Cuffless Blood Pressure in clinical practice: challenges, opportunities and current limits

Background: Cuffless blood pressure measurement technologies have attracted significant attention for their potential to transform cardiovascular monitoring.Methods: This updated narrative review thoroughly examines the challenges, opportunities, and limitations associated with the implementation of cuffless blood pressure monitoring systems.Results: Diverse technologies, including photoplethysmography, tonometry, and ECG analysis, enable cuffless blood pressure measurement and are integrated into devices like smartphones and smartwatches. Signal processing emerges as a critical aspect, dictating the accuracy and reliability of readings. Despite its potential, the integration of cuffless technologies into clinical practice faces obstacles, including the need to address concerns related to accuracy, calibration, and standardization across diverse devices and patient populations. The development of robust algorithms to mitigate artifacts and environmental disturbances is essential for extracting clear physiological signals. Based on extensive research, this review emphasizes the necessity for standardized protocols, validation studies, and regulatory frameworks to ensure the reliability and safety of cuffless blood pressure monitoring devices and their implementation in mainstream medical practice. Interdisciplinary collaborations between engineers, clinicians, and regulatory bodies are crucial to address technical, clinical, and regulatory complexities during implementation. In conclusion, while cuffless blood pressure monitoring holds immense potential to transform cardiovascular care. The resolution of existing challenges and the establishment of rigorous standards are imperative for its seamless incorporation into routine clinical practice.Conclusion: The emergence of these new technologies shifts the paradigm of cardiovascular health management, presenting a new possibility for non-invasive continuous and dynamic monitoring. The concept of cuffless blood pressure measurement is viable and more finely tuned devices are expected to enter the market, which could redefine our understanding of blood pressure and hypertension.

Surface modification strategies to reinforce the soft tissue seal at transmucosal region of dental implants

Soft tissue seal around the transmucosal region of dental implants is crucial for shielding oral bacterial invasion and guaranteeing the long-term functioning of implants. Compared with the robust periodontal tissue barrier around a natural tooth, the peri-implant mucosa presents a lower bonding efficiency to the transmucosal region of dental implants, due to physiological structural differences. As such, the weaker soft tissue seal around the transmucosal region can be easily broken by oral pathogens, which may stimulate serious inflammatory responses and lead to the development of peri-implant mucositis. Without timely treatment, the curable peri-implant mucositis would evolve into irreversible peri-implantitis, finally causing the failure of implantation. Herein, this review has summarized current surface modification strategies for the transmucosal region of dental implants with improved soft tissue bonding capacities (e.g., improving surface wettability, fabricating micro/nano topographies, altering the surface chemical composition and constructing bioactive coatings). Furthermore, the surfaces with advanced soft tissue bonding abilities can be incorporated with antibacterial properties to prevent infections, and/or with immunomodulatory designs to facilitate the establishment of soft tissue seal. Finally, we proposed future research orientations for developing multifunctional surfaces, thus establishing a firm soft tissue seal at the transmucosal region and achieving the long-term predictability of dental implants.

Design rules applied to silver nanoparticles synthesis: A practical example of machine learning application

The synthesis of silver nanoparticles with controlled physicochemical properties is essential for governing their intended functionalities and safety profiles. However, synthesis process involves multiple parameters that could influence the resulting properties. This challenge could be addressed with the development of predictive models that forecast endpoints based on key synthesis parameters. In this study, we manually extracted synthesis-related data from the literature and leveraged various machine learning algorithms. Data extraction included parameters such as reactant concentrations, experimental conditions, as well as physicochemical properties. The antibacterial efficiencies and toxicological profiles of the synthesized nanoparticles were also extracted. In a second step, based on data completeness, we employed regression algorithms to establish relationships between synthesis parameters and desired endpoints and to build predictive models. The models for core size and antibacterial efficiency were trained and validated using a cross-validation approach. Finally, the features' impact was evaluated via Shapley values to provide insights into the contribution of features to the predictions. Factors such as synthesis duration, scale of synthesis and the choice of capping agents emerged as the most significant predictors. This study demonstrated the potential of machine learning to aid in the rational design of synthesis process and paves the way for the safe-by-design principles development by providing insights into the optimization of the synthesis process to achieve the desired properties. Finally, this study provides a valuable dataset compiled from literature sources with significant time and effort from multiple researchers. Access to such datasets notably aids computational advances in the field of nanotechnology.

Nano-enabled regulation of DNA damage in tumor cells to enhance neoantigen-based pancreatic cancer immunotherapy

Low-expression antigens, especially neoantigens, pose a significant challenge in immunotherapy for low immunogenicity pancreatic cancer. Increasing the tumor mutation burden is crucial to enhance the expression of tumor antigens and improve tumor immunogenicity. However, the incomplete intervention in DNA stability hampers effective elevation of the tumor mutation burden, thus reducing the probability of neoantigen. To address this issue, we have developed a novel nano-regulator that intervenes in the DNA stability of tumor cells, thereby enhancing tumor mutations. This nano-regulator comprises metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) encapsulating DNA damage agent doxorubicin and DNA damage repair inhibitor siRNA-ATR, enabling simultaneous induction of DNA mutations and inhibition of their repair. Importantly, this regulator, named as MOFDOX&siATR, can modulate the tumor gene expression profile, induce the production of neoantigens of Atp8b1, and enhance the immunogenicity of pancreatic cancer. The characteristics of DNA stability intervention by MOFDOX&siATR hold promise for augmenting the immune response in low immunogenic tumors, making it a potential nanomedicine for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Biodegradable silica nanoparticles for efficient linear DNA gene delivery

Targeting, safety, scalability, and storage stability of vectors are still challenges in the field of nucleic acid delivery for gene therapy. Silica-based nanoparticles have been widely studied as gene carriers, exhibiting key features such as biocompatibility, simplistic synthesis, and enabling easy surface modifications for targeting. However, the ability of the formulation to incorporate DNA is limited, which restricts the number of DNA molecules that can be incorporated into the particle, thereby reducing gene expression. Here we use polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-generated linear DNA molecules to augment the coding sequences of gene-carrying nanoparticles, thereby maximizing nucleic acid loading and minimizing the size of these nanocarriers. This approach results in a remarkable 16-fold increase in protein expression six days post-transfection in cells transfected with particles carrying the linear DNA compared with particles bearing circular plasmid DNA. The study also showed that the use of linear DNA entrapped in DNA@SiO2 resulted in a much more efficient level of gene expression compared to standard transfection reagents. The system developed in this study features simplicity, scalability, and increased transfection efficiency and gene expression over existing approaches, enabled by improved embedment capabilities for linear DNA, compared to conventional methods such as lipids or polymers, which generally show greater transfection efficiency with plasmid DNA. Therefore, this novel methodology can find applications not only in gene therapy but also in research settings for high-throughput gene expression screenings.

Analysis and identification of ferroptosis-related diagnostic markers in rheumatoid arthritis

BACKGROUND

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune, inflammatory joint disease. There is growing evidence that ferroptosis is involved in the pathogenesis of RA. This study aimed to search for diagnostic markers of ferroptosis in RA and to analyse the potential mechanisms and clinical value.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RA-associated datasets were used from the publicly available GEO database. Three methods of machine learning were applied to screen biomarkers. The diagnostic efficacy of the results was also verified by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, external dataset, qRT-PCR and Western blot. Enrichment analysis was performed in this process, while protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis and immune infiltration correlation analysis were performed using biomarkers, and competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks were constructed to search for prospective therapeutic targets.

RESULTS

MMP13 and GABARAPL1 can be used as ferroptosis diagnostic genes in RA. The ROC curve and PPI result demonstrated that MMP13 and GABARAPL1 had an excellent diagnostic value. The results of signature genes in the external dataset, qRT-PCR and Western blot further confirm our findings. The enrichment analysis showed that p53, MAPK and NOD-like receptor signalling pathways may be involved in the process of ferroptosis in RA. In addition, two ferroptosis diagnostic genes in RA participate in the occurrence of ferroptosis in RA via oxidative stress, metabolism and immune response. Immune infiltration analysis showed that RA extensively infiltrated B cells, T cells, macrophages and other immune cells. Persistent immune activation may be an essential reason for the progression of ferroptosis in RA. We also obtained five potential therapeutic agents for RA and some long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) regulating ferroptosis diagnostic genes.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests that MMP13 and GABARAPL1, which are closely linked with oxidative stress and immunological modulation, can be used as ferroptosis-related potential diagnostic markers in RA and provide new clues regarding the diagnostic and therapeutic targets of ferroptosis in RA.

