<div style="text-align:justify;"> Circulating extracellular RNAs (exRNAs) are very important potential biomarkers of disease. But few have been reported the extracellular RNA profiles in serum. In this...<div style="text-align:justify;"> Circulating extracellular RNAs (exRNAs) are very important potential biomarkers of disease. But few have been reported the extracellular RNA profiles in serum. In this study, we tried to use RNA-seq technology to analyze the extracellular RNA by using low volume peripheral blood serum and compared the sequencing results between different volumes of serum (500 μl, 1.5 ml, 2.5 ml, 3.5 ml). According to the results, we found that most of the exRNA in the serum is lncRNA, protein_coding and MT-rRNA. And when the volume of serum is between 0.5 - 3.5 ml, the numbers and reads of exRNA, including the reads of circRNA, have not changed significantly. It indicates that the sequencing result of exRNA in serum has no significance with the initial serum volume. </div>展开更多
A common model of power supply for implantable devices was established to study factors affecting volume conduction energy transfer. Electromagnetic and equivalent circuit models were constructed to study the effect o...A common model of power supply for implantable devices was established to study factors affecting volume conduction energy transfer. Electromagnetic and equivalent circuit models were constructed to study the effect of separation between the source electrode pairs on volume conduction energy transfer. In addition, the parameters of external signal including waveform, amplitude and frequency were analyzed. As the current amplitude did not lead to tissue injury and the current frequency did not cause nerve excitability, the recommended separation be- tween the source electrodes was 3 cm, the proposed waveform of signal source was sinusoidal wave and the opti- mal frequency was 200 KHz. In agar experiment and swine skin experiment, the current transfer efficiencies were 28.13% and 20.65%, respectively, and the energy transfer efficiencies were 9.86% and 6.90%, respectively. In conclusion, we can achieve optimal efficiency of energy transfer by appropriately setting the separation between the source electrode parameters of the signal source.展开更多
Recent interest in mobile-based heahhcare has driven significant demands on researching non-contact electrodes for electrocardiogram （ECG） measurement. While the conductive gel achieves the requirement in making a g...Recent interest in mobile-based heahhcare has driven significant demands on researching non-contact electrodes for electrocardiogram （ECG） measurement. While the conductive gel achieves the requirement in making a good contact between the electrodes and skin, several problems appear. A gel-free, non-contact electrode based on capacitive coupling theory was provided in this paper, which was integrated on the print circuit board （PCB）. The experimental results showed that clear ECG signals could be acquired in the laboratory conditions by coupling the electrodes to the chest of patients through cotton belts.展开更多
Nanomaterials are increasingly used for biomedical applications; thus, it is important to understand their biological effects. Previous studies suggested that magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles （IONPs） have tissue-re...Nanomaterials are increasingly used for biomedical applications; thus, it is important to understand their biological effects. Previous studies suggested that magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles （IONPs） have tissue-repairing effects. In the present study, we explored cellular effects of IONPs in mesenchymal stem cells （MSCs） and identified the underlying molecular mechanisms. The results showed that our as-prepared IONPs were structurally stable in MSCs and promoted osteogenic differentiation of MSCs as whole particles. Moreover, at the molecular level, we compared the gene expression of MSCs with or without IONP exposure and showed that IONPs upregulated long noncoding RNA INZEB2, which is indispensable for maintaining osteogenesis by MSCs. Furthermore, overexpression of INZEB2 downregulated ZEB2, a factor necessary to repress BMP/Smad- dependent osteogenic transcription. We also demonstrated that the essential role of INZEB2 in osteogenic differentiation was ZEB2-dependent. In summary, we elucidated the molecular basis of IONPs＇ effects on MSCs; these findings may serve as a meaningful theoretical foundation for applications of stem cells to regenerative medicine.展开更多
