Frailty and all-cause and cancer-related mortality in cancer patients: A prospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the associations between frailty and all-cause and cancer-related mortality. Additionally, the objective is to compare the magnitude of these associations between older adults and younger adults. METHODS: We gathered baseline data from NHANES (1999-2018) and developed a cumulative index consisting of 39 items to evaluate frailty. The National Death Index database was utilized to track the survival status of individuals. The Cox regression model was employed to estimate the associations between frailty status and all-cause and cancer-related mortality. RESULTS: Ultimately, 3398 cancer patients were included in the analysis, comprising 910 younger adults and 2488 older adults. Compared to non-frail patients, the elevated all-cause and cancer-related mortality among pre-frail patients was not statistically significant (HRs = 1.312, 95%CI: 0.956-1.800, P = 0.092; HRs = 1.462, 0.811-2.635, P = 0.207). However, a significant elevation of both all-cause and cancer-related mortality risk was observed among frail patients (HRs = 2.213, 1.617-3.030, P < 0.001; HRs = 2.463, 95%CI = 1.370-4.429, P = 0.003). Frailty individuals demonstrated a more pronounced association with the prediction of all-cause mortality in younger (HRs = 2.230, 1.073-4.634, P = 0.032) than in older adults (HRs = 2.090, 1.475-2.960, P < 0.001). Sensitivity analysis consistently revealed robust results. RCS plots suggested a progressively escalating dose-response correlation between frailty and both all-cause and cancer-related mortality risk. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-frailty did not result in an increase in mortality risks compared to non-frailty. However, frailty caused a higher all-cause and cancer-related mortality risk than non-frailty. Identifying those at risk and implementing targeted interventions may contribute to extending healthy life expectancy, regardless of age.

IGF-1 inhibits inflammation and accelerates angiogenesis via Ras/PI3K/IKK/NF-κB signaling pathways to promote wound healing.

Exogenous insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) has been reported to promote wound healing through regulation of vascular endothelial cells (VECs). Despite the existing studies of IGF-1 on VEC and its role in angiogenesis, the mechanisms regarding anti-inflammatory and angiogenetic effects of IGF-1 remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the wound-healing process and the related signaling pathway of IGF-1 using an inflammation model induced by IFN-γ. The results demonstrated that IGF-1 can increase cell proliferation, suppress inflammation in VECs, and promote angiogenesis. In vivo studies further confirmed that IGF-1 can reduce inflammation, enhance vascular regeneration, and improve re-epithelialization and collagen deposition in acute wounds. Importantly, the Ras/PI3K/IKK/NF-κB signaling pathways was identified as the mechanisms through which IGF-1 exerts its anti-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic effects. These findings contribute to the understanding of IGF-1's role in wound healing and may have implications for the development of new wound treatment approaches.

Expression levels and clinical significance of serum miR-19a/CCL20 in patients with acute cerebral infarction.

Acute cerebral infarction (ACI) is a lethal disease whose early diagnosis is critical for treatment. microRNA (miR)-19a targets CC chemokine ligand 20 (CCL20) in myocardial infarction. We investigated the expression patterns of serum miR-19a and CCL20 of ACI patients and assessed their clinical values. Serum samples of 50 healthy subjects and110 ACI patients were collected. Serum levels of miR-19a, CCL20 mRNA, and biochemical indexes were assessed. miR-19a downstream target gene and the binding relationship between miR-19a and CCL20 were predicted and verified. miR-19a and CCL20 mRNA were subjected to correlation and diagnostic efficiency analysis. miR-19a was poorly expressed in the serum of ACI patients, especially in patients with unstable plaque and large infarction. tumor necrosis factor-α, low-density lipoprotein, and platelet/lymphocyte ratio negatively correlated with serum miR-19a level and positively correlated with CCL20. Dual-luciferase assay revealed that miR-19a could negatively regulate CCL20 expression. CCL20 was highly expressed in the serum of ACI patients. The area under receiver-operating characteristic curve of miR-19a combined with CCL20 was 0.9741 (98.00% specificity, 90.91% sensitivity), higher than their single diagnosis. Collectively, miR-19a had high diagnostic value for ACI and could target to restrain CCL20. The combination of miR-19a and CCL20 improved diagnostic value for ACI.