Electronic-ionic bi-functional conduction β-Li3PS4-coated graphene hollow spheres as a highly stable lithium metal anode skeleton

Although Li metal is considered the most potential anode for Li based batteries, the repeatedly large volume variation and low Coulombic efficiency (CE) are still serious challenges for commercial application. Herein, the interconnect closed hollow graphene spheres with electronic-ionic bi-functional conduction network containing Li4.4Sn nanoparticles loaded internally and β-Li3PS4 solid electrolyte layer coated externally (β-LPS/SG/Li4.4Sn) is proposed to achieve uniform and dense Li deposition. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation and experimental results show that Li4.4Sn owns larger Li binding energy and lower nucleation overpotential than spherical graphene (SG), thus being able to guide Li traversing and depositing inside the hollow spheres. The Tafel curves, Li+ diffusion activation energy and experimental results reveal that the β-Li3PS4 coating layer significantly improves the ionic conductivity of the negative skeleton, covers the defect sites on the SG surface, provides continuous ion transmission channels and accelerates Li+ migration rate. The synergy of both can inhibit the formation of dendritic Li and reduce side reaction between freshly deposited lithium and the organic electrolyte. It's found that Li is preferentially deposited within the SG, evenly deposited on the spherical shell surface until it's completely filled to obtain a dense lithium layer without tip effect. As a result, the β-LPS/SG/Li4.4Sn anode exhibits a long life of up to 2800 h, an extremely low overpotential (∼13 mV) and a high CE of 99.8 % after 470 cycles. The LiFePO4-based full cell runs stably with a high capacity retention of 86.93 % after 800 cycles at 1C. It is considered that the novel structure design of Li anode skeleton with electron-ionic bi-functional conduction is a promising direction to construct long-term stable lithium metal anodes.

pH-Responsive injectable self-healing hydrogels loading Au nanoparticles-decorated bimetallic organic frameworks for synergistic sonodynamic-chemodynamic-starvation-chemo therapy of cancer

A novel and efficient cancer therapy was developed using a smart hydrogel containing multifunctional bimetallic organic frameworks and anticancer drugs. The injectable self-healing hydrogel with pH-responsiveness was constructed through borate ester and imine bonds among dopamine-grafted sodium alginate (SADA), hydroxypropyl chitosan (HPCS) and 2-formylphenylboronic acid (2-FPBA). The Au nanoparticles-decorated Ti/Fe bimetallic organic framework tetragonal nanosheets (Au/TF-MOF TNS) were synthesized and incorporated into the hydrogel with the anticancer drugs doxorubicin (DOX). Upon intratumoral injection of nanocomposite hydrogel, the acidic tumor microenvironment triggered the cleavage of borate ester and imine bonds, causing the hydrogel to break down and accelerating the release of both Au/TF-MOF TNS and DOX. These Au/TF-MOF TNS functioned as nanozymes, producing hydroxyl radicals (·OH) for chemodynamic therapy (CDT), generating oxygen (O2) to support sonodynamic therapy (SDT), and depleting glucose for starvation therapy (ST). Additionally, the Au/TF-MOF TNS served as sonosensitizers, capable of converting O2 into singlet oxygen (1O2) upon ultrasound irradiation to achieve SDT. Therefore, this nanocomposite hydrogel system enabled synergistic sonodynamic-chemodynamic-starvation-chemo therapy (SDT-CDT-ST-CT) of cancer, presenting a promising platform for advanced cancer therapy strategies.

Electrochemical detection of heavy metals in rice, milk and tap water using free-standing carbon felt electrodes

In this work, a carbon felt (CF) was utilized to fabricate electrochemical sensors for the simultaneous detection of Cd2+, Pb2+ and Hg2+. The working conditions of CF sensors including thermal activation, electrolytes, and enrichment potentials and times were systematically investigated. Under the optimal detection conditions, the resulting sensors showed good linearity in the concentration ranges of 3-10,000, 2-10,000 and 5-10,000 μg/L for the detection of Cd2+, Pb2+ and Hg2+, corresponding to the detection limits of 1, 0.5, and 1 μg/L, respectively. Meanwhile, the resulting electrochemical sensor demonstrates excellent reproducibility and anti-interference. In addition, the CF electrodes maintain good stability even after 180 days of storage at room temperature. In real water, rice and milk samples, the CF electrodes have been successfully utilized for the detection of Cd2+, Pb2+ and Hg2+ and the results were in agreement with those obtained from the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

Protonated Z-scheme CdS-covalent organic framework heterojunction with highly efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

The low efficiency of photocatalytic hydrogen production from water is mainly suffer from limited light absorption, charge separation and water delivery to the active centers. Herein, an inorganic-organic Z-scheme heterojunction (CdS-COF-Ni) is constructed by in-situ growth of CdS nanosheets on the porphyrin-based covalent organic framework with nickel ions (COF-Ni) in the porphyrin centers. A built-in electric field is formed at the interface, which accelerates the separation and transfer of photogenerated charges. Moreover, through the surface protonation treatment in ascorbic acid (AC) solution, the hydrophilicity of the obtained composite is obviously increased and facilitates the transport of water molecules to the photocatalytic centers. Under the synergistic effect of the interfacial interaction and surface protonation treatment, the photocatalytic hydrogen production rate is optimized to be 18.23 mmol h-1 g-1 without adding any cocatalysts, which is 21 times that of CdS. After a series of photoelectrochemical measurements, in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, it is found that the photocatalytic charge transfer pathway conforms to the Z-scheme mechanism, which not only greatly accelerates the separation and transfer of photogenerated charges, but also retains a high reduction capacity for water splitting. This work offers a good strategy for constructing highly efficient organic-inorganic heterojunctions for water splitting.

Gene therapy in preeclampsia: the dawn of a new era

Preeclampsia is a severe complication of pregnancy, affecting an estimated 4 million women annually. It is one of the leading causes of maternal and fetal mortality worldwide, and it has life-long consequences. The maternal multisystemic symptoms are driven by poor placentation, which causes syncytiotrophoblastic stress and the release of factors into the maternal bloodstream. Amongst them, the soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFLT-1) triggers extensive endothelial dysfunction by acting as a decoy receptor for the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the placental growth factor (PGF). Current interventions aim to mitigate hypertension and seizures, but the only definite treatment remains induced delivery. Thus, there is a pressing need for novel therapies to remedy this situation. Notably, CBP-4888, a siRNA drug delivered subcutaneously to knock down sFLT1 expression in the placenta, has recently obtained Fast Track approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is undergoing a phase 1 clinical trial. Such advance highlights a growing interest and significant potential in gene therapy to manage preeclampsia. This review summarizes the advances and prospects of gene therapy in treating placental dysfunction and illustrates crucial challenges and considerations for these emerging treatments.

Oyster mantle-derived exosomes alleviate osteoporosis by regulating bone homeostasis

Osteoporosis is a major public health problem with an urgent need for safe and effective therapeutic interventions. The process of shell formation in oysters is similar to that of bone formation in mammals, and oyster extracts have been proven to exert osteoprotective effects. Oyster mantle is the most crucial organ regulating shell formation, in which exosomes play an important role. However, the effects of oyster mantle-derived exosomes (OMEs) on mammalian osteoporosis and the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. The OMEs investigated herein was found to carry abundant osteogenic cargos. They could also survive hostile gastrointestinal conditions and accumulate in the bones following oral administration. Moreover, they promoted osteoblastic differentiation and inhibited osteoclastic differentiation simultaneously. Further mechanistic examination revealed that OMEs likely promoted osteogenic activity by activating PI3K/Akt/β-catenin pathway in osteoblasts and blunted osteoclastic activity by inhibiting NF-κB pathway in osteoclasts. These favorable pro-osteogenic effects of OMEs were also corroborated in a rat femur defect model. Importantly, oral administration of OMEs effectively attenuated bone loss and improved the bone microstructure in ovariectomy-induced osteoporotic mice, and demonstrating excellent biosafety. The mechanistic insights from our data support that OMEs possess promising therapeutic potential against osteoporosis.

Recent advances in biomimetic strategies for the immunotherapy of glioblastoma

Immunotherapy is regarded as one of the most promising approaches for treating tumors, with a multitude of immunotherapeutic thoughts currently under consideration for the lethal glioblastoma (GBM). However, issues with immunotherapeutic agents, such as limited in vivo stability, poor blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration, insufficient GBM targeting, and represented monotherapy, have hindered the success of immunotherapeutic interventions. Moreover, even with the aid of conventional drug delivery systems, outcomes remain suboptimal. Biomimetic strategies seek to overcome these formidable drug delivery challenges by emulating nature's intelligent structures and functions. Leveraging the variety of biological structures and functions, biomimetic drug delivery systems afford a versatile platform with enhanced biocompatibility for the co-delivery of diverse immunotherapeutic agents. Moreover, their inherent capacity to traverse the BBB and home in on GBM holds promise for augmenting the efficacy of GBM immunotherapy. Thus, this review begins by revisiting the various thoughts and agents on immunotherapy for GBM. Then, the barriers to successful GBM immunotherapy are analyzed, and the corresponding biomimetic strategies are explored from the perspective of function and structure. Finally, the clinical translation's current state and prospects of biomimetic strategy are addressed. This review aspires to provide fresh perspectives on the advancement of immunotherapy for GBM.