With superior biocompatibility and unique magnetic properties, iron-based nanoparticles （IBNP） are commonly encapsulated in cells and extracellular vesicles （EV） to allow for magnetic force controlled drug deliver...With superior biocompatibility and unique magnetic properties, iron-based nanoparticles （IBNP） are commonly encapsulated in cells and extracellular vesicles （EV） to allow for magnetic force controlled drug delivery and non-invasive tracking. Based on their natural source and similar morphologs; we classify both cells and EVs as being natural lipid encapsulations （NLEs）, distinguishing them from synthetic liposomes. Both their imaging contrast and drug effects are dominated by the amount of iron encapsulated in each NLE, demonstrating the importance of magnetic labeling efficiency. It is known that the membranes function as barriers to ensure that substances pass in and out in an orderly manner. The most important issue in increasing the cellular uptake of IBNPs is the interaction between the NLE membrane and IBNPs, which has been found to be affected by properties of the IBNPs as well as NLE heterogeneity. Two aspects are important for effective magnetic labelling： First, how to effectively drive membrane wrapping of the nanoparticles into the NLEs, and second, how to balance biosafety and nanoparticle uptake. In this review, we will provide a systematic overview of the magnetic labeling of NLEs with IBNPs. This article provides a summary of the applications of magnetically labeled NLEs and the labeling methods used for IBNPs. The review also analyzes the role of IBNPs physicochemical properties, especially their magnetic properties, and the of NLEs in the internalization pathway. At the same time, the future of magnetically labeled NLEs is also discussed. development展开更多
Patients treated with the cisplatin often develop strong resistance to the drug after prolonged treatments, ultimately resulting in limited clinical efficacy. One of the possible mechanisms is that the internalized co...Patients treated with the cisplatin often develop strong resistance to the drug after prolonged treatments, ultimately resulting in limited clinical efficacy. One of the possible mechanisms is that the internalized compound may be inactivated before getting access to the nucleus where cisplatin forms a complex with the genomic DNA and triggers a cell death program. However, the nature and intracellular fate of inactivated cisplatin is poorly illustrated. In the present study, we reported for the first time the presence of platinum nanoparticles(Pt-NPs) in the cytoplasm of cells treated with cisplatin. Further analysis also evidenced a correlation of the increased intracellular PtNPs formation with cisplatin resistance, and confirmed the process was glutathione S-transferase relevant. Our data suggest that tumor cells may develop cisplatin resistance by converting the drug into less toxic intracellular Pt-NPs, thereby impeding the drug from targeting its substrates.展开更多
The interactions with the pulmonary surfactant,the initial biological barrier of respiratory pathway,determine the potential therapeutic applications and toxicological effects of inhaled nanoparticles(NPs). Although m...The interactions with the pulmonary surfactant,the initial biological barrier of respiratory pathway,determine the potential therapeutic applications and toxicological effects of inhaled nanoparticles(NPs). Although much attention has been paid to optimize the physicochemical properties of NPs for improved delivery and targeting,shape effects of the inhaled NPs on their interactions with the pulmonary surfactant are still far from clear. Here,we studied the shape effects of NPs on their penetration abilities and structural disruptions to the dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine(DPPC) monolayer(being model pulmonary surfactant film) using coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations. It is found that during the inspiration process(i.e.,surfactant film expansion),shape effects are negligible. However,during the expiration process(i.e.,surfactant film compression),NPs of different shapes show various penetration abilities and degrees of structural disruptions to the DPPC monolayer. We found that rod-like NPs showed the highest degree of penetration and the smallest side-effects to the DPPC monolayer. Our results may provide a useful insight into the design of NPs for respiratory therapeutics.展开更多
An efficient synthesis of substituted 1,3-dihydroisobenzofurans is developed. In this novel route, oaroylbenzaldehydes, as key intermediates, can be obtained by lead tetraacetate oxidation of Naroylhydrazones of salic...An efficient synthesis of substituted 1,3-dihydroisobenzofurans is developed. In this novel route, oaroylbenzaldehydes, as key intermediates, can be obtained by lead tetraacetate oxidation of Naroylhydrazones of salicylaldehydes. The mild and general strategy enables the synthesis of various substituted 1,3-dihydroisobenzofurans in high yields. Moreover, this method can be applied to efficiently synthesize escitalopram.展开更多