The knowledge, attitude and behavior on the palliative care among neonatal nurses: what can we do.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal nurses should provide timely and high-quality palliative care whenever necessary. It's necessary to investigate the knowledge, attitude and behavior of palliative care among neonatal nurses, to provide references and evidences for clinical palliative care. METHODS: Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurses in a tertiary hospital of China were selected from December 1 to 16, 2022. The palliative care knowledge, attitude and behavior questionnaire was used to evaluate the current situation of palliative nursing knowledge, attitude and behavior of NICU nurses. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the influencing factors. RESULTS: 122 nurses were finally included. The average score of knowledge in neonatal nurses was 7.68 ± 2.93, the average score of attitude was 26.24 ± 7.11, the score of behavior was 40.55 ± 8.98, the average total score was 74.03 ± 10.17. Spearman correlation indicated that score of knowledge, attitude and behavior of palliative care in neonatal nurses were correlated with the age(r = 0.541), year of work experience(r = 0.622) and professional ranks and titles(r = 0.576) (all P < 0.05). Age (OR = 1.515, 95%CI: 1.204 ~ 1.796), year of work experience (OR = 2.488, 95%CI: 2.003 ~ 2.865) and professional ranks and titles (OR = 2.801, 95%CI: 2.434 ~ 3.155) were the influencing factors of score of knowledge, attitude and behavior of palliative care (all P < 0.05). PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: NICU nurses have a positive attitude towards palliative care, but the practical behavior of palliative care is less and lack of relevant knowledge. Targeted training should be carried out combined with the current situation of knowledge, attitude and practice of NICU nurses to improve the palliative care ability and quality of NICU nurses.

Coordination Site Selective Occupation Strategy for Tuning the Photosalient Effects of Photoactive Cd Complexes.

The application of photo responsive crystals to useful actuation demands a rational design to elicit controllable movement. The [2+2] photocycloaddition reaction triggers mechanical motion  using associated photosalient (PS) effects. We herein report a coordination site selective occupation strategy to modulate the arrangement of C=C bonds and thereby tune the PS effect. Replacing or repositioning the donor atom at one end of the linear ligand allowed for a greater level of molecular structural flexibility, facilitating [2+2] photocycloaddition. The distance between photoreactive centres and coordination sites was adjusted by ligand design to regulate PS behavior. This work suggests new avenues for modulating PS movement to achieve useful motion.

Effect of κ-carrageenan on the quality of crayfish surimi gels.

The demand for crayfish surimi products has grown recently due to its high protein content. This study examined the effects of varying κ-carrageenan (CAR) and crayfish surimi (CSM) concentrations on the gelling properties of CAR-CSM composite gel and its intrinsic formation process. Our findings demonstrated that with the increasing concentration of carrageenan, the quality of CAR-CSM exhibited rising trend followed by subsequently fall. Based on the textural qualities, the highest quality CAR-CSM was achieved at 0.3% carrageenan addition. With the exception of chewiness, and the cooking loss of the gel system was 1.62%, whiteness was 82.35%, and the percentage of ß-sheets increased to 57.18%. Further increase in CAR (0.4-0.5%) addition resulted in internal build-up of LCAR-CSM, conversion of intermolecular forces into disulfide bonds and gel breakage. This study exudes timely recommendations for extending the CAR application for the continuous development of crayfish surimi and its derivatives and its overall economic worth.

Prevalence of anxiety, depression, sleeping problems, cognitive impairment, and suicidal ideation in people with autoimmune skin diseases.

BACKGROUND: Autoimmune skin diseases (ASDs) such as psoriasis and vitiligo, in addition to causing visible skin symptoms, are closely associated with psychological health issues. However, a comprehensive understanding of the prevalence of these psychological comorbidities in affected individuals is lacking. This study aims to identify the prevalence of anxiety, depression, sleeping problems, cognitive impairment, and suicidal ideation in people with ASDs. METHOD: PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library searches were conducted from 1993 to May 2024. Observational studies reporting prevalence data for anxiety, depression, sleeping problems, cognitive impairment, and suicidal ideation among people with ASDs were included in the analysis. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to evaluate the quality of studies. RESULTS: The study included 114 studies from 37 countries including 823,975 participants. The estimated pooled prevalence of anxiety in patients with ASDs was 33.3% (95% CI: 27.3-29.3%). The estimated pooled prevalence of depression was 33.7% (95% CI: 29.2-38.1%). The estimated pooled prevalence of sleeping problems was 45.0% (95% CI:31.6-58.4%). The estimated pooled prevalence of cognitive impairment and suicidal ideation was 30.8% (95% CI:15.0-46.7%) and 21.6% (95% CI:13.4-29.8%), respectively. The most common mental disorder in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and psoriasis was sleeping problems at 55.9% (95% CI: 35.6-76.1%, I2 = 97%) and 39.0% (95% CI: 21.1-56.9%, I2 = 99%). CONCLUSION: Among patients with ASDs, anxiety, depression, sleeping problems, cognitive impairment, and suicidal ideation were common. The most prevalent mental disorder among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and psoriasis was sleeping problems. Those with ASDs may experience considerable psychological burdens, and integrated mental health support is necessary for their treatment.

