FLIM of NAD(P)H in Lymphatic Nodes Resolves T-Cell Immune Response to the Tumor

Assessment of T-cell response to the tumor is important for diagnosis of the disease and monitoring of therapeutic efficacy. For this, new non-destructive label-free methods are required. Fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) of metabolic coenzymes is a promising innovative technology for the assessment of the functional status of cells. The purpose of this work was to test whether FLIM can resolve metabolic alterations that accompany T-cell reactivation to the tumors. The study was carried out on C57Bl/6 FoxP3-EGFP mice bearing B16F0 melanoma. Autofluorescence of the immune cells in fresh lymphatic nodes (LNs) was investigated. It was found that fluorescence lifetime parameters of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (phosphate) NAD(P)H are sensitive to tumor development. Effector T-cells in the LNs displayed higher contribution of free NADH, the form associated with glycolysis, in all tumors and the presence of protein-bound NADPH, associated with biosynthetic processes, in the tumors of large size. Flow cytometry showed that the changes in the NADH fraction of the effector T-cells correlated with their activation, while changes in NADPH correlated with cell proliferation. In conclusion, FLIM of NAD(P)H in fresh lymphoid tissue is a powerful tool for assessing the immune response to tumor development.     

The Influence of Novel,Biocompatible, and Bioresorbable Poly(3-hydroxyoctanoate) Dressings on Wound Healing in Mice

The human body’s natural protective barrier, the skin, is exposed daily to minor or major mechanical trauma, which can compromise its integrity. Therefore, the search for new dressing materials that can offer new functionalisation is fully justified. In this work, the development of two new types of dressings based on poly(3-hydroxyoctanoate) (P(3HO)) is presented. One of the groups was supplemented with conjugates of an anti-inflammatory substance (diclofenac) that was covalently linked to oligomers of hydroxycarboxylic acids (Oli-dicP(3HO)). The novel dressings were prepared using the solvent casting/particulate leaching technique. To our knowledge, this is the first paper in which P(3HO)-based dressings were used in mice wound treatment. The results of our research confirm that dressings based on P(3HO) are safe, do not induce an inflammatory response, reduce the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, provide adequate wound moisture, support angiogenesis, and, thanks to their hydrophobic characteristics, provide an ideal protective barrier. Newly designed dressings containing Oli-dicP(3HO) can promote tissue regeneration by partially reducing the inflammation at the injury site. To conclude, the presented materials might be potential candidates as excellent dressings for wound treatment.     

Injectable Gel Form of a Decellularized Bladder Induces Adipose-Derived Stem Cell Differentiation into Smooth Muscle Cells In Vitro

Biologic scaffolds composed of extracellular matrix components have been proposed to repair and reconstruct a variety of tissues in clinical and pre-clinical studies. Injectable gels can fill and conform any three-dimensional shape and can be delivered to sites of interest by minimally invasive techniques. In this study, a biological gel was produced from a decellularized porcine urinary bladder by enzymatic digestion with pepsin. The enzymatic digestion was confirmed by visual inspection after dissolution in phosphate-buffered saline solution and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The rheological and biological properties of the gel were characterized and compared to those of the Matrigel^TM chosen as a reference material. The storage modulus G’ reached 19.4 ± 3.7 Pa for the 30 mg/mL digested decellularized bladder gels after ca. 3 h at 37 °C. The results show that the gel formed of the porcine urinary bladder favored the spontaneous differentiation of human and rabbit adipose-derived stem cells in vitro into smooth muscle cells to the detriment of cell proliferation. The results support the potential of the developed injectable gel for tissue engineering applications to reconstruct for instance the detrusor muscle part of the human urinary bladder.     

Mixed phase sodium manganese oxide as cathode for enhanced aqueous zinc-ion storage

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries have been regarded as a promising alternative to large-scale energy storage, due to associated low-cost, improved safety and environmental friendliness. However, a high-performance cathode material for both rate capability and specific capacity is still a challenge. One kind of the more promising candidates are sodium manganese oxide (NMO) materials, although they suffer from individual issues and need to be further improved. Herein, we present a novel mixed phase NMO material composed of nearly equal amounts of Na_0.55Mn₂O₄ and Na_0.7MnO_2.05. The structured configuration with particle size of 200–500 nm is found to be beneficial towards improving the ion diffusion rate during the charge/discharge process. Compared with Na_0.7MnO_2.05 and Na_0.55Mn₂O₄, the mixed phase NMO demonstrates an enhanced rate capability and excellent long-term cycling stability with a capacity retention of 83% after 800 cycles. More importantly, the system also delivers an impressive energy density and power density, as 378 W·h·kg⁻¹ at 68.7 W·kg⁻¹, or 172 W·h·kg⁻¹ at 1705 W·kg⁻¹. The superior electrochemical performance is ascribed to the fast Zn²⁺ diffusion rate because of a large ratio of capacitive contribution (63.9% at 0.9 mV·s⁻¹). Thus, the mixed phase route provides a novel strategy to enhance electrochemical performance, enabling mixed phase NMO as very promising material towards large-scale energy-storage applications.     