It is essential to develop a single mode operation and improve the performance of lasing in order to ensure practical applicability of microlasers and nanolasers. In this paper, two hexagonal microteeth with varied na...It is essential to develop a single mode operation and improve the performance of lasing in order to ensure practical applicability of microlasers and nanolasers. In this paper, two hexagonal microteeth with varied nanoscaled air-gaps of a ZnO microcomb are used to construct coupled whispering-gallery cavities. This is done to achieve a stable single mode lasing based on Vernier effect without requiring any complicated or sophisticated manipulation to achieve positioning with nanoscale precision. Optical gain and the corresponding ultraviolet lasing performance were improved greatly through coupling with localized surface plasmons of Pt nanoparticles. The ZnO/Pt hybrid microcavities achieved a seven-fold enhancement of intensity of single mode lasing with higher side- mode suppression ratio and lower threshold. The mechanism that led to this enhancement has been described in detail.展开更多
Collective oscillations of free electrons generate plasmons on the surface of a material. A whispering-gallery microcavity effectively confines the light field on its surface based on the total reflection from its int...Collective oscillations of free electrons generate plasmons on the surface of a material. A whispering-gallery microcavity effectively confines the light field on its surface based on the total reflection from its internal wall. When these two kinds of electromagnetic waves meet each other, the stimulated emissions from an individual ZnO microrod were enhanced more than 50-fold and the threshold was reduced after the whispering-gallery microcavity was coated with a monolayer of graphene and A1 nanoparticles. The improvement of the lasing performance was attributed to the synergistic energy coupling of the graphene/A1 surface plasmons with ZnO excitons. The lasing characteristics and the coupling mechanism were investigated systematically.展开更多
Realization of pure and stable ultraviolet electroluminescence(UV EL) of ZnO light-emitting diode(LED)is still a challenging issue, due to complicated defects of intrinsic ZnO and the corresponding device interfaces. ...Realization of pure and stable ultraviolet electroluminescence(UV EL) of ZnO light-emitting diode(LED)is still a challenging issue, due to complicated defects of intrinsic ZnO and the corresponding device interfaces. In this paper, we demonstrated a simple & feasible method to fabricate n-ZnO/AlN/p-GaN heterojunctions light-emitting devices. First, the vertically aligned ZnO nanorods(NRs) have been prepared as high quality active layer, and the nanostructured heterojunction LED arrays were constructed by directly bonding ZnO NRs onto AlN-coated p-GaN wafer. By optimizing the AlN layer thickness to be 20 nm, a strong and pure ultraviolet emission located at 387 nm can be observed. The energy band alignment of n-ZnO/AlN(20 nm)/p-Ga N heterojunction LED has been studied by using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS), the valence band offset between AlN and GaN was calculated to be 0.34 eV. On the other side, the conduction band offset(as large as 3.28 eV) between Al N and ZnO can block the flow of electrons from ZnO top-GaN. Thus, electron-hole recombination takes place in the ZnO layer, and a pure UV EL could be observed. Our results provide a significant approach toward future of pure ultraviolet optoelectronic LEDs.展开更多
Increasing evidence shows that magnetic fields and magnetic responsive scaffolds can play unique roles in promoting bone repair and regeneration. This article addresses the synergistic effects of magnetic scaffolds in...Increasing evidence shows that magnetic fields and magnetic responsive scaffolds can play unique roles in promoting bone repair and regeneration. This article addresses the synergistic effects of magnetic scaffolds in response to external magnetic fields on the bone regeneration in situ. Additionally, the exploration of using magnetic scaffolds as tools in the bone implant fixation, local drug delivery and mimicking microenvironment of stem cell differentiation are introduced. We also discussed possible underlying mechanisms and perspectives of magnetic responsive scaffolds in the bone repair and regeneration.展开更多