Body mass index and pressure injuries risk in hospitalized adult patients: A dose-response analysis.

BACKGROUND: The association between underweight and pressure injuries (PIs) has been established in several studies. However, there is a lack of well-designed research investigating the connection between overweight and obesity with these injuries. OBJECTIVE: This meta-analysis aims to investigate the dose-response relationship between body mass index (BMI) and the risk of PIs in adult hospitalized patients. METHODS: PubMed, Web of Science, and MEDLINE Databases were searched from inception to May 2024. Observational articles with at least three BMI categories were included in the study. BMI was defined as underweight, normal weight, overweight, and morbid obesity for the meta-analysis. The non-linear relationship between BMI and the risk of PIs in hospitalized adults was investigated using restricted cubic spline models. Fractional polynomial modeling was used. RESULTS: Eleven articles reporting at least 3 categories of BMI met the inclusion criteria, including 31,389 participants. Compared to patients with normal weight, those with underweight, obesity, and morbid obesity exhibited an increased risk of PIs, with odds ratios of 1.70 (95%CI:1.50-1.91), 1.12 (95%CI:1.02-1.24), 1.70 (95%CI:1.13-2.55), respectively. A J-shaped dose-response model was established for the relationship between PI risk and BMI (Pnon-linearity < 0.001, Plinearity = 0.745). CONCLUSION: The J-shaped dose-response pattern revealed that underweight, obesity and morbid obesity heightened the risk of PIs in hospitalized adults. Lower and higher BMI values may signify an increased risk for PIs, particularly among the elderly with lower BMI, providing valuable guidance for medical staff.

Fibroblast growth factor 21 alleviates idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis by inhibiting PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling and stimulating autophagy.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive pulmonary disease with an unclear pathogenesis and no available specific drug treatment. The principal etiological factors are lung inflammation caused by environmental factors, damage to alveolar epithelial cells, leading to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and the abnormal proliferation of fibroblasts. Here, we have demonstrated that fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) ameliorates IPF via the autophagy pathway. We administered FGF21 to bleomycin (BLM)-treated mice, which ameliorated their defects in lung function, reduced the accumulation of collagen, restored tissue structure, reduced the deposition of hydroxyproline, reduced the expression of collagen I and α-SMA and increased the expression of E-cadherin. The expression of LC3BII and the number of autophagosomes were significantly higher in the lungs. The expression of AKT and mTOR was significantly reduced by FGF21 treatment. We also determined the effects of FGF21 in A549 cells treated with TGF-ß, and found that FGF21 significantly inhibits activation of the AKT signaling pathway, thereby reducing TGF-ß-induced EMT and preventing the uncontrolled proliferation of fibroblasts. We conclude that FGF21 ameliorates IPF by inhibiting the PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathway and activating autophagy, which provides a theoretical basis for FGF21 to be used for the treatment of IPF.

Interactive data exploration websites for large-scale electrophysiology.

Methodological advances in neuroscience have enabled the collection of massive datasets which demand innovative approaches for scientific communication. Existing platforms for data storage lack intuitive tools for data exploration, limiting our ability to interact effectively with these brain-wide datasets. We introduce two public websites: (Data and Atlas) developed for the International Brain Laboratory which provide access to millions of behavioral trials and hundreds of thousands of individual neurons. These interfaces allow users to discover both the raw and processed brain-wide data released by the IBL at the scale of the whole brain, individual sessions, trials, and neurons. By hosting these data interfaces as websites they are available cross-platform with no installation. By releasing each site's code as a modular open-source framework, other researchers can easily develop their own web interfaces and explore their own data. As neuroscience datasets continue to expand, customizable web interfaces offer a glimpse into a future of streamlined data exploration and act as blueprints for future tools.

