Broadband photodetector based on carbon nanotube thin film/single layer graphene Schottky junction.

In this study, we present a broadband nano-photodetector based on single-layer graphene (SLG)-carbon nanotube thin film (CNTF) Schottky junction. It was found that the as-fabricated device exhibited obvious sensitivity to a wide range of illumination, with peak sensitivity at 600 and 920 nm. In addition, the SLG-CNTF device had a fast response speed (τr = 68 µs, τf = 78 µs) and good reproducibility in a wide range of switching frequencies (50-5400 Hz). The on-off ratio, responsivity, and detectivity of the device were estimated to be 1 × 102, 209 mAW-1 and 4.87 × 1010 cm Hz1/2 W-1, respectively. What is more, other device parameters including linear performance θ and linear dynamic range (LDR) were calculated to be 0.99 and 58.8 dB, respectively, which were relatively better than other carbon nanotube based devices. The totality of the above study signifies that the present SLG-CNTF Schottky junction broadband nano-photodetector may have promising application in future nano-optoelectronic devices and systems.

Inhibitory Effects of Isorhamnetin on the Invasion of Human Breast Carcinoma Cells by Downregulating the Expression and Activity of Matrix Metalloproteinase-2/9.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play an active role in facilitating the invasion of cancer cells with excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation. In the present study, we investigated the antiinvasive effects of isorhamnetin, a naturally occurring flavonoid, on MDA-MB-231 human breast carcinoma cells. The results indicated that isorhamnetin significantly inhibited the adhesion, migration, and invasion of the cells in vitro. Moreover, isorhamnetin suppressed the activity and expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9, which were determined by gelatin zymography, real-time PCR, and Western blot analysis, respectively. Besides, isorhamnetin had little effect on the secretion of urokinase plasminogen activator. Further elucidation of the mechanism revealed that isorhamnetin exerted an inhibitory effect on the phosphorylation of p38 and STAT3, although it had no effect on ERK1/2 and JNK. Taken together, these data demonstrated that isorhamnetin could significantly inhibit the invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells by downregulating the expression and activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9, which was potentially associated with the suppression of p38 MAPK and STAT3. Therefore, the findings provide new evidence for the anti-cancer activity of isorhamnetin.

Inhibitory effects of kaempferol on the invasion of human breast carcinoma cells by downregulating the expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinase-9.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been regarded as major critical molecules assisting tumor cells during metastasis, for excessive ECM (ECM) degradation, and cancer cell invasion. In the present study, in vitro and in vivo assays were employed to examine the inhibitory effects of kaempferol, a natural polyphenol of flavonoid family, on tumor metastasis. Data showed that kaempferol could inhibit adhesion, migration, and invasion of MDA-MB-231 human breast carcinoma cells. Moreover, kaempferol led to the reduced activity and expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9, which were detected by gelatin zymography, real-time PCR, and western blot analysis, respectively. Further elucidation of the mechanism revealed that kaempferol treatment inhibited the activation of transcription factor activator protein-1 (AP-1) and MAPK signaling pathway. Moreover, kaempferol repressed phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA)-induced MMP-9 expression and activity through suppressing the translocation of protein kinase Cδ (PKCδ) and MAPK signaling pathway. Our results also indicated that kaempferol could block the lung metastasis of B16F10 murine melanoma cells as well as the expression of MMP-9 in vivo. Taken together, these results demonstrated that kaempferol could inhibit cancer cell invasion through blocking the PKCδ/MAPK/AP-1 cascade and subsequent MMP-9 expression and its activity. Therefore, kaempferol might act as a therapeutic potential candidate for cancer metastasis.