Smartphone-based iontophoresis transdermal drug delivery system for cancer treatment

Cancer is a leading cause of the death worldwide. However, the conventional cancer therapy still suffers from several limitations, such as systemic side effects, poor efficacy, and patient compliance due to limited accessibility to the tumor site. To address these issues, the localized drug delivery system has emerged as a promising approach. In this study, we developed an iontophoresis-based transdermal drug delivery system (TDDS) controlled by a smartphone application for cancer treatment. Iontophoresis, a low-intensity electric current-based TDDS, enhances drug permeation across the skin to provide potential for localized drug delivery and minimize systemic side effects. The fundamental mechanism of our system was modeled using finite element analysis and its performance was corroborated through the flow-through skin permeation tests using a plastic-based microfluidic chip. The results of in vitro cell experiments and skin deposition tests successfully demonstrated that our smartphone-controlled iontophoresis system significantly enhanced the drug permeation for cancer treatment. Therefore, this hand-held smartphone-based iontophoresis TDDS could be a powerful tool for self-administrated anticancer drug delivery applications.

Microfluidic electrode array chip for electrical stimulation-mediated axonal regeneration

The precise manipulation of the neural stem cell (NSC)-derived neural differentiation is still challenging, and there is a technological barrier to regulate the axonal regeneration in a controlled manner. Here, we developed a microfluidic chip integrated with a microelectrode array as an axonal guidance platform. The microfluidic electrode array chip consisted of two compartments and a bridge microchannel that could isolate and guide the axons. We demonstrated that the NSCs were largely differentiated into neural cells as the electric field was applied to the microfluidic electrode array chip. We also confirmed the synergistic effects of the electrical stimulation (ES) and neurotrophic factor (NF) on axonal outgrowth. This microfluidic electrode array chip can serve as a central nervous system (CNS) model for axonal injury and regeneration. Therefore, it could be a potentially powerful tool for an in vitro model of the axonal regeneration.

Conductive Silver/Carbon Fiber Films for Rapid Detection of Human Coronavirus

Polymerase chain reaction has gained attention since the outbreak of novel coronavirus in 2019. Due to its high specificity and capability for early detection, it is considered a standard method for the diagnosis of infectious diseases. However, the conventional thermocyclers used for nucleic acid amplification are not suitable for point-of-care testing applications, as they require expensive instruments, high-power consumption, and a long turnaround time. To suppress the widespread of the pandemic, there is an urgent need for the development of a rapid, inexpensive, and portable thermal cycler. Therefore, in this paper, we present a conductive silver/carbon fiber film-based thermal cycler with low power consumption (<5 W), efficient heating (~4.5 °C/s), low cost (<USD 200), and handheld size (11.5 × 7.1 × 7.5 mm). The conductive film, which was used as a heating source of the thermal cycler, was fabricated by the electrochemical deposition method. The successful coating of Ag was characterized by a scanning electron microscope and confirmed by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The film showed excellent electrical/thermal conductivity and durability. Using our thermal cycler, 35 cycles of amplification were accomplished within 10 min. We also successfully demonstrated the multiplexed detection of various human coronaviruses (e.g., OC43, 229E, and NL63) using our thermal cycler.

Contributions of the microbiome to intestinal inflammation in a gut-on-a-chip

The intestinal microbiome affects a number of biological functions of the organism. Although the animal model is a powerful tool to study the relationship between the host and microbe, a physiologically relevant in vitro human intestinal system has still unmet needs. Thus, the establishment of an in vitro living cell-based system of the intestine that can mimic the mechanical, structural, absorptive, transport and pathophysiological properties of the human intestinal environment along with its commensal bacterial strains can promote pharmaceutical development and potentially replace animal testing. In this paper, we present a microfluidic-based gut model which allows co-culture of human and microbial cells to mimic the gastrointestinal structure. The gut microenvironment is recreated by flowing fluid at a low rate (21 μL/h) over the microchannels. Under these conditions, we demonstrated the capability of gut-on-a-chip to recapitulate in vivo relevance epithelial cell differentiation including highly polarized epithelium, mucus secretion, and tight membrane integrity. Additionally, we observed that the co-culture of damaged epithelial layer with the probiotics resulted in a substantial responded recovery of barrier function without bacterial overgrowth in a gut-on-a-chip. Therefore, this gut-on-a-chip could promote explorations interaction with host between microbe and provide the insights into questions of fundamental research linking the intestinal microbiome to human health and disease.