Quercetin nanocrystals for bioavailability enhancement: impact of different functional stabilizers on in vitro/in vivo drug performances.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of different functional stabilizers on in vitro/in vivo drug performances after oral administration of drug nanocrystals. Quercetin nanocrystals (QT-NCs) respectively stabilized by five types of functional stabilizers, including hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose E15 (HPMC E15), poloxamer 407 (P407), poloxamer 188 (P188), D-α-tocopherol polyethylene glycol succinate (TPGS), and glycyrrhizin acid (GL), were fabricated by wet media milling technique. The particle size, morphology, physical state, drug solubility, drug dissolution in vitro, and orally pharmacokinetic behaviors of all QT-NCs were investigated. All QT-NCs with similar particle size about 200 nm were obtained by controlling milling speed and milling time. No significant differences in particles shape and crystalline nature were found for QT-NCs stabilized by different functional stabilizers. But the solubility and dissolution of QT-NCs were significantly influenced by the different functional stabilizers. The AUC0∼t of all QT-NCs after oral administration was in the following order: QT-NCs/P188 ≈ QT-NCs/HPMC E15 > QT-NCs/GL > QT-NCs/P407 ≈ QT-NCs/TPGS, and the Cmax showed an order of QT-NCs/P407 > QT-NCs/P188 ≈ QT-NCs/GL > QT-NCs/HPMC E15 > QT-NCs/TPGS. Both of QT-NCs/P407 and QT-NCs/TPGS exhibited faster oral absorption with Tmax at 0.5 h and 0.83 h, respectively, while the other three QT-NCs (QT-NCs/P188, QT-NCs/GL and QT-NCs/HPMC E15) showed a relatively slow absorption with same Tmax at 5.33 h. The longest MRT0∼t (11.72 h) and t1/2z (32.22 h) were observed for QT-NCs/HPMC E15. These results suggested that the different functional stabilizers could significantly influence on drug solubility, drug dissolution in vitro and orally pharmacokinetic behavior of QT-NCs, and it is possible to alter the drug dissolution in vitro, oral absorption and drug retention in vivo by changing the type of functional stabilizers in NCs preparation.

Advances in biosensors for major depressive disorder diagnostic biomarkers.

Depression is one of the most common mental disorders and is mainly characterized by low mood or lack of interest and pleasure. It can be accompanied by varying degrees of cognitive and behavioral changes and may lead to suicide risk in severe cases. Due to the subjectivity of diagnostic methods and the complexity of patients' conditions, the diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) has always been a difficult problem in psychiatry. With the discovery of more diagnostic biomarkers associated with MDD in recent years, especially emerging non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), it is possible to quantify the condition of patients with mental illness based on biomarker levels. Point-of-care biosensors have emerged due to their advantages of convenient sampling, rapid detection, miniaturization, and portability. After summarizing the pathogenesis of MDD, representative biomarkers, including proteins, hormones, and RNAs, are discussed. Furthermore, we analyzed recent advances in biosensors for detecting various types of biomarkers of MDD, highlighting representative electrochemical sensors. Future trends in terms of new biomarkers, new sample processing methods, and new detection modalities are expected to provide a complete reference for psychiatrists and biomedical engineers.

Selenium Treatment Alleviates the Inhibition Caused by Nep-L Gene Knockdown in Silkworm (Bombyx mori).

Recent studies have emphasized the beneficial effects of 50 µM selenium (Se) on the growth and development of the silkworm, Bombyx mori; however, less is known about its underlying mechanism. To unravel the effect of 50 µM Se on the silkworms with neutral endopeptidase 24.11-like gene (NEP-L) knockdown, we injected small interfering RNA (siRNA) into the body cavity of silkworms. Phenotypic characteristics, mRNA expression of the Nep-L gene, and enriched Se content were evaluated in silkworms from each treatment group. After injecting Nep-L siRNA, the body weight, cocoon quality (cocoon weight, cocoon shell weight, and cocoon shell ratio), and egg production of silkworms were significantly reduced, without any significant effect on egg laying number. However, Se treatment could significantly alleviate the inhibition of body weight, and cocoon quality, without significant effects on egg laying number and production. In addition, the gene knockdown increased Se content in the B. mori. On the molecular level, the targeted Nep-L gene was inhibited significantly by siRNA interference, essentially with the strongest effect at 24 h after RNAi, followed by steady recovery. Among the three fragments, the siRNA of Nep-L-3 was the most effective in interfering with target gene expression. Nep-L gene showed the highest expression in Malpighian tubules (MTs). Both at the phenotypic and genotypic levels, our results show that Nep-L knockdown can exert a significant inhibitory effect on silkworms, and 50 µM Se can reverse the negative effect, which provides a practical prospect for strengthening the silkworm food industry.