A portable and comfortable wireless ECG monitoring system composed of fabric electrodes and a monitoring terminal was proposed,which is essential to continuous ECG monitoring. The ECG signal acquired could be processe...A portable and comfortable wireless ECG monitoring system composed of fabric electrodes and a monitoring terminal was proposed,which is essential to continuous ECG monitoring. The ECG signal acquired could be processed and stored in the monitoring terminal. The HR was got and transmitted to any devices through a Bluetooth interface. The experimental results in resting and walking showed that the ECG monitoring system could acquire the ECG signal steadily,continuously and precisely.展开更多
Gene therapy is known highly effective for treatment of many diseases;however,its wide use has been severely bottlenecked by lack of safe and effective delivery vectors[1].Cationic polymers are safe nonviral gene vect...Gene therapy is known highly effective for treatment of many diseases;however,its wide use has been severely bottlenecked by lack of safe and effective delivery vectors[1].Cationic polymers are safe nonviral gene vectors with great potential for large-scale applications[2],and widely used to condense the large macromolecules into cationic polymer/DNA complexes(polyplexes)nanoparticles,protect-展开更多
文摘<div style="text-align:justify;"> Circulating extracellular RNAs (exRNAs) are very important potential biomarkers of disease. But few have been reported the extracellular RNA profiles in serum. In this study, we tried to use RNA-seq technology to analyze the extracellular RNA by using low volume peripheral blood serum and compared the sequencing results between different volumes of serum (500 μl, 1.5 ml, 2.5 ml, 3.5 ml). According to the results, we found that most of the exRNA in the serum is lncRNA, protein_coding and MT-rRNA. And when the volume of serum is between 0.5 - 3.5 ml, the numbers and reads of exRNA, including the reads of circRNA, have not changed significantly. It indicates that the sequencing result of exRNA in serum has no significance with the initial serum volume. </div>
文摘A common model of power supply for implantable devices was established to study factors affecting volume conduction energy transfer. Electromagnetic and equivalent circuit models were constructed to study the effect of separation between the source electrode pairs on volume conduction energy transfer. In addition, the parameters of external signal including waveform, amplitude and frequency were analyzed. As the current amplitude did not lead to tissue injury and the current frequency did not cause nerve excitability, the recommended separation be- tween the source electrodes was 3 cm, the proposed waveform of signal source was sinusoidal wave and the opti- mal frequency was 200 KHz. In agar experiment and swine skin experiment, the current transfer efficiencies were 28.13% and 20.65%, respectively, and the energy transfer efficiencies were 9.86% and 6.90%, respectively. In conclusion, we can achieve optimal efficiency of energy transfer by appropriately setting the separation between the source electrode parameters of the signal source.
文摘Recent interest in mobile-based heahhcare has driven significant demands on researching non-contact electrodes for electrocardiogram （ECG） measurement. While the conductive gel achieves the requirement in making a good contact between the electrodes and skin, several problems appear. A gel-free, non-contact electrode based on capacitive coupling theory was provided in this paper, which was integrated on the print circuit board （PCB）. The experimental results showed that clear ECG signals could be acquired in the laboratory conditions by coupling the electrodes to the chest of patients through cotton belts.
文摘Nanomaterials are increasingly used for biomedical applications; thus, it is important to understand their biological effects. Previous studies suggested that magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles （IONPs） have tissue-repairing effects. In the present study, we explored cellular effects of IONPs in mesenchymal stem cells （MSCs） and identified the underlying molecular mechanisms. The results showed that our as-prepared IONPs were structurally stable in MSCs and promoted osteogenic differentiation of MSCs as whole particles. Moreover, at the molecular level, we compared the gene expression of MSCs with or without IONP exposure and showed that IONPs upregulated long noncoding RNA INZEB2, which is indispensable for maintaining osteogenesis by MSCs. Furthermore, overexpression of INZEB2 downregulated ZEB2, a factor necessary to repress BMP/Smad- dependent osteogenic transcription. We also demonstrated that the essential role of INZEB2 in osteogenic differentiation was ZEB2-dependent. In summary, we elucidated the molecular basis of IONPs＇ effects on MSCs; these findings may serve as a meaningful theoretical foundation for applications of stem cells to regenerative medicine.