Three-Dimensional Flexible All-Organic Conductors for Multifunctional Wearable Applications

Wearable textile electrodes based on π-conjugated polymers are appealing alternatives to carbon fabrics, conductive yarns, or metal wires because of their design flexibility, low cost, flexibility, and high throughput. This provides the benefits of both electronics and textiles. Herein, a general and new method has been developed to produce tailorable, wearable energy devices that are based on three-dimensional (3D) poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)-coated textile conductors. To obtain the desired electrode materials, both facile solution-dropping polymerization methods are used to fabricate a 3D flexible PEDOT conductor on a cotton textile (PEDOT/textile). PEDOT/textile shows a very low sheet resistance of 4.6-4.9 Ω·sq^-1. Here, we employ the example of this 3D network-like structure and the excellent electrical conductivities under the large deformation of PEDOT/textiles to show that wearable and portable heaters have immense potential. A flexible textile heater with a large area (8 × 7.8 cm²) reached a saturation temperature of ∼83.9 °C when a bias of 7 V was applied for ∼70 s due to the good electrical conductivity of PEDOT. To demonstrate the performance of all-solid-state supercapacitors, nano-ascidian-like PEDOT (PEDOT-NA) arrays were prepared via a simple vapor-phase polymerization of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene on PEDOT/textile to increase both the surface area and the number of ion diffusion paths. The PEDOT-NA arrays on PEDOT/textile showed outstanding performance with an areal capacitance of 563.3 mF·cm^-2 at 0.4 mA·cm^-2 and extraordinary mechanical flexibility. The maximum volumetric power density and energy density of the nanostructured PEDOT on the textile were 1.75 W·cm^-3 and 0.0812 Wh·cm^-3, respectively. It is expected that the wearable nanostructured conducting polymers will have advantages when used as structures for smart textronics and energy conversion/storage.

An electrodeposited graphite oxide/cobalt hydroxide/chitosan ternary composite on nickel foam as a cathode material for hybrid supercapacitors

In this paper, we report the development of a graphite oxide (GO)/cobalt hydroxide (Co(OH)₂)/chitosan composite to be used as a cathode material for hybrid supercapacitors.

Highly conductive and flexible chitosan based multi-wall carbon nanotube/polyurethane composite fibers

Chitosan-based CNT composite fibers have received much attention due to their biocompatibility and biodegradability.

Quantitative detection of glyphosate by simultaneous analysis of UV spectroscopy and fluorescence using DNA-labeled gold nanoparticles

A sandwich-type immunosensor composed of antigen-double target/probe DNA-coated gold nanoparticles (NPs) was developed for the measurement of fluorescence intensity and quantitative analysis of single-stranded DNA based on the concentration of free glyphosate. The reaction between the antigen-double DNA-gold NPs and immobilized antibody on the substrate was carried out for 2 h. The results of the antigen-antibody reaction were measured on the basis of the fluorescence intensity obtained from comparison with the free antigens at concentrations of 0.01-100 μg mL(-1) for the detection of immobilized antigen-double DNA-gold NPs. For the quantitative analysis based on the concentration of glyphosate(0.01-100 μg mL(-1)), the immunosensor response also revealed the same detection range of glyphosate using DNA detection.