Blueberry anthocyanin based active intelligent wheat gluten protein films: Preparation, characterization, and applications for shrimp freshness monitoring.

The aim of this study was to prepare active intelligent gluten protein films using wheat gluten protein (WG) and apple pectin (AP) as film-forming matrices, and blueberry anthocyanin extract (BAE) as a natural indicator. SEM and FT-IR analyses demonstrated the successful immobilization of BAE in the film matrix by hydrogen bonding interactions and its compatibility with WG and AP. The resultant WG-AP/BAE indicator films demonstrated notable antioxidant activity, color stability, barrier qualities, pH and ammonia response sensitivity, and mechanical properties. Among them, WG-AP/BAE5 exhibited the best mechanical properties (TS: 0.83 MPa and EB: 242.23%) as well as the lowest WVP (3.92 × 10-8 g.m/m2.Pa.s), and displayed high sensitivity to volatile ammonia. In addition, WG-AP/BAE5 showed a color shift from purplish red to green to yellowish green, demonstrating the monitoring of shrimp freshness in real time. Consequently, this study offers a firm scientific foundation for the development of active intelligent gluten protein films and their use in food freshness assessments.

Efficacy of recombinant human epidermal growth factor in pressure injury healing: evidence from Chinese randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF) in healing pressure injuries (PIs). METHODS: A meta-analysis was conducted of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving rhEGF in the treatment of PIs that were identified in PubMed, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). The population, intervention, comparison, outcomes, study design (PICOS) strategy was applied to determine analysis eligibility. The Cochrane risk of bias tool was used, and statistical analysis, including sensitivity analysis, was performed of 3 outcomes indicators: the primary outcome was total efficacy of rhEGF in treating PIs, and the secondary outcomes were the proportion of complete healing and the time to complete healing. Total efficacy refers to the proportion of cases that have been cured, obviously effective, or effective. Complete healing refers to cases where the wound has healed, scabbed, and the scab has sloughed off. RESULTS: Sixteen RCTs were included, comprising a total of 1,206 patients. Study and control group size varied by outcomes. The total effective healing rate in rhEGF group was 97.18%, which was significantly higher than 83.38% in control group (OR: 5.69, [95% CI: 3.61, 8.97], z=7.49, P < .001). The proportion of complete healing in the rhEGF group was 73.30%, which was higher than 39.52% in control group (OR: 3.88, [95% CI: 3.01, 5.01], z=10.39, P < .001). Furthermore, the healing time using rhEGF was shorter (SMD: -2.14 days, [95% CI: -2.60, -1.67], z=9.07, P < .001). Sensitivity analyses indicated that the results were robust. CONCLUSIONS: The meta-analysis indicated that rhEGF was effective in healing PIs with few negative effects. Further research beyond Chinese populations involving larger studies and studies that distinguish between results found in using rhEGF alone or in combination are recommended.

Aqueous Dispersion of Aramid Nanofibers Achieved by Using Tannic Acid for Ultrahigh Strength Films.

Polymer nanofibers have established a robust foundation and possess immense potential in various emerging fields such as sensors and biotechnology. In this study, aqueous dispersions of aramid nanofibers (ANFs) were successfully prepared by using tannic acid (TA). Morphological analysis revealed that TA effectively prevented self-aggregation of ANFs, and preserved the nanofiber structure during TA-assisted solvent exchange. Subsequently, the ANF and TA/ANF films were fabricated using casting and vacuum-assisted filtration techniques. Notably, the tensile strength of the casting TA/ANF film reached 393.8 MPa, exhibiting a remarkable improvement of 41.3% compared to that of the pure ANF film. These exceptional mechanical properties can be attributed to the well-dispersed nanostructures, hydrogen-bonding interactions, zigzag structures, and fiber-bridging effects. Furthermore, the TA/ANF film demonstrated superior ultraviolet (UV) shielding capabilities, visible transparency properties, and excellent resistance to chemical reagents. The above-mentioned interesting findings demonstrate its potential as a nanofiber-reinforced material for poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) composites.