Encapsulation of the Dinuclear Trithiolato-Bridged Arene Ruthenium Complex Diruthenium-1 in an Apoferritin Nanocage: Structure and Cytotoxicity

The effects of encapsulating the cytotoxic dinuclear trithiolato-bridged arene ruthenium complex [(η⁶-p-MeC₆H₄iPr)₂Ru₂(μ₂-S-p-C₆H₄tBu)₃]Cl (DiRu-1) within the apoferritin (AFt) nanocage were investigated. The DiRu-1-AFt nanocarrier was characterized by UV/Vis spectroscopy, ICP-MS, CD and X-ray crystallography. In contrast to previously reported Au- and Pt-based drug-loaded AFt carriers, we found no evidence of direct interactions between DiRu-1 and AFt. DiRu-1-AFt is cytotoxic toward immortalized murine BALB/c-3T3 fibroblasts transformed with SV40 virus (SVT2) and human epidermoid carcinoma A431 malignant cells, and exhibits moderate selectivity for these cancer cells over normal BALB/c-3T3 cells. DiRu-1-AFt triggers the production of reactive oxygen species, depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential, and induces cell death via p53-mediated apoptosis. Comparison between our data and previous results suggests that the presence of specific interactions between a metal-based drug and AFt within the protein cage is not essential for drug encapsulation.     

Computer Modeling System of the Industrial Diesel Fuel Catalytic Dewaxing Process

An unsteady mathematical model and a computer modeling system of the diesel fuel catalytic dewaxing process (mild hydrocracking) were developed. The modeling system allows for calculating the optimal technological mode to produce low‐freezing diesel fuel with the required cold filter plugging point taking into account the feedstock composition and catalyst activity. The modeling system consists of the main blocks: database, knowledge base, unsteady mathematical model of the diesel fuel catalytic dewaxing process, and application program package. Using the developed computer modeling system, the influence of the feedstock composition and flow rate as well as of the catalyst activity on the cold filter plugging point and the yield of diesel fuel is demonstrated.     

Endometriosis and Cancer: Exploring the Role of Macrophages

Endometriosis and cancer have much in common, notably their burgeoning of cells in hypoxic milieus, their invasiveness, and their capacity to trigger remodeling, vascularization, and innervation of other tissues. An important role in these processes is played by permissive microenvironments inhabited by a variety of stromal and immune cells, including macrophages. Remarkable phenotypical plasticity of macrophages makes them a promising therapeutic target; some key issues are the range of macrophage phenotypes characteristic of a particular pathology and the possible manners of its modulation. In both endometriosis and cancer, macrophages guard the lesions from immune surveillance while promoting pathological cell growth, invasion, and metastasis. This review article focuses on a comparative analysis of macrophage behaviors in endometriosis and cancer. We also highlight recent reports on the experimental modulation of macrophage phenotypes in preclinical models of endometriosis and cancer.     

Dynamic Chiro-Optics of Bio-Inorganic Nanomaterials via Seamless Co-Assembly of Semiconducting Nanorods and Polysaccharide Nanocrystals

This study demonstrates a novel chiral organization of multi-materials from semiconducting quantum nanorods (QNRs) co-assembled into chiral nematic polysaccharide (cellulose) nanocrystals for active manipulation of chiro-optical light emission properties in elastomeric materials. Highly emissive anisotropic QNRs with dimensions and surface chemistry commensurate with those of biological nanocrystals facilitate seamless co-assembly into an integrated chiral nematic organization due to preferable enthalpic interactions and pairing processes. The resulting freestanding highly emissive bio-inorganic elastomeric materials exhibit vivid iridescence and emission with a strong optical activity that manifests itself in active and tunable chiral photoluminescence with unusually large asymmetry. Intriguingly, large-strain reversible mechanical deformation of physically crosslinked elastomers endows fully reversible alternation of helical structural configuration and corresponding linearly and circularly polarized photoluminescence. This study provides a platform to render dynamic optical functionality with reconfigurable light propagation/emission in bio-inorganic elastomers for futuristic applications in chiral lasing, biosensing, optical gauges, and holographic display.     

Out-of-plane deformation and pull-in voltage of cantilevers with residual stress gradient: experiment and modelling

The out-of-plane deformation and the pull-in voltage of electrostatically actuated cantilevers with a residual stress gradient, is investigated in the length range 100–300 µm. Measured pull-in voltages are compared with calculations, which are obtained using previously proposed analytical expressions and a finite element method (FEM) modelling. In particular, a simplified model of the residual stress distribution inside cantilevers is formulated that enables FEM simulation of measured out-of-plane deformations and pull-in voltages for all lengths of fabricated cantilevers. The presented experimental results and FEM model are exploitable in the design of cantilever-based microelectromechanical systems, in order to provide a reliable prediction of the influence of residual stress gradient on device shape and pull-in voltage.

     

Macroporous hydrogels based on chitosan derivatives: Preparation,characterization, and in vitro evaluation

Chitosan‐based hydrogels are considered as promising biomaterials for tissue engineering. Biological properties of chitosan could be significantly improved by modification of its chemical structure. This study was aimed at characterizing macroporous hydrogels fabricated by freeze‐drying technique from chitosan, which has been N‐acetylated by 2,2‐bis(hydroxymethyl)propionic acid or l ,d ‐lactide. The nature of the acetylated agent was shown to significantly affect hydrogels morphology, swelling behavior, zeta‐potential, and protein sorption as well as their degradation by lysozyme. According to scanning electron and confocal laser scanning microscopy, the hydrogels possessed interconnected macroporous network that facilitated cells penetration into the interior regions of the hydrogel. Chemical modification of chitosan significantly influenced L929 cell growth behavior on hydrogel compared to the non‐modified chitosan. The proposed chemical strategy for modification of chitosan could be considered as promising approach for improvement of chitosan hydrogels. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134, 44651.