文摘With superior biocompatibility and unique magnetic properties, iron-based nanoparticles （IBNP） are commonly encapsulated in cells and extracellular vesicles （EV） to allow for magnetic force controlled drug delivery and non-invasive tracking. Based on their natural source and similar morphologs; we classify both cells and EVs as being natural lipid encapsulations （NLEs）, distinguishing them from synthetic liposomes. Both their imaging contrast and drug effects are dominated by the amount of iron encapsulated in each NLE, demonstrating the importance of magnetic labeling efficiency. It is known that the membranes function as barriers to ensure that substances pass in and out in an orderly manner. The most important issue in increasing the cellular uptake of IBNPs is the interaction between the NLE membrane and IBNPs, which has been found to be affected by properties of the IBNPs as well as NLE heterogeneity. Two aspects are important for effective magnetic labelling： First, how to effectively drive membrane wrapping of the nanoparticles into the NLEs, and second, how to balance biosafety and nanoparticle uptake. In this review, we will provide a systematic overview of the magnetic labeling of NLEs with IBNPs. This article provides a summary of the applications of magnetically labeled NLEs and the labeling methods used for IBNPs. The review also analyzes the role of IBNPs physicochemical properties, especially their magnetic properties, and the of NLEs in the internalization pathway. At the same time, the future of magnetically labeled NLEs is also discussed. development
基金Funded by the National Key Basic Research Program of China (2011CB933503)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) for Key Project of International Cooperation (61420106012)+2 种基金the Special Funds of National Natural Science Foundation of China For Basic Research Projects of Scientific Instruments (61127002)the Special Project on the Development of National Key Scientific Instruments and Equipment of China (2011YQ03013403)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation funded project (2013M541592)
文摘Patients treated with the cisplatin often develop strong resistance to the drug after prolonged treatments, ultimately resulting in limited clinical efficacy. One of the possible mechanisms is that the internalized compound may be inactivated before getting access to the nucleus where cisplatin forms a complex with the genomic DNA and triggers a cell death program. However, the nature and intracellular fate of inactivated cisplatin is poorly illustrated. In the present study, we reported for the first time the presence of platinum nanoparticles(Pt-NPs) in the cytoplasm of cells treated with cisplatin. Further analysis also evidenced a correlation of the increased intracellular PtNPs formation with cisplatin resistance, and confirmed the process was glutathione S-transferase relevant. Our data suggest that tumor cells may develop cisplatin resistance by converting the drug into less toxic intracellular Pt-NPs, thereby impeding the drug from targeting its substrates.
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (2011CB933503)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (61127002)the PhD Program Foundation of Ministry of Education of China
文摘The interactions with the pulmonary surfactant,the initial biological barrier of respiratory pathway,determine the potential therapeutic applications and toxicological effects of inhaled nanoparticles(NPs). Although much attention has been paid to optimize the physicochemical properties of NPs for improved delivery and targeting,shape effects of the inhaled NPs on their interactions with the pulmonary surfactant are still far from clear. Here,we studied the shape effects of NPs on their penetration abilities and structural disruptions to the dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine(DPPC) monolayer(being model pulmonary surfactant film) using coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations. It is found that during the inspiration process(i.e.,surfactant film expansion),shape effects are negligible. However,during the expiration process(i.e.,surfactant film compression),NPs of different shapes show various penetration abilities and degrees of structural disruptions to the DPPC monolayer. We found that rod-like NPs showed the highest degree of penetration and the smallest side-effects to the DPPC monolayer. Our results may provide a useful insight into the design of NPs for respiratory therapeutics.
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program of China(No.2011CB933503)Technology Supporting Program of Jiangsu Province(Nos.BE2009639 and BE2012657)
文摘An efficient synthesis of substituted 1,3-dihydroisobenzofurans is developed. In this novel route, oaroylbenzaldehydes, as key intermediates, can be obtained by lead tetraacetate oxidation of Naroylhydrazones of salicylaldehydes. The mild and general strategy enables the synthesis of various substituted 1,3-dihydroisobenzofurans in high yields. Moreover, this method can be applied to efficiently synthesize escitalopram.
基金Acknowledgements The authors sincerely appreciate the help of Shufeng Wang and Yu Li at Peking University and Andong Xia at Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences for their technical support on time-resolved PL. This work was supported by the National Basic Research Program （No. 2013CB932903）, National Natural Science Foundation （Nos. 61275054, 61475035, and 11404289）, Jiangsu Province Science and Technology Support Program （No. BE2016177） and Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province （No. LY17A040011）.