Metabolomics and HS-SPME-GC-MS-based analysis of quality succession patterns and flavor characteristics changes during the fermentation of Lycium barbarum and Polygonatum cyrtonema compound wine.

This work set out to investigate how the physicochemical markers, volatiles, and metabolomic characteristics of mixed fermented the fermentation of Lycium barbarum and Polygonatum cyrtonema compound wine (LPCW) from S. cerevisine RW and D. hansenii AS2.45 changed over the course of fermentation. HS-SPME-GC-MS combined with non-targeted metabolomics was used to follow up and monitor the fermentation process of LPCW. In total, 43 volatile chemical substances, mostly alcohols, esters, acids, carbonyl compounds, etc., were discovered in LPCW. After 30 days of fermentation, phenylethyl alcohol had increased to 3045.83 g/mL, giving off a rose-like fresh scent. The biosynthesis of valine, leucine, and isoleucine as well as the metabolism of alanine, aspartic acid, and glutamic acid were the major routes that led to the identification of 1385 non-volatile components in total. This study offers a theoretical foundation for industrial development and advances our knowledge of the fundamental mechanism underlying flavor generation during LPCW fermentation.

Bispectral Index Monitoring in the Nursing of Patients With Paroxysmal Sympathetic Hyperactivity.

AIM: To investigate the clinical nursing effect of bispectral index (BIS) monitoring for paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity (PSH) patients in the neurosurgical intensive care unit (NICU). METHODS: From January 2022 to June 2023, a total of 30 patients with PSH secondary to moderate to severe craniocerebral injury in the NICU were monitored for BIS. The patients' paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity-assessment measure (PSH-AM) scores were recorded. PSH patients generally appear in 3 states: calm state, seizure state, and postmedication state. Thirty PSH patients' BIS values were recorded during the calm period, during the seizure state, and postmedication state, and these 3 different stages' BIS values were divided into groups A, B, and C, using the Kruskal-Wallis H test to compare groups. RESULTS: The Kruskal-Wallis H test yielded a value of H=22.599, P<0.001. H0 was rejected against the test standard of α=0.05, and the BIS values of groups A, B, and C differed. The BIS values of group A and group B differed after a pairwise comparison, and the difference was statistically significant (adjusted P=0.001). Group B and group C had different BIS values, and the difference was statistically significant (adjusted P=0.001); group A and Group C had no difference in BIS values, and the difference was not statistically significant (adjusted P=1.00). CONCLUSIONS: Taking BIS value as the nursing observation index for PSH patients can make nursing work more objective, reasonable, and accurate, reduce the inducing factors of PSH attack, further reduce the attack of PSH, save nursing resources, and help guide the safety assessment of sedative use.

Magnetic Nanoparticle-Based Microfluidic Platform for Automated Enrichment of High-Purity Extracellular Vesicles.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are available in various biological fluids and have highly heterogeneous sizes, origins, contents, and functions. Rapid enrichment of high-purity EVs remains crucial for enhancing research on EVs in tumors. In this work, we present a magnetic nanoparticle-based microfluidic platform (ExoCPR) for on-chip isolation, purification, and mild recovery of EVs from cell culture supernatant and plasma within 29 min. The ExoCPR chip integrates bubble-driven micromixers and immiscible filtration assisted by surface tension (IFAST) technology. The bubble-driven micromixer enhances the mixing between immunomagnetic beads and EVs, eliminating the need for manual pipetting or off-chip oscillatory incubation. The high-purity EVs were obtained after passing through the immiscible phase interface where hydrophilic or hydrophobic impurities nonspecifically bound to SIMI were removed. The ExoCPR chip had a capture efficiency of 75.8% and a release efficiency of 62.7% for model EVs. We also demonstrated the powerful performance of the ExoCPR in isolating EVs from biological samples (>90% purity). This chip was further employed in clinical plasma samples and showed that the number of GPC3-positive EVs isolated from hepatocellular carcinoma patients was significantly higher than that of healthy individuals. This ExoCPR chip may provide a promising tool for EV-based liquid biopsy and other fundamental research.