Effect of stents coated with a combination of sirolimus and alpha-lipoic acid in a porcine coronary restenosis model

The aim of this study was to evaluate antiproliferative sirolimus- and antioxidative alpha-lipoic acid (ALA)-eluting stents using biodegradable polymer [poly-l-lactic acid (PLA)] in a porcine coronary overstretch restenosis model. Forty coronary arteries of 20 pigs were randomized into four groups in which the coronary arteries had a bare metal stent (BMS, n = 10), ALA-eluting stent with PLA (AES, n = 10), sirolimus-eluting stent with PLA (SES, n = 10), or sirolimus- and ALA-eluting stent with PLA (SAS, n = 10). A histopathological analysis was performed 28 days after the stenting. The ALA and sirolimus released slowly over 30 days. There were no significant differences between groups in the injury or inflammation score; however, there were significant differences in the percent area of stenosis (56.2 ± 11.78 % in BMS vs. 51.5 ± 12.20 % in AES vs. 34.7 ± 7.23 % in SES vs. 28.7 ± 7.30 % in SAS, P < 0.0001) and fibrin score [1.0 (range 1.0–1.0) in BMS vs. 1.0 (range 1.0–1.0) in AES vs. 2.0 (range 2.0–2.0) in SES vs. 2.0 (range 2.0–2.0) in SAS, P < 0.0001] between the four groups. The percent area of stenosis based on micro-computed tomography corresponded with the restenosis rates based on histopathological stenosis in different proportions in the four groups (54.8 ± 7.88 % in BMS vs. 50.4 ± 14.87 % in AES vs. 34.5 ± 7.22 % in SES vs. 28.9 ± 7.22 % in SAS, P < 0.05). SAS showed a better neointimal inhibitory effect than BMS, AES, and SES at 1 month after stenting in a porcine coronary restenosis model. Therefore, SAS with PLA can be a useful drug combination for coronary stent coating to suppress neointimal hyperplasia.     

Performance Evaluation of Composite Electrolyte with GQD for All-Solid-State Lithium Batteries

The use a stabilized lithium structure as cathode material for batteries could be a fundamental alternative in the development of next-generation energy storage devices. However, the lithium structure severely limits battery life causes safety concerns due to the growth of lithium (Li) dendrites during rapid charge/discharge cycles. Solid electrolytes, which are used in high-density energy storage devices and avoid the instability of liquid electrolytes, can be a promising alternative for next-generation batteries. Nevertheless, poor lithium ion conductivity and structural defects at room temperature have been pointed out as limitations. In this study, through the application of a low-dimensional graphene quantum dot (GQD) layer structure, stable operation characteristics were demonstrated based on Li⁺ ion conductivity and excellent electrochemical performance. Moreover, the device based on the modified graphene quantum dots (GQDs) in solid state exhibited retention properties of 95.3% for 100 cycles at 0.5 C and room temperature (RT). Transmission electron microscopy analysis was performed to elucidate the Li⁺ ion action mechanism in the modified GQD/electrolyte heterostructure. The low-dimensional structure of the GQD-based solid electrolyte has provided an important strategy for stably-scalable solid-state lithium battery applications at room temperature. It was demonstrated that lithiated graphene quantum dots (Li-GQDs) inhibit the growth of Li dendrites by regulating the modified Li⁺ ion flux during charge/discharge cycling at current densities of 2.2–5.5 mA cm, acting as a modified Li diffusion heterointerface. A full Li GQD-based device was fabricated to demonstrate the practicality of the modified Li structure using the Li–GQD hetero-interface. This study indicates that the low-dimensional carbon structure in Li–GQDs can be an effective approach for stabilization of solid-state Li matrix architecture.     