Crystal structure of Kunitz-type trypsin inhibitor: Entomotoxic effect of native and encapsulated protein targeting gut trypsin of Tribolium castaneum Herbst

Trypsin inhibitors are known to act against insect pests by inhibiting proteases of the digestive tract. In this study, we report structural and functional characterization of ∼ 19 kDa Albizia procera Kunitz-type trypsin inhibitor (ApKTI) protein with potential bio-insecticidal applications. Crystal structure of ApKTI protein has been refined to 1.42 Å and molecular structure (8HNR) showed highly beta sheeted conformation including 12 beta sheets, 15 loops and two small alpha helices. Docking between predicted model of Tribolium castaneum trypsin (TcPT) and 8HNR produced a stable complex (-11.3 kcal/mol) which reflects the inhibitory potential of ApKTI against insect gut trypsin. Significant mortality was observed in all life stages of T. castaneum including egg, larvae, pupae and adults with a 3.0 mg native ApKTI treatment in comparison to negative control. Although standard trypsin inhibitor (Glycine max trypsin inhibitors; GmKTI; 3.0 mg) produced maximum reduction against all above life stages; however, a non-significant mortality difference was observed in comparison to 3.0 mg native ApKTI. The study further explores the synthesis and characterization of Graphene (GNPs) and Zinc oxide (ZnONPs) nanoparticles, followed by the optimization of ApKTI and GmKTI loading on both nanoparticles to evaluate their enhanced insecticidal effectiveness. Encapsulated proteins showed significant mortality against T. castaneum across all concentrations, with GNPs proving more effective than ZnONPs. Additionally, encapsulated GmKTI produced significant mortality of eggs compared to loaded ApKTI treatments while other life stages were non-significantly affected by two proteins. This research highlights the importance of encapsulated ApKTI protein for eco-friendly pest management strategies.

Recent advances of copper-based metal phenolic networks in biomedical applications

Metal-phenolic Networks (MPNs) are a novel class of nanomaterial developed gradually in recent years which are self-assembled by metal ions and polyphenolic ligands. Due to their environmental protection, good adhesion, and biocompatibility with green phenolic ligands, MPNs can be used as a new type of nanomaterial. They show excellent properties such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer, and have been widely studied in the biomedical field. As one of the most common subclasses of the MPNs family, copper-based MPNs have been widely studied for drug delivery, Photodynamic Therapy (PDT), Chemo dynamic Therapy (CDT), antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, bone tissue regeneration, skin regeneration wound repair, and metal ion imaging. In this paper, the preparation strategies of different types of copper-based MPNs are reviewed. Then, the application status of copper-based MPNs in the biomedical field under different polyphenol ligands is introduced in detail. Finally, the existing problems and challenges of copper-based MPNs are discussed, as well as their future application prospects in the biomedical field.

CRISPR-based dual-aptamer proximity ligation coupled hybridization chain reaction for precise detection of tumor extracellular vesicles and cancer diagnosis

Tumor cell-derived extracellular vesicles (TEVs) contain numerous cellular molecules and are considered potential biomarkers for non-invasive liquid biopsy. However, due to the low abundance of TEVs secreted by tumor cells and their phenotypic heterogeneity, there is a lack of sensitive and specific methods to quantify TEVs. Here, we developed a dual-aptamer proximity ligation-coupled hybridization chain reaction (HCR) method for tracing TEVs, exploiting CRISPR to achieve highly sensitive detection. Taking advantage of the high binding affinity of aptamers, the two aptamers (AptEpCAM, AptHER2) exhibited the high selectivity for TEVs recognition. HCR generated long-repeated sequence containing multiple crRNA targetable barcodes, and the signals were further amplified by CRISPR upon recognizing the HCR sequences, thereby enhancing the sensitivity. Under optimal conditions, the developed method demonstrated a favorable linear relationship in the range of 2 × 103-107 particles/μL, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 3.3 × 102 particles/μL. We directly applied our assay to clinical plasma analysis, achieving 100 % accuracy in cancer diagnosis, thus demonstrating the potential clinical applications of TEVs. Due to its simplicity and rapidity, excellent sensitivity and specificity, this method has broad applications in clinical medicine.

Recent advances of injectable in situ-forming hydrogels for preventing postoperative tumor recurrence

The unavoidable residual tumor tissue from surgery and the strong aggressiveness of tumor cells pose challenges to the postoperative treatment of tumor patients, accompanied by in situ tumor recurrence and decreased quality of life. Therefore, there is an urgent need to explore appropriate postoperative therapeutic strategies to remove residual tumor cells after surgery to inhibit tumor recurrence and metastasis after surgery. In recent years, with the rapid development of biomedical materials, the study of local delivery systems as postoperative delivery of therapeutic agents has gradually attracted the attention of researchers. Injectable in situ-forming hydrogel is a locally administered agent injected in situ as a solution that can be loaded with various therapeutic agents and rapidly gels to form a semi-solid gel at the treatment site. This type of hydrogel tightly fills the surgical site and covers irregular excision surfaces. In this paper, we review the recent advances in the application of injectable in situ-forming hydrogels in postoperative therapy, focusing on the matrix materials of this type of hydrogel and its application in the postoperative treatment of different types of tumors, as well as discussing the challenges and prospects of its clinical application.

Cell-based glycoengineering of extracellular vesicles through precise genome editing

Engineering of extracellular vesicles (EVs) towards more efficient targeting and uptake to specific cells has large potentials for their application as therapeutics. Carbohydrates play key roles in various biological interactions and are essential for EV biology. The extent to which glycan modification of EVs can be achieved through genetic glycoengineering of their parental cells has not been explored yet. Here we introduce targeted glycan modification of EVs through cell-based glycoengineering via modification of various enzymes in the glycosylation machinery. In a "simple cell" strategy, we modified major glycosylation pathways by knocking-out (KO) essential genes for N-glycosylation (MGAT1), O-GalNAc glycosylation (C1GALT1C1), glycosphingolipids (B4GALT5/6), glycosaminoglycans (B4GALT7) and sialylation (GNE) involved in the elongation or biosynthesis of the glycans in HEK293F cells. The gene editing led to corresponding glycan changes on the cells as demonstrated by differential lectin staining. Small EVs (sEVs) isolated from the cells showed overall corresponding glycan changes, but also some unexpected differences to their parental cell including enrichment preference for certain glycan structures and absence of other glycan types. The genetic glycoengineering did not significantly impact sEVs production, size distribution, or syntenin-1 biomarker expression, while a clonal influence on sEVs production yields was observed. Our findings demonstrate the successful implementation of sEVs glycoengineering via genetic modification of the parental cell and a stable source for generation of glycoengineered sEVs. The utilization of glycoengineered sEVs offers a promising opportunity to study the role of glycosylation in EV biology, as well as to facilitate the optimization of sEVs for therapeutic purposes.

Eco-corona enhanced the interactive effects of nanoplastics and 6:2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate in zebrafish embryos

Nanoplastics (NPs, < 1000 nm) interact with chemicals and biomolecules to produce chemical-/eco-corona, altering the environmental destiny, bioavailability, and toxicity of plastic particles and co-occurring chemicals. This study employs exogenous (humic acid, HA) and endogenous (bovine serum albumin, BSA) natural organic matter (NOM) to investigate the eco-corona formation on NPs and explore the interfacial effects of eco-corona and 6:2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate (Cl-PFESA, commonly named as F-53B) on zebrafish (Danio rerio) after 7 days of exposure. Our results indicated significant changes in growth and developmental indices of zebrafish embryos among all eco-corona groups (p < 0.05). Additionally, NFB (BSA-corona, 1 mg/L NPs + 200 μg/L F-53B + 10 mg/L BSA), NFH (HA-corona, 1 mg/L NPs + 200 μg/L F-53B + 10 mg/L HA) and NFHB (BSA-HA-corona, 1 mg/L NPs + 200 μg/L F-53B + 10 mg/L BSA + 10 mg/L HA) showed elevated bioaccumulation of NPs, ROS generation and induction of apoptosis. Transcriptomic analysis showed the number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the following order: BSA-HA-corona (NFHB (2953) > HA-corona (NFH (2797) > NH (2721) > F-53B (2292) > NF (2033) > BSA-corona (NFB (687) > NB (450)), and no DEGs were detected in the single NP compared to the control. Further, the PI3K-AKT, immune system, endocrine system, digestive system, infectious diseases, and neurovegetative disease pathways showed sensitive responses in the NFH/NFHB groups compared to those in the NFB group. Therefore, the interactive effects of NPs and F-53B on zebrafish embryos were lower in the presence of BSA-corona than those in HA- or HA-BSA-coronas, indicating a relationship between the formation of diverse eco-coronas on NPs by multiple NOM and an associated increase in the interfacial toxicological effects of plastic particles and F-35B in freshwater organisms.