文摘It is essential to develop a single mode operation and improve the performance of lasing in order to ensure practical applicability of microlasers and nanolasers. In this paper, two hexagonal microteeth with varied nanoscaled air-gaps of a ZnO microcomb are used to construct coupled whispering-gallery cavities. This is done to achieve a stable single mode lasing based on Vernier effect without requiring any complicated or sophisticated manipulation to achieve positioning with nanoscale precision. Optical gain and the corresponding ultraviolet lasing performance were improved greatly through coupling with localized surface plasmons of Pt nanoparticles. The ZnO/Pt hybrid microcavities achieved a seven-fold enhancement of intensity of single mode lasing with higher side- mode suppression ratio and lower threshold. The mechanism that led to this enhancement has been described in detail.
文摘Collective oscillations of free electrons generate plasmons on the surface of a material. A whispering-gallery microcavity effectively confines the light field on its surface based on the total reflection from its internal wall. When these two kinds of electromagnetic waves meet each other, the stimulated emissions from an individual ZnO microrod were enhanced more than 50-fold and the threshold was reduced after the whispering-gallery microcavity was coated with a monolayer of graphene and A1 nanoparticles. The improvement of the lasing performance was attributed to the synergistic energy coupling of the graphene/A1 surface plasmons with ZnO excitons. The lasing characteristics and the coupling mechanism were investigated systematically.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(61475035,11734005)the Science and Technology Support Program of Jiangsu Province(BE2016177)the Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology
文摘Realization of pure and stable ultraviolet electroluminescence(UV EL) of ZnO light-emitting diode(LED)is still a challenging issue, due to complicated defects of intrinsic ZnO and the corresponding device interfaces. In this paper, we demonstrated a simple & feasible method to fabricate n-ZnO/AlN/p-GaN heterojunctions light-emitting devices. First, the vertically aligned ZnO nanorods(NRs) have been prepared as high quality active layer, and the nanostructured heterojunction LED arrays were constructed by directly bonding ZnO NRs onto AlN-coated p-GaN wafer. By optimizing the AlN layer thickness to be 20 nm, a strong and pure ultraviolet emission located at 387 nm can be observed. The energy band alignment of n-ZnO/AlN(20 nm)/p-Ga N heterojunction LED has been studied by using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS), the valence band offset between AlN and GaN was calculated to be 0.34 eV. On the other side, the conduction band offset(as large as 3.28 eV) between Al N and ZnO can block the flow of electrons from ZnO top-GaN. Thus, electron-hole recombination takes place in the ZnO layer, and a pure UV EL could be observed. Our results provide a significant approach toward future of pure ultraviolet optoelectronic LEDs.
文摘Increasing evidence shows that magnetic fields and magnetic responsive scaffolds can play unique roles in promoting bone repair and regeneration. This article addresses the synergistic effects of magnetic scaffolds in response to external magnetic fields on the bone regeneration in situ. Additionally, the exploration of using magnetic scaffolds as tools in the bone implant fixation, local drug delivery and mimicking microenvironment of stem cell differentiation are introduced. We also discussed possible underlying mechanisms and perspectives of magnetic responsive scaffolds in the bone repair and regeneration.
文摘A portable and comfortable wireless ECG monitoring system composed of fabric electrodes and a monitoring terminal was proposed,which is essential to continuous ECG monitoring. The ECG signal acquired could be processed and stored in the monitoring terminal. The HR was got and transmitted to any devices through a Bluetooth interface. The experimental results in resting and walking showed that the ECG monitoring system could acquire the ECG signal steadily,continuously and precisely.
文摘Gene therapy is known highly effective for treatment of many diseases;however,its wide use has been severely bottlenecked by lack of safe and effective delivery vectors[1].Cationic polymers are safe nonviral gene vectors with great potential for large-scale applications[2],and widely used to condense the large macromolecules into cationic polymer/DNA complexes(polyplexes)nanoparticles,protect-