A Hemispherical Image Sensor Array Fabricated with Organic Photomemory Transistors

Hemispherical image sensors simplify lens designs, reduce optical aberrations, and improve image resolution for compact wide-field-of-view cameras. To achieve hemispherical image sensors, organic materials are promising candidates due to the following advantages: tunability of optoelectronic/spectral response and low-temperature low-cost processes. Here, a photolithographic process is developed to prepare a hemispherical image sensor array using organic thin film photomemory transistors with a density of 308 pixels per square centimeter. This design includes only one photomemory transistor as a single active pixel, in contrast to the conventional pixel architecture, consisting of select/readout/reset transistors and a photodiode. The organic photomemory transistor, comprising light-sensitive organic semiconductor and charge-trapping dielectric, is able to achieve a linear photoresponse (light intensity range, from 1 to 50 W m⁻²), along with a responsivity as high as 1.6 A W⁻¹ (wavelength = 465 nm) for a dark current of 0.24 A m⁻² (drain voltage = −1.5 V). These observed values represent the best responsivity for similar dark currents among all the reported hemispherical image sensor arrays to date. A transfer method was further developed that does not damage organic materials for hemispherical organic photomemory transistor arrays. These developed techniques are scalable and are amenable for other high-resolution 3D organic semiconductor devices.     

Purification and properties of beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidase from cabbage

beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidase was purified from the extract of cabbage by sequential steps of ammonium sulfate fractionation, chromatofocusing, DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B ion exchange chromatography and Sephacryl S-200 HR gel filtration. By these steps, the purity of the enzyme increased by 256 fold with a recovery of 8%. The purified enzyme was homogeneous as examined by native PAGE. It showed an optimal pH of 4, an optimal temperature of 60 degrees C and a Km of 0.94 mM for hydrolysis of pNp-beta-GlcNAc. The molecular mass of the enzyme determined from filtration through Sephacryl S-200 was 150 kDa. Three subunits with molecular mass of 64, 57 and 51 kDa were observed as determined by SDS-PAGE. NBS (0.025 mM), DEPC (3 mM) and WRK (30 mM) significantly inhibited the activity of the enzyme. The enzyme also showed activity toward pNp-beta-GalNAc, N,N'-diacetylchitobiose, N,N',N"-triacetylchitotriose and N,N',N",N"'-tetraacetyl chitotetraose but showed no activity toward pNp-alpha-GlcNAc, chitin and ethylene glycol chitin.     

Inviscid melt-spun high-temperature alumina-magnesia fibres

Al₂O₃-MgO (AM) fibres containing 98.16 wt% Al₂O₃ and 1.84 wt% MgO, were produced via inviscid melt spinning. By using scanning electron microscopy it was found that the as-spun AM fibres were hollow and their surfaces were very rough. The X-ray diffraction pattern of the as-spun AM fibre showed -Al₂O₃ as a major phase and -Al₂O₃ as a minor phase. The DTA curve of the as-spun AM fibre showed a single endothermic peak representing the phase transformation of -Al₂O₃ to -Al₂O₃. This phase transformation was readily confirmed by analysing the X-ray diffraction pattern of heat-treated AM fibres.     

The effect of additives on the crystallization and sintering of 2MgO-2Al2O3-5SiO2 glass-ceramics

Crystallization and sintering behaviour of three cordierite (2MgO-2Al₂O₃-5SiO₂) glasses containing different amount of additives were investigated and compared by using differential thermal analysis (DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the Archimedes method. The stoichiometric 2MgO-2Al₂O₃-5SiO₂ (MAS) glass and the 2MgO-2Al₂O₃-5SiO₂ glass containing 3 wt% of B₂O₃ and 3 wt% of P₂O₅ (MASBP) showed two exotherms (one for -cordierite formation from a glass and the other for -cordierite formation from the -cordierite phase), whereas the 2MgO-2Al₂O₃-5SiO₂ glass containing 2 wt % of B₂O₃, 2 wt% of P₂O₅, and 2 wt % of TiO₂ (MASBPT) showed only a single exotherm representing -cordierite formation. By using Kissinger, Augis-Bennett, Ozawa, and modified Kissinger methods, the activation energy values for -cordierite formation in the MASBP and MASBPT glasses were determined as 310±6 and 326±13 kJ mol^–1, respectively, whereas that in the MAS glass was determined as 868±5 kJ mol^–1. The MASBPT glass showed the lowest peak temperature value for -cordierite formation (980 °C) amongst the three glasses. Both the MASBP and MASBPT glasses showed excellent sintering behaviour (> 99.7% of theoretical density).