Combined effects of polyamide microplastic and sulfamethoxazole in modulating the growth and transcriptome profile of hydroponically grown rice (Oryza sativa L.)

The use of reclaimed water from wastewater treatment plants for irrigation has a risk of introducing micropollutants such as microplastics (MPs) and antimicrobials (AMs) into the agroecosystem. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of single and combined treatment of 0.1 % polyamide (PA ∼15 μm), and varying sulfamethoxazole (SMX) levels 0, 10, 50, and 150 mg/L on rice seedlings (Oryza sativa L.) for 12 days. The study aimed to assess the impact of these contaminants on the morphological, physiological, and biochemical parameters of the rice plants. The findings revealed that rice seedlings were not sensitive to PA alone. However, SMX alone or in combination with PA, significantly inhibited shoot and root growth, total biomass, and affected photosynthetic pigments. Higher concentrations of SMX increased antioxidant enzyme activity, indicating oxidative stress. The roots had a higher SMX content than the shoots, and the concentration of minerals such as iron, copper, and magnesium were reduced in roots treated with SMX. RNA-seq analysis showed changes in the expression of genes related to stress, metabolism, and transport in response to the micropollutants. Overall, this study provides valuable insights on the combined impacts of MPs and AMs on food crops, the environment, and human health in future risk assessments and management strategies in using reclaimed water.

Enhanced luminescence of Eu3+ in LaAl2B4O10 via energy transfer from Dy3+ doping

In this study, an investigation was conducted on the structural and photoluminescence (PL) characteristics of LaAl2B4O10 (LAB) phosphors initially incorporated with Dy3+ and Eu3+ ions. Subsequently, the impact of varying Eu3+ concentration while maintaining a constant Dy3+ concentration was examined. Structural characterization was performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). XRD analysis confirmed the effective embedding of both dopants into the hexagonal framework of the LAB. The PL emission spectra revealed characteristic emissions of Dy3+ (blue and yellow) and Eu3+ (red) ions. The optimized dopant concentrations of both Dy3+ and Eu3+ were observed to be 3 wt%. The dominant mechanism for concentration quenching in doped LAB phosphors was determined to be the electric dipole-dipole interaction. Co-doping with Eu3+ led to a substantial decrease in Dy3+ emission intensity (∼0.18-fold) while enhancing Eu3+ emission intensity (∼3.72-fold). The critical energy transfer distance (RC = 11.64 Å) and the analysis based on the Dexter theory confirmed that the energy transfer mechanism corresponds to dipole-dipole interaction. The color purities and correlated color temperatures (CCT) were estimated, suggesting the potential of these phosphors for warm white and red lighting applications, respectively. The observed energy transfer and luminescence properties, along with the structural and compositional characterization, highlight the promising potential of LAB:Dy3+/Eu3+ co-doped phosphors for advanced lighting and display technologies.

Heat stress mediates toxicity of rutile titanium dioxide nanoparticles on fertilisation capacity in the broadcast spawning mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis

Titanium dioxide nanoparticle (nTiO2) pollution of marine environments is rapidly increasing with potentially deleterious effects on wildlife. Yet, the impacts of nTiO2 on reproduction remain poorly understood. This is especially the case for broadcast spawners, who are likely to be more severely impacted by environmental disturbances because their gametes are directly exposed to the environment during fertilisation. In addition, it is unclear whether rising water temperatures will further exacerbate the impact of nTiO2 toxicity. Here, in a series of fertilisation trials, we systematically examine the main and interactive effects of nTiO2 exposure and seawater temperature on fertilisation success in the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. Specifically, our fertilisation trials explored whether nTiO2 exposure influences fertilisation rates when (i) eggs alone are exposed, (ii) both sperm and eggs are exposed simultaneously, and (iii) whether increases in seawater temperature interact with nTiO2 exposure to influence fertilisation rates. We also ask whether changes in nTiO2 concentrations influence key sperm motility traits using computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA). In fertilisation trials for treatment groups (i) and (ii), we found no main effects of nTiO2 at environmentally relevant concentrations of 5, 10 and 50 μg L-1 on fertilisation capacity relative to the control. Consistent with these findings, we found no effect of nTiO2 exposure on sperm motility. However, in treatment group (iii), when fertilisation trials were conducted at higher temperatures (+6 °C), exposure of gametes from both sexes to 10 μg L-1 nTiO2 led to a reduction in fertilisation rates that was significantly greater than when gametes were exposed to elevated temperature alone. These interacting effects of nTiO2 exposure and seawater temperature demonstrate the toxic potential of nTiO2 for fertilisation processes in a system that is likely to be impacted heavily by predicted future increases in sea surface temperatures.

Cellular probing using phytoceuticals encapsulated advanced delivery systems in ameliorating lung diseases: Current trends and future prospects

Chronic respiratory diseases such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and asthma have posed a significant healthcare and economic cost over a prolonged duration worldwide. At present, available treatments are limited to a range of preventive medicines, such as mono- or multiple-drug therapy, which necessitates daily use and are not considered as viable treatments to reverse the inflammatory processes of airway remodelling which is inclusive of the alteration of intra and extracellular matrix of the airway tract, death of epithelial cells, the increase in smooth muscle cell and the activation of fibroblasts. Hence, with the problem in mind a considerable body of study has been dedicated to comprehending the underlying factors that contribute to inflammation within the framework of these disorders. Hence, adequate literature that has unveiled the necessary cellular probing to reduce inflammation in the respiratory tract by improving the selectivity and precision of a novel treatment. However, through cellular probing cellular mechanisms such as the downregulation of various markers, interleukin 8, (IL-8), Interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) have been uncovered. Hence, to target such cellular probes implementation of phytoceuticals encapsulated in an advanced drug delivery system has shown potential to be a solution with in vitro and in vivo studies highlighting their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. However, the high costs associated with advanced drug delivery systems and the limited literature focused exclusively on nanoparticles pose significant challenges. Additionally, the biochemical characteristics of phytoceuticals due to poor solubility, limited bioavailability, and difficulties in mass production makes it difficult to implement this product as a treatment for COPD and asthma. This study aims to examine the integration of many critical features in the context of their application for the treatment of chronic inflammation in respiratory disorders.

Copper oxide nanosheets as an effective nanozyme with haloperoxidase-like activity for the colorimetric detection of H2O2 and glucose

Copper oxide nanosheets (CuO NSs) have been successfully obtained by exploiting an effective one-step approach of sugar-blowing method followed by calcination. The nanosheets were characterized by several techniques like X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Impressively, CuO NSs display haloperoxidase (HPO) like catalytic activity which catalyses the oxidation of chloride ions by H2O2 giving rise to reactive chlorine species (RCS). A sensitive and selective colorimetric sensor was then demonstrated via the oxidation of chromogenic substrate 3,3',5,5'- tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) by the novel nanoenzyme CuO NSs through the generation of RCS for H2O2 and glucose detection with limit of detection of 109 nM and 21 nM in the linear ranges of 4.6 µM to 769 µM and 0.22 µM to 19.57 µM respectively. Additionally, the methodology is validated for the analysis of glucose in real samples.

A fast visual onsite method for detection and quantitation of food additives using an engineered metal nanohybrid-based catalyst

Unsafe food additives pose a significant threat to global health, especially in developing countries. Many existing methods rely on clean laboratories, complicated optics equipment, trained personnel and lengthy detection time, which are not suitable for onsite food safety inspections in emergency situations, peculiarly in impoverished areas. In this paper, a fast and visual onsite method is designed for the detection and quantification of additives in food safety by engineering a nanohybrid (MoS2/SDBS/Cu-CuFe2O4)-based catalysis. Interestingly, the nanohybrid presents peroxidase-like mimetic activity toward the substrate containing 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), which are then integrated simply into a detection kit. The blue oxidated TMB in this kit can be converted completely to colorless by some bio-molecule additives in commercial food, such as glutathione (GSH), cysteine (Cys), and ascorbic acid (AA). Remarkably, this process takes just less than 2 min and the detection limits are 2.8 nM, 5.5 nM and 47 nM, respectively. These results show excellent repeatability with a statistical analysis with (*P < 0.05) over 30 tests. Next, the images of the color changes can be captured clearly using a smartphone by red-green-blue (RGB) channels, which provides an opportunity for the development of field-operation device. Additionally, our approach is applied to some targets-indicative foods, showing a recovery range between 95.8 % and 104.2 %, offering an attractive and promising pathway for future practical food safety inspection applications. More importantly, this method can easily be extended to the detection of reducing substances in other analytical fields.

Macrophage crosstalk and therapies: Between tumor cells and immune cells

In the tumor microenvironment, macrophages exhibit different phenotypes and functions in response to various signals, playing a crucial role in the initiation and progression of tumors. Several studies have indicated that intervention in the functions of different phenotypes of tumor-associated macrophages causes significant changes in the crosstalk between tumor cells and immune-related cells, such as T, NK, and B cells, markedly altering the course of tumor development. However, only a few specific therapeutic strategies targeting macrophages are yet available. This article comprehensively reviews the molecular biology mechanisms through which tumor-associated macrophages mediate the crosstalk between tumor cells and immune-related cells. Also, various treatment methods currently used in clinical practice and those in the clinical trial phase have been summarized, and the novel strategies for targeting tumor-associated macrophages have been categorized accordingly.

Nitrogen doped carbon dots and gold nanoparticles mediated FRET for the detection of creatinine in human urine samples

Serum creatinine (CR) is regarded as one of the most sought out prognostic biomarkers in medical evaluation of chronic kidney disease (CKD). In light of the diagnostic significance of CR, the utility of a fluorescence biosensor for its detection in human urine specimens has been explored based on Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) across nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N-CDs) and gold nanoparticles (GNPs). A straightforward microwave-assisted synthesis procedure has been adopted to prepare N-CDs (λexcitation = 400 nm, λemission = 540 ± 5 nm) with bright green emissions. On addition of pre-synthesized GNPs, the radiative emanation of the N-CDs is completely suppressed on account of FRET across the N-CDs and the GNPs. About 77 % of their fluorescence intensity is recovered after adding CR to GNPs@N-CDs nanocomposite. The limit of detection for CR sensing is estimated as 0.02 µg•mL-1. This biosensor is selective enough to recognize CR in the existence of potential interfering substances (e.g., ascorbic acid, glucose, glutathione, urea, and electrolytes). Its practical utility for CR detection has been validated further on the basis of satisfactory correlation with the benchmark Jaffe method, as observed in artificial/human urine specimens. Consequently, this manuscript marks a pioneering report on employing CDs and GNPs-based FRET for identifying CR in urine specimens of CKD patients.

Identification of micro- and nanoplastic particles in postnatal sprague-dawley rat offspring after maternal inhalation exposure throughout gestation

Micro-nanoplastic particulates (MNPs) have been identified in both indoor and outdoor environments. From these real-world exposures, MNPs have been identified in human fluids and organ tissues, including the placenta and breastmilk. Laboratory studies have identified MNPs are capable of crossing the placental barrier and depositing in fetal tissues; however, it remained unclear if MNPs persist in offspring tissues after birth. Six pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were divided equally into two groups: control and exposed to polyamide-12 (PA-12) MNP aerosols (11.46 ± 3.78 mg/m3) over an average of 4.35 h ± 0.39 for 10 non-consecutive days between gestational day (GD) 6 - GD 19, in our custom rodent exposure chamber, allowing for whole-body inhalation. Two-weeks after delivery in-house, offspring tissues (i.e. lung, liver, kidney, heart, brain) from 1 male and 1 female pup per litter were fixed in 4 % paraformaldehyde, sectioned, stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and assessed using hyperspectral dark-field microscopy. PA-12 MNPs were identified in all offspring tissues of the exposed dams. No MNPs were visualized in control tissues. These findings have important implications for human MNPs translocation, deposition, maternal/fetal health, and the developmental origins of health and disease. Further research is warranted to quantify MNPs mass deposition, biological accumulation, and systemic toxicity.

Design and construction of magnetic nanomaterials and their remediation mechanisms for heavy metal contaminated soil

Soil heavy metal pollution poses huge threat to ecosystem and human health. In-situ chemical remediation aims to immobilize free heavy metals in soil through adding passivators, thereby greatly reducing the mobility and bioavailability of heavy metals. Magnetic nanomaterials (MaN) have strong adsorption and immobilization capabilities for heavy metals due to their significant surface effects, small size effects and interfacial effects. Compared with traditional remediation materials, MaN can be recovered and reused using external magnetic fields. These advantages give MaN broad application prospects in the field of soil remediation. This work provides a comprehensive review of the application of MaN in heavy metal contaminated soil, including the design and application effect of various types of MaN, the influence of MaN on soil properties, environmental toxicity, and microbial composition, the in-situ remediation mechanism of MaN on heavy metal contaminated soil. On the other hand, there are potential risks associated with the remediation of heavy metal contaminated soil using MaN, including their impact on the soil ecosystem and biosafety concerns, requiring further research. Finally, this review proposes the future prospects for the application of MaN in the remediation of heavy metal polluted soil.

Variations of silicon species, dissolution and crystallinity within sichars prepared under different heating rate

Silicon within Si-rich biochars (sichar) plays a crucial role in immobilizing heavy metals and providing slow-releasing bioavailable silicon for silicophilic plants. However, the impact of heating rate on the silicon properties and carbon‑silicon interactions in sichars remains unclear. In this study, rice husk was used as a silicon-rich biomass to prepare sichars at different heating rates (10, 30 and 60 °C per minute, and ultra-fast-pyrolysis), then experiments such as silicon concentration measurement, Raman and XRD characterization were conducted. The results showed that a faster heating rate reduced the carbon content during pyrolysis while promoted the formation of amorphous silica, resulting in a threefold increase in dissolved silicon in sichars prepared at 400 °C. Additionally, we observed the formation of a meta-stable SiO2 polymorph (tridymite) in rice husk-derived biochars under fast heating, differing from the previously observed quartz generated at slow heating rates. Regarding the CSi relationship, a faster heating rate facilitated the removal of the surface carbon layer, exposing the underlying silicon layer. This led to more soluble silicon species and less encapsulated silicon, resulting in a continuous release and cumulative silicon dissolution amount 1.2 times and 1.6-1.9 times higher, respectively, than those in slow heating rate-derived sichars. Consequently, this enhanced silicon uptake in rice seedlings. Our findings indicate that beyond pyrolysis temperature, the heating rate significantly affects the silicon species, silicon dissolution behavior, and carbon‑silicon relationships of biochar, ultimately determines the properties and applications of sichars.

Unveiling the impacts of microplastic pollution on soil health: A comprehensive review

Soil contamination by microplastics (MPs) has emerged as a significant global concern. Although traditionally associated with crop production, contemporary understanding of soil health has expanded to include a broader range of factors, including animal safety, microbial diversity, ecological functions, and human health protection. This paradigm shifts underscores the imperative need for a comprehensive assessment of the effects of MPs on soil health. Through an investigation of various soil health indicators, this review endeavors to fill existing knowledge gaps, drawing insights from recent studies conducted between 2021 and 2024, to elucidate how MPs may disrupt soil ecosystems and compromise their crucial functions. This review provides a thorough analysis of the processes leading to MP contamination in soil environments and highlights film residues as major contributors to agricultural soils. MPs entering the soil detrimentally affect crop productivity by hindering growth and other physiological processes. Moreover, MPs hinder the survival, growth, and reproductive rates of the soil fauna, posing potential health risks. Additionally, a systematic evaluation of the impact of MPs on soil microbes and nutrient cycling highlights the diverse repercussions of MP contamination. Moreover, within soil-plant systems, MPs interact with other pollutants, resulting in combined pollution. For example, MPs contain oxygen-containing functional groups on their surfaces that form high-affinity hydrogen bonds with other pollutants, leading to prolonged persistence in the soil environment thereby increasing the risk to soil health. In conclusion, we succinctly summarize the current research challenges related to the mediating effects of MPs on soil health and suggest promising directions for future studies. Addressing these challenges and adopting interdisciplinary approaches will advance our understanding of the intricate interplay between MPs and soil ecosystems, thereby providing evidence-based strategies for mitigating their adverse effects.

Nanoengineering of mono (Au, Ag) and bimetallic (Ag-Au) alloy nanoparticles for dye degradation and toxicity assessment

This research entails the synthesis and catalytic exploration of bimetallic nanoparticles combining silver (Ag) and gold (Au). The Au concentration was systematically varied (20%, 40%, 60%, and 80%), alongside the utilization of CTAB surfactant for nanoparticle stabilization. UV visible spectroscopic analysis confirmed the formation and stability of synthesized Au, Ag and bimetallic (Ag-Au) nanoparticles. FESEM further confirmed the formation of uniform sized Au and Ag nanoparticles. Integration of Au into Ag resulted in bimetallic (Ag-Au) alloy nanoparticles with smaller dimensions as compared to individual Au and Ag nanoparticles. EDX spectra and mapping verified the composition of each synthesized bimetallic nanoparticle variant. The catalytic potential of the synthesized nanoparticles was methodically explored using UV-visible spectroscopy. All the synthesized nanoparticles showcased excellent catalytic efficacy. The synergistic effect of the alloyed bimetallic nanoparticles was found promising. Assessment of dye toxicity pre- and post-degradation was conducted using the ECOSAR program, indicating a reduction in dye toxicity following degradation.

