Cytotoxicity of titanium dioxide nanoparticles differs in four liver cells from human and rat

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles (NPs) are the important nanoscale components of composites. Although TiO₂ NPs and their related nanocomposites have been widely used in industrial and medical applications, the adverse effects of TiO₂ nanomaterials have not been well studied. Here, we investigated the cytotoxicity of TiO₂ NPs in vitro using four liver cell lines: human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (SMMC-7721), human liver cell line (HL-7702), rat hepatocarcinoma cell line (CBRH-7919) and rat liver cell line (BRL-3A). We checked cell viability, cell morphology, and the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glutathione (GSH) after TiO₂ exposure at varying concentrations (0.1–100 μg/mL) and different exposure periods of time (12–48 h). Compared to the NP-free control, all four cell lines exposed to TiO₂ NPs showed cytotoxicity in a dosage-dependent and time-dependent manner, which was associated with the changes of cell viability and cell morphology, increased intