IR780 and amphiphilic PEG-b-PAASNOpolymer. 3. The maximum ONOO- release dosage from PSNO@IR780 nanoparticles was 6.73 ± 0.08 µM. 4. The fastest ONOO- release rate from PSNO@IR780 nanoparticles was 98.1 ± 1.4 nM/s. 5. Ultra-efficiently generated ONOO- significantly elevated antibacterial efficiency via damaging bac-terial membranes.

Lipase-triggered drug release from BCL2 inhibitor ABT-199-loaded nanoparticles to elevate anti-leukemic activity through enhanced drug targeting on the mitochondrial membrane.

Selective BCL2 inhibitor ABT-199 has been approved to treat hematological malignancies including acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, acquired drug resistance and severe side effects occur after extended treatment limiting the clinical usage of ABT-199. Here, we successfully encapsulated pure ABT-199 in amphiphilic mPEG-b-PTMC169 block copolymer, forming mPEG-b-PTMC169@ABT-199 nanoparticles (abbreviated as PEG-ABT-199), which presented better aqueous dispersion and higher efficiency of loading and encapsulation than pure ABT-199. We then compared the anti-leukemic ability of pure ABT-199 and PEG-ABT-199 in vitro and in vivo. PEG-ABT-199 had a lower IC50 value compared with pure ABT-199 in MV4-11 and MOLM-13 cell lines. In addition, PEG-ABT-199 significantly induced apoptosis and decreased colony number than pure ABT-199. Most importantly, PEG-ABT-199 markedly reduced leukemic burden, inhibited the infiltration of leukemic blasts in the spleen, and extended the overall survival (OS) in MLL-AF9-transduced murine AML compared with free ABT-199. Meanwhile, the blank PEG169 NP was non-toxic to normal hematopoiesis in vitro and in vivo, suggesting that PEG169 NP is a safe carrier. Mechanistically, PEG-ABT-199 enhanced mitochondria-targeted delivery of ABT-199 to trigger the collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), the release of cytochrome c (cyt-c), and mitochondria-based apoptosis. In conclusion, our results suggest that PEG-ABT-199 has more vital anti-leukemic ability than pure ABT-199. PEG-ABT-199 has potential application in clinical trials to alleviate side effects and improve anti-leukemia ability. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: ATB-199, an orally selective inhibitor for BCL2 protein, presents marked activity in relapsed or refractory AML, T-ALL, and CLL patients. However, ABT-199 resistance severely limits the further clinical usage because of off-target effects, non-specific toxicities, and low delivery of drugs. To reduce the side-effects and improve the solubility and bioavailability, ABT-199 was encapsulated into the amphiphilic mPEG-b-PTMC block copolymer by co-assembly method to obtain mPEG-b-PTMC@ABT-199 nanoparticles (PEG-ABT-199). PEG-ABT-199 has several advantages compared with pure ABT-199. 1.PEG-ABT-199 presents better aqueous dispersion and higher efficiencies of loading and encapsulation than pure ABT-199. 2. PEG-ABT-199 substantially enhances the anti-leukemic ability in vitro and in vivo compared with pure ABT-199. 3. PEG-ABT-199 has little effects on normal cells. 4. PEG-ABT-199 can reduce treatment cost.

Leveraging Hydrophilic Hierarchical Channels to Regulate Excessive Water for High-Efficiency Solar Steam Yield.

Both the solar absorptance and water content in solar-driven interface evaporation (SDIE) devices are of equal importance for efficient solar steam yield and freshwater production, but water content regulation has garnered relatively less attention, as it is more challenging to balance the water supply rate and the evaporation rate inside SDIE devices. Herein, an SDIE device is designed by coating natural luffa with polypyrrole, which could effectively regulate the water content during the solar steam yield by its unique hydrophilic hierarchical channels to transform excessive water from the bulk state into the film state on the porous skeleton. The hierarchical channels revealed by cryoelectron microscopy experiments not only reduce the loss of heat in unevaporated water but also offer abundant escape channels for solar steam, thus enabling the proposed SDIE device to achieve an evaporation rate of 2.38 kg m-2 h-1 under 1 sun illumination. This work reveals the key role of hierarchical channels for water regulation in the high-efficiency solar steam yield and triggers further application of natural biomaterials with unique structures in the field of solar interfacial evaporation.

Poly(trimethylene carbonate) flexible intestinal anastomosis scaffolds to reduce the probability of intestinal fistula and obstruction.

Biodegradable anastomat play an important role in the reconstruction process of the digestive tract. However, the biocompatibility and organizational compliance of anastomotic tubes still need to be improved. Electrospun tissue engineering scaffolds have excellent biomimetic extracellular matrix properties, biocompatibility and biodegradability. In the present study, electrospun poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC) intestinal anastomosis scaffolds loaded with triclosan (TCS) were reported to reduce the probability of intestinal fistula and obstruction. When the viscosity average molecular weight of PTMC was 157 × 103, the elastic modulus and tensile strength of the anastomosis scaffolds could reach 20.11 MPa and 16.08 MPa, respectively, which indicated that the anastomosis scaffolds exhibited excellent tensile flexibility. The degradation of PTMC was accelerated with the increase of Mw. After 28 days, the weight and length of the anastomosis scaffolds reduced 40% and 50%, respectively. Furthermore, the application of PTMC anastomosis scaffolds could promote intestinal healing and reduce the probability of intestinal fistula and obstruction.

Efficient Removal of Dye from Wastewater without Selectivity Using Activated Carbon-Juncus effusus Porous Fibril Composites.

Adsorption techniques have been successfully applied in water purification because of their flexibility, simplicity of design, and effectiveness. Activated carbon is an effective absorbent using for dye adsorption; however, the powder structure is not conducive for practical applications and cannot be used to filter dye solutions which are challenges that still need to be addressed. Herein, a natural cellulose-based absorbent, activated carbon-Juncus effusus fiber (AC-JE fiber), demonstrates the removal of all kinds of dyes without selectivity and humic substances and humic-like organics from wastewater. The combined macroporous structures of JE fibers and the microporous and mesoporous structures of activated carbon particles enhance their adsorption properties. These composite absorbents have excellent adsorption and continuous filtration effect. The rejection rate is approximately 100% not only on acidic and anionic dyes but also on basic and cationic dyes. Moreover, the dye solution adsorbed by AC-JE fibers exhibits an ideal freshwater quality (almost no bacteria), similar to that of the deionized water. The AC-JE fibers prove their potential for dye removal, in both adsorption and filtration. Their sterilization ability substantiates their potential in the field of water purification as they can be used as ideal absorbents based on cellulose for removing dyes and purifying wastewater.