Label-free and liquid state SERS detection of multi-scaled bioanalytes via light-induced pinpoint colloidal assembly

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has been extensively applied to detect complex analytes due to its ability to enhance the fingerprint signals of molecules around nanostructured metallic surfaces. Thus, it is essential to design SERS-active nanostructures with abundant electromagnetic hotspots in a probed volume according to the dimensions of the analytes, as the analytes must be located in their hotspots for maximum signal enhancement. Herein, we demonstrate a simple method for detecting robust SERS signals from multi-scaled bioanalytes, regardless of their dimensions in the liquid state, through a photothermally driven co-assembly with colloidal plasmonic nanoparticles as signal enhancers. Under resonant light illumination, plasmonic nanoparticles and analytes in the solution quickly assemble at the focused surface area by convective movements induced by the photothermal heating of the plasmonic nanoparticles without any surface modification. Such collective assemblies of plasmonic nanoparticles and analytes were optimized by varying the optical density and surface charge of the nanoparticles, the viscosity of the solvent, and the light illumination time to maximize the SERS signals. Using these light-induced co-assemblies, the intrinsic SERS signals of small biomolecules can be detected down to nanomolar concentrations based on their fingerprint spectra. Furthermore, large-sized biomarkers, such as viruses and exosomes, were successfully detected without labels, and the complexity of the collected spectra was statistically analyzed using t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding combined with support vector machine (t-SNE + SVM). The proposed method is expected to provide a robust and convenient method to sensitively detect biologically and environmentally relevant analytes at multiple scales in liquid samples.

Simultaneous noninvasive ultrasensitive detection of prostate specific antigen and lncRNA PCA3 using multiplexed dual optical microfibers with strong plasmonic nanointerfaces

Low accuracy of diagnosing prostate cancer (PCa) was easily caused by only assaying single prostate specific antigen (PSA) biomarker. Although conventional reported methods for simultaneous detection of two specific PCa biomarkers could improve the diagnostic efficiency and accuracy, low detection sensitivity restrained their use in extreme early-stage PCa clinical assay applications. In order to overcome above drawbacks, this paper herein proposed a multiplexed dual optical microfibers separately functionalized with gold nanorods (GNRs) and Au nanobipyramids (Au NBPs) nanointerfaces with strong localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effects. The sensors could simultaneously detect PSA protein biomarker and long noncoding RNA prostate cancer antigen 3 (lncRNA PCA3) with ultrahigh sensitivity and remarkable specificity. Consequently, the proposed dual optical microfibers multiplexed biosensors could detect the PSA protein and lncRNA PCA3 with ultra-low limit-of-detections (LODs) of 3.97 × 10-15 mol/L and 1.56 × 10-14 mol/L in pure phosphorus buffer solution (PBS), respectively, in which the obtained LODs were three orders of magnitude lower than existed state-of-the-art PCa assay technologies. Additionally, the sensors could discriminate target components from complicated physiological environment, that showing noticeable biosensing specificity of the sensors. With good performances of the sensors, they could successfully assay PSA and lncRNA PCA3 in undiluted human serum and urine simultaneously, respectively. Consequently, our proposed multiplexed sensors could real-time high-sensitivity simultaneously detect complicated human samples, that providing a novel valuable approach for the high-accurate diagnosis of early-stage PCa individuals.

Differential absorption and metabolic characteristics of organic acid components in pudilan xiaoyan oral liquid between young rats and adult rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Pudilan Xiaoyan Oral Liquid (PDL) is a proprietary Chinese medicinal preparation approved by the State for treating acute pharyngitis in both adults and children (Approval No. Z20030095). It is worth noting that children exhibit unique physiopathological characteristics compared to adults. However, the in vivo regulatory characteristics of PDL in treating acute pharyngitis in children remain incompletely understood.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The differential absorption and metabolism characteristics of the main pharmacological components in PDL in young and adult rats were investigated with a view to providing a reference for preclinical data of PDL in medication for children.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study utilized UPLC-Q-TOF-MS to investigate the pharmacodynamic material basis of PDL. The focus was on the gastrointestinal digestion and absorption characteristics of organic acid components in PDL (PDL-OAC), known as the primary pharmacodynamic components in this formulation. The research combined in vitro dynamic simulation and a Quadruple single-pass intestinal perfusion model to examine these characteristics. The permeability properties of PDL-OAC were evaluated using an artificial parallel membrane model. Additionally, an acute pharyngitis model was established to evaluate the histopathological condition of the pharynx in young rats using H&E staining. The levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 in blood and pharyngeal tissue homogenates of young rats were quantified using ELISA kits.

RESULTS

A total of 91 components were identified in PDL, including 33 organic acids, 24 flavonoids, 14 alkaloids, 5 terpenoids and coumarins, 3 sugars, and 12 amino acids. The PDL-OAC exhibited a significant reduction in IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 levels in the pharyngeal tissues of young rats with acute pharyngitis. Results from dynamic simulation studies of gastrointestinal fluids revealed that the PDL-OAC (Specifically chlorogenic acid (CGA), gallic acid (GA), chicoric acid (CRA), and caffeic acid (CA)) were effectively stabilized in the gastrointestinal fluids of both children and adults in vitro. Young rats, characterized by thinner intestinal walls and higher permeability, efficiently absorbed the four organic acids across the entire intestinal segment. The absorption of CGA, GA, and CRA followed a concentration-dependent pattern, with CGA and GA absorption being influenced by exocytosis.

CONCLUSION

The efficacy of the PDL-OAC in treating acute pharyngitis was demonstrated in young rats. The absorption rate of these components was observed to be faster in young rats compared to adult rats, underscoring the need for dedicated studies on the drug's usage in children. This research provides valuable insights for the appropriate clinical use of PDL in pediatric patients.

Dealing with plasmonic crystal biosensors: Sensitivity assessment of nanodisks/nanoholes arrayed plasmonic system for label-free DNA detection

Label-free optical deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sensing with arrayed plasmonic nanostructures (plasmonic crystals) is a promising technology for biomedical diagnosis and bioanalytical science. Plasmonic biosensors can detect target biomolecules by utilizing the shift in plasmonic resonance caused by changes in the surrounding refractive index (RI) attributed to the capture of target biomolecules using a recognizer. Conventional explanations for the sensitivity of plasmonic crystals are based on bulk (BRIS) and surface RI sensitivities (SRIS) for basic plasmonic nanoparticles despite their unique properties such as surface lattice resonances (SLRs), wherein localized surface plasmons (LSPs) cooperatively oscillate with their pitch. Therefore, investigating the sensitivity of SLRs is imperative for improving sensing performance. In this study, the sensitivity of adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene-related DNA hybridization detection of complementary plasmonic crystals composed of nanodisks (PNDs) on or under plasmonic nanoholes (PNHs) was investigated considering the SLR properties. The BRIS was measured using the conventional definition of the peak wavelength shift per unit RI increment (nm/RIU) followed by the SRIS measurement using the layer-by-layer method. The BRIS and SRIS measurements reflect the practical sensitivity for DNA detection. PNHs had higher sensitivity than PNDs, with a limit of detection of 0.30 nM. Further, only the SLR-based mode responded to localized RI changes because of DNA hybridization, whereas both the LSPs- and SLR-based modes responded to uniform RI changes caused by layer-by-layer coating. Our investigation will open up possibilities and opportunities for plasmonic crystal biosensors.

Micro-macro SERS strategy for highly sensitive paper cartridge with trace-level molecular detection

Surface-enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) has become a powerful spectroscopic technology for highly sensitive detection. However, SERS is still limited in the lab because it either requires complicated preparation or is limited to specific compounds, causing poor applicability for practical applications. Herein, a micro-macro SERS strategy, synergizing polymer-assisted printed process with paper-tip enrichment process, is proposed to fabricate highly sensitive paper cartridges for sensitive practical applications. The polymer-assisted printed process finely aggregates nanoparticles with a discrete degree of 1.77, and SERS results are matched with theoretical enhancement, indicating small cluster-dominated hotspots at the micro-scale and thus 41-fold SERS increase compared to other aggregation methods. The paper-tip enrichment process moves molecules in a fluid into small tips filled with plasmonic clusters, and molecular localization at hotspots is achieved by the simulation and optimization of fluidic velocity at the macro-scale, generating a 39.5-fold SERS sensibility increase in comparison with other flow methods. A highly sensitive paper cartridge contains a paper-tip and a 3D-printed cartridge, which is simple, easy-to-operate, and costs around 2 US dollars. With a detection limit of 10 -12 M for probe molecules, the application of real samples and multiple analytes achieves single-molecule level sensitivity and reliable repeatability with a 30-min standardized procedure. The micro-macro SERS strategy demonstrates its potential in practical applications that require point-of-care detection.

Based on Fe and Ni prepared organic colloidal materials as efficient oxide nanozymes for chemiluminescence detection of GSH and Hg(II) ions

Metal-organic gels (MOGs) are a type of metal-organic colloid material with a large specific surface area, loose porous structure, and open metal active sites. In this work, FeNi-MOGs were synthesized by the simple one-step static method, using Fe(III) and Ni(II) as the central metal ions and terephthalic acid as the organic ligand. The prepared FeNi-MOGs could effectively catalyze the chemiluminescence of luminol without the involvement of H2O2, which exhibited good catalytic activity. Then, the multifunctional detected platform was constructed for the detection of GSH and Hg2+, based on the antioxidant capacity of GSH, and the strong affinity between mercury ion (Hg2+) and GSH which inactivated the antioxidant capacity of GSH. The experimental limits of detection (LOD) for GSH and Hg2+ were 76 nM and 210 nM, and the detection ranges were 2-100 μM and 8-4000 μM, respectively. The as-proposed sensor had good performance in both detection limit and detection range of GSH and Hg2+, which fully met the needs of daily life. Surprisingly, the sensor had low detection limits and an extremely wide detection range for Hg2+, spanning five orders of magnitude. Furthermore, the detection of mercury ions in actual lake water and GSH in human serum showed good results, with recovery rates ranging from 90.10 % to 105.37 %, which proved that the method was accurate and reliable. The as-proposed sensor had great potential as the platform for GSH and Hg2+ detection applications.

Reagent-free anti-fouling electrochemical immunosensor based on AL-BSA/AuNPs/PANI coating for the point-of-care detection of C-reactive protein in plasma and whole blood

Developing the portable CRP detection technologies that are suitable for point-of-care (POC) and primary care management is of utmost importance, and advancing the electrochemical immunosensors hold promise for POC implementation. Nevertheless, non-specific adsorption of numerous interfering proteins in complex biological media contaminates immunosensors, thereby restricting the reliability in detection efficacy. In this study, a three-dimensional flower-leaf shape amyloid bovine serum albumin/gold nanoparticles/polyaniline (AL-BSA/AuNPs/PANI) coating on the surface of the electrode was developed, which demonstrated strong anti-adsorption properties against bovine serum albumin, plasma, and cells. The immunosensor exhibited a good linear relationship to CRP response, featuring a detection limit of 0.09 μg/mL, consistent with clinical reference range. In addition, the CRP immunosensor demonstrated excellent specificity in other inflammation-related proteins and commendable anti-interference performance for CRP detection in plasma and whole blood tests. Importantly, by combining the development of a USB flash disk-type portable electrochemical workstation with a reagent-free mode, the developed CRP electrochemical immunosensor delivered ideal results in clinical samples. The anti-fouling performance, sensitivity and specificity of the immunosensor, as well as its flexible test modes in clinical samples, provide important scientific basis for developing POC detection technologies of vital biomarkers in complex biological media.

Prospects and challenges of nanopesticides in advancing pest management for sustainable agricultural and environmental service

The expanding global population and the use of conventional agrochemical pesticides have led to the loss of crop yield and food shortages. Excessive pesticide used in agriculture risks life forms by contaminating soil and water resources, necessitating the use of nano agrochemicals. This article focuses on synthesis moiety and use of nanopesticides for enhanced stability, controlled release mechanisms, improved efficacy, and reduced pesticide residue levels. The current literature survey offered regulatory frameworks for commercial deployment of nanopesticides and evaluated societal and environmental impacts. Various physicochemical and biological processes, especially microorganisms and advanced oxidation techniques are important in treating pesticide residues through degradation mechanisms. Agricultural waste could be converted into nanofibers for sustainable composites production, new nanocatalysts, such as N-doped TiO2 and bimetallic nanoparticles for advancing pesticide degradation. Microbial and enzyme methods have been listed as emerging nanobiotechnology tools in achieving a significant reduction of chlorpyrifos and dimethomorph for the management of pesticide residues in agriculture. Moreover, cutting-edge biotechnological alternatives to conventional pesticides are advocated for promoting a transition towards more sustainable pest control methodologies. Application of nanopesticides could be critical in addressing environmental concern due to its increased mobility, prolonged persistence and ecosystem toxicity. Green synthesis of nanopesticides offers solutions to environmental risks associated and using genetic engineering techniques may induce pest and disease resistance for agricultural sustainability. Production of nanopesticides from biological sources is necessary to develop and implement comprehensive strategies to uphold agricultural productivity while safeguarding environmental integrity.

Novel MoS2-In2O3-WS2 (2D/3D/2D) ternary heterostructure nanocomposite material: Efficient photocatalytic degradation of antimicrobial agents under visible-light

Fabrication of ternary composited photocatalytic nanomaterials with strong interaction is vital to deriving the fast charge separation for efficient photodegradation of organic contaminants in wastewater under visible light. In this work, novel ternary 2D/3D/2D MoS2-In2O3-WS2 multi-nanostructures were synthesized using facile hydrothermal processes. XRD, FTIR, and XPS results confirmed the phase, functional groups, and element composition of pure MoS2, MoS2-In2O3, and MoS2-In2O3-WS2 hybrids. UV-DRS spectra of the MoS2-In2O3-WS2 ternary hybrid indicate maximum absorption in the visible light range with a band-gap energy value of 2.4 eV. The surface of the 2D WS2 nanosheet structure tightly blends and densely disperses 2D MoS2 nanosheets and 3D In2O3 nanocubes. This confirmed the formation of the MoS2-In2O3-WS2 ternary hybrid in the form of 2D/3D/2D multi-nanostructures, which is also indicated from SEM and HR-TEM images. The synthesized MoS2-In2O3-WS2 ternary hybrid showed maximum photocatalytic activity under visible-light for antimicrobial agents such as triclosan (TCS) and trichlorocarban (TCC). The photocatalytic activity of TCS was revealed to be 95% at 90 min, while that of TCC was 93% at 100 min. The reusability and stability tests of the prepared MoS2-In2O3-WS2 ternary hybrid after four consecutive photocatalytic cycles were analyzed by FTIR and SEM, which indicated that the prepared ternary hybrid was very stable. Overall results suggested that the developed MoS2-In2O3-WS2 (2D/3D/2D) multi-nanostructures are environmentally friendly and low-cost nanocomposites as a potential photocatalyst for the removal of antimicrobial agents from wastewater.

Fluorescence microfluidic system for real-time monitoring of PS and PVC sub-micron microplastics under flowing conditions

Plastics, recognized for their convenience, disposability, and recyclability, have emerged as a significant ecological challenge, particularly with the prevalence of microplastics (MPs, 1 μm - 5 mm) and sub-micron MPs (100 - 1000 nm) in natural environments. While extensive research has focused on their occurrence and environmental impacts, quantification methods developed for MPs exhibit limitations when applied to sub-micron MPs due to their smaller size. This study addresses these limitations by introducing a novel monitoring system that integrates fluorescence labeling with a microfluidic device and particle tracking software, enabling automated quantification and size measurement of both spherical and fragmented MPs of size in the sub-micrometer range. Results showed that the developed system enabled fast quantification and size measurement of 500- and 1000-nm polystyrene (PS) sub-micron MP beads and fragmented PS and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sub-micron MPs. Additionally, fluorescence labeling enabled the real-time discrimination of PS and PVC sub-micron MPs. Lastly, the microfluidic system allowed the monitoring of sub-micron MPs within a small quantity of water samples. This automated system has a high potential for swift and real-time monitoring of sub-micron MPs in the environment. By enhancing our ability to detect and quantify sub-micron MPs, this study contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of their presence and distribution in environmental systems.

Nanozymes targeting mitochondrial repair in disease treatment

Mitochondria are crucial sites for biological oxidation and substance metabolism and plays a vital role in maintaining intracellular homeostasis. When mitochondria undergo oxidative damage or dysfunction, they can harm the organism, leading to various reactive oxygen species (ROS)-related diseases. Therefore, therapies targeting mitochondria are a strategy for treating multiple diseases. Many nanozymes can mimic antioxidant enzymes, which enables them to eliminate ROS to mitigate mitochondrial dysfunction. The therapeutic approaches and drugs targeting the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) have emerged as effective treatments for oxidative stress-related diseases resulting from mitochondrial respiratory chain disorders. Therefore, nanozymes that can regulate homeostasis in the mitochondrial ETC have emerged as effective therapeutic agents for treating oxidative stress-related diseases. In addition, benefit from the controllability and modifiability of nanozymes, their modification with TPP, SS-31 peptide, and mitochondrial permeability membrane peptide to eliminate ROS and repair mitochondrial function. The nanozymes that specifically target mitochondria are powerful tools for the treatment of ROS-associated disorders. We discussed the design strategies pertaining to mitochondrion-targeted nanozymes to treat various diseases to develop more efficacious nanozyme tools for the treatment of ROS-related diseases in the future.

Plant-based synthesis, characterization approaches, applications and toxicity of silver nanoparticles: A comprehensive review

The development of an environmentally benign method for the synthesis of nanoparticles has been facilitated by green chemistry. "Green synthesis" uses a range of biological elements like microbes, plants, and other biodegradable materials to produce NPs. Active biomolecules that are secreted by natural strains and present in the plant extracts serve as both reducing and capping/stabilizing agents. Microorganisms' intracellular enzymes can reduce metal ions, which explains how NPs might potentially nucleate. Plant-based synthesis of nanomaterials is particularly promising owing to abundant resources, simplicity of synthesis, and low cost. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are attracting great attention in the research community due to their wide variety of applications in chemistry, food technology, microbiology, and biomedicine. Recent years have seen a large amount of research on the bio-genic synthesis of AgNPs employing biomaterials like plant extract and bacteria as reducing agents. Herein we discuss a thorough overview of the plant-based synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), characterization approaches, applications, and toxicity. The review covers the green chemistry and nanotechnology elements of producing AgNPs, including a thorough discussion of the plant extract mediated synthesis, detailed formation mechanism, and a well-balanced emphasis on hazards and advantages. Based on current developments, the optimisation strategies, applications, and interdisciplinary characteristics are also covered in detail.

Adsorption and uptake of functionalized nanoplastics (NPs) by wetland plant (Sphagnum): A unique pathway for polystyrene-NPs reduction in non-vascular plants

Wetlands are sources and sinks for nanoplastics (NPs), where adsorption and uptake by plants constitute a crucial pathway for NPs accumulation. This study found that Sphagnum exhibited a high potential (~89.75 %) to intercept NPs despite the lack of root systems and stomata. Two pathways for 100nm polystyrene NPs accumulation in Sphagnum were located: (i) Spiral interception and foliar adsorption. Efficient adsorption is credited to the micro/nano-interlocked leaf structure, which is porous, hydrophilic and rough. (ii) Intracellular enrichment through pores. Fluorescence tracking indicates pseudo-leaves (lateral > cephalic branches) as primary organs for internalization. Accumulation of differently functionalized NPs was characterized: PS-Naked-NPs (PS), PS-COOH-NPs (PC) and PS-NH2-NPs (PN) were all largely retained by pathway (i), while pathway (ii) mainly uptake PN and PC. Unlike PS aggregation in transparent cells, PC enrichment in chloroplast cells and PN in intercellular spaces reduced pigment content and fluorescence intensity. Further, the effects of the accumulated NPs on the ecological functions of Sphagnum were evaluated. NPs reduce carbon flux (assimilation rate by 57.78 %, and respiration rate by 33.50%), significantly decreasing biomass (PS = 13.12 %, PC = 26.48 %, PN = 35.23 %). However, toxicity threshold was around 10 μg/mL, environmental levels (≤1 μg/mL) barely affected Sphagnum. This study advances understanding of the behavior and fate of NPs in non-vascular plants, and provides new perspectives for developing Sphagnum substrates for NPs interception.

New molecular mechanism of nanoplastics affecting cadmium protein toxicity: Conformational response and differential binding of human serum albumin

The significant health risks of nanoplastics (NPs) and cadmium (Cd) are currently attracting a great deal of attention and research. At present, the effects and mechanisms of NPs and Cd on human serum albumin (HSA), a key functional protein in the organism on transportation, remain unknown. Here, the differences in the effects and mechanisms of action of Cd alone and composite systems (NPsCd) were explored by enzyme activity assay, multi-spectroscopy analysis and molecular docking. The results showed that HSA activity was inhibited and decreased to 80 % and 69.55 % (Cd = 30 mg/L) by Cd alone and NPs-Cd exposure, respectively. Exposure to Cd induced backbone disruption and protein defolding of HSA, and secondary structure disruption was manifested by the reduction of α-helix. Cd exposure also induces fluorescence sensitization of HSA. Notably, the addition of NPs further exacerbated the effects associated with Cd exposure, which was consistent with the changes in HSA activity. Thus, the above conformational changes may be responsible for inducing the loss of enzyme activity. Moreover, it was determined by RLS spectroscopy that NPs-Cd bound to HSA in the form of protein crowns. Molecular docking has further shown that Cd binds to the surface of Sudlow site II of HSA, suggesting that Cd impairs the function of HSA by affecting the protein structure. More importantly, the addition of NPs further exacerbated the disruption of the protein structure by the adherent binding of HSA on the surface of the plastic particles, which induced a greater change in the enzyme activity. This study provides useful perspectives for investigating the impact of composite pollution on HSA of human functional proteins.

Visible-light-sensitive microrobots using H2O as fuel for highly efficient capture and precise detection of nanoplastics

Nanoplastics, which are small plastic particles resulting from the decomposition of plastic waste, can accumulate and adsorb toxic chemicals in aquatic environments, leading to detrimental effects on the environment and human health. Consequently, there is an urgent demand for the development of an efficient method to accurately quantify and effectively remove nanoplastics. Here, we prepared a novel "cage-like" microrobot for effective dynamic capture and highly sensitive surface-enhanced Raman scattering detection of nanoplastics in situ. The microrobot utilizes water as fuel under visible light and achieves efficient capture of nanoplastics within 2 min on the basis of the stacking structure between layers and electrostatic action. The microrobot could be recovered by an external magnetic field, and the SERS activity was greatly enhanced through the coupling of multilayer hot spots, with a detection limit of 1.27 μg/mL. We built a simple device to demonstrate the feasibility of the microrobot strategy of capturing plastic in real wastewater and further extended this technology to single-use plastic cups in everyday life. Moreover, many different types of plastic spectra can also be quickly distinguished when combined with machine learning. This work provides new ideas for improving the dynamic capture and effective monitoring of nanoplastics.

Simple preparation of nitenpyram-intercalated clay nanosheets with reduced leaching risk and improved safety to insect pollinators

Neonicotinoids, highly toxic to insects, are among the world's most used insecticides. However, their harmful effects on pollinators like honeybees and potential to contaminate water bodies have drawn significant criticism. Herein, a nanopesticide, NTP@LDH, was developed by intercalating the model neonicotinoid insecticide nitenpyram (NTP) within layered double hydroxide (LDH) materials using a simple one-pot method. The NTP@LDH showed a nano-sized sheet structure, with an average particle size of 206.2 nm and a loading capacity of 14.6 %. The release rate of NTP@LDH under acidic conditions was higher than that under alkaline or neutral conditions. The photodegradation capacity and insecticidal activity of NTP were unaffected by intercalation in LDH. Importantly, NTP@LDH could significantly enhance the foliar adhesive properties of NTP, retard its leaching through the soil, and improve its safety for honeybees. Moreover, LDH was safe for crops and can improve their growth. This work provides a promising strategy with a simple procedure that could reduce leaching risks of neonicotinoids while concurrently enhancing their safety to pollinating creatures.

The bifunctional impact of polylactic acid microplastics on composting processes and soil-plant systems: Dynamics of microbial communities and ecological niche competition

Although extensive research has been conducted on the environmental impact of microplastics (MPs), their effects on microorganisms during the composting process and on the compost-soil system remain unclear. Our research investigates the microbial response to polylactic acid microplastics (PLAMPs) during aerobic composting and examines how compost enriched with PLAMPs affects plants. Our findings reveal that PLAMPs play a dual role in the composting process, influencing microorganisms differently depending on the composting phase. PLAMPs reduce the relative abundance of sensitive bacterial ASVs, specifically those belonging to Limnochordaceae and Enterobacteriaceae, during composting, while increasing the relative abundance of ASVs belonging to Steroidobacteriaceae and Bacillaceae. The impact of PLAMPs on microbial community assembly and niche width was found to be phase-dependent. In the stabilization phase (S5), the presence of PLAMPs caused a shift in the core microbial network from bacterial dominance to fungal dominance, accompanied by heightened microbial antagonism. Additionally, these intricate microbial interactions can be transferred to the soil ecosystem. Our study indicates that composting, as a method of managing PLAMPs, is also influenced by PLAMPs. This influence is transferred to the soil through the use of compost, resulting in severe oxidative stress in plants. Our research is pivotal for devising future strategies for PLAMPs management and predicting the subsequent changes in compost quality and environmental equilibrium.

The effect of lambda-cyhalothrin nanocapsules on the gut microbial communities and immune response of the bee elucidates the potential environmental impact of emerging nanopesticides

Emerging nanopesticides are gradually gaining widespread application in agriculture due to their excellent properties, but their potential risks to pollinating insects are not fully understood. In this study, lambda-cyhalothrin nanocapsules (LC-NCs) were constructed by electrostatic self-assembly method with iron mineralization optimization, and their effects on bee gut microbial communities and host immune-related factors were investigated. Microbiome sequencing revealed that LC-NCs increase the diversity of gut microbial communities and reduce the complexity of network features, disrupting the overall structure of the microbial communities. In addition, LC-NCs also had systemic effects on the immune response of bees, including increased activity of SOD and CAT enzymes and expression of their genes, as well as downregulation of Defensin1. Furthermore, we noticed that the immune system of the host was activated simultaneously with a rise in the abundance of beneficial bacteria in the gut. Our research emphasizes the importance of both the host and gut microbiota of holobiont in revealing the potential risks of LC-NCs to environmental indicators of honey bees, and provides references for exploring the interactions between host-microbiota systems under exogenous stress. At the same time, we hope that more research can focus on the potential impacts of nanopesticides on the ecological environment.