Effects of heme oxygenase system on the cyclooxygenase in the primary cultured hypothalamic cells

Endogenous carbon monoxide (CO) shares with nitric oxide (NO) a role as a putative neural messenger in the brain. Both gases are believed to modulate CNS function via an increase in cytoplasmic cGMP concentrations secondary to the activation of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC). Recently CO and NO were proposed as a possible mediator of febrile response in hypothalamus. NO has been reported to activate both the constitutive and inducible isoform of the cyclooxygenase (COX). Thus, we investigated whether CO arising from heme catabolism by heme oxygenase (HO) is involved in the febrile response via the activation of COX in the hypothalamus. PGE2 which is a final mediator of febrile response released from primary cultured hypothalamic cells was taken as a marker of COX activity. PGE2 concentration was measured with EIA kits. Exogenous CO (CO-saturated medium) and hemin (a substrate and potent inducer of HO) evoked an increase in PGE2 release from hypothalamic cells, and these effects were blocked by methylene blue (an inhibitor of sGC). And membrane permeable cGMP analogue, dibutyryl-cGMP elicited significant increases in PGE2 release. These results suggest that there may be a functional link between HO and COX enzymatic activities. The gaseous product of hemin through the HO pathway, CO, might play a role through the modulation of the COX activity in the hypothalamus.

Developmental expression of the angiotensinogen gene in rat embryos

Angiotensin II is a potent octapeptide vasoconstrictor and regulator of cardiovascular and electrolyte homeostasis. Angiotensinogen, the protein precursor of angiotensin II, is synthesized by the liver and many other organs of the adult rat. To determine whether angiotensin may be present in early fetal development we analyzed rat embryonic tissues (chorionic membranes, head, and body) for the expression of the angiotensinogen gene during days 11-21 of embryogenesis. Angiotensinogen mRNA was detected at low levels in embryo bodies and yolk sac placenta from day 11 of gestation. An initial rise in the level was noted on day 13, reaching a plateau from day 17 of gestation to birth. Angiotensinogen mRNA levels of the embryonic head were about 10-fold less than those of the body on days 17-19 and increased to levels similar to those of the body on days 20-21. Angiotensinogen mRNA levels of the yolk sac placenta were about 20-fold higher than those in the embryonic body, but no angiotensinogen mRNA was detected in the chorioallantoic placenta. Angiotensinogen mRNA from both embryos and yolk sac placenta was larger by about 200 bases than the mRNA obtained from adult rat liver; this was shown to be a consequence of both the utilization of more distal polyadenylation sites and a longer poly(A) tract. These observations suggest the possibility of a biological function for angiotensinogen in the early development of the rat, and that polyadenylation site selection may alter the functional expression of the angiotensinogen gene in a developmentally specific manner.

Expression of myoblast and myocyte antigens in relation to differentiation and the cell cycle

Cell cycle parameters and expression of myoblast and myocyte antigens were investigated during exponential growth and during the differentiation phase of rat L8( E63 ) myoblasts by an integrated approach involving microspectrophotometry with DNA fluorochromes, [3H]thymidine autoradiography, and immunofluorescent staining with monoclonal antibodies. In addition to the majority of cells which are recruited into myotubes, two distinct populations of mononucleate cells were resolved in cultures of rat myoblasts undergoing differentiation. These mononucleate cells consist of (1) a population of proliferating cells with a prolonged G1 transit time; (2) a population of non-proliferating cells which remain arrested in G1 for more than 72 h. The latter group was examined with respect to the expression of two marker antigens recognized by two monoclonal antibodies: antibody B58 reacts with a macromolecular component present in undifferentiated myoblasts but not in mature myotubes, and antibody XMlb reacts with a muscle-specific isoform of myosin. All four possible combinations of expression of these antigens by single cells were found: B58 +XM1b -, B58 +XM1b +, B58 - XM1b -, and B58 - XMlb +. The implication of these findings with respect to the transition from the proliferative to the differentiative phase of myogenesis is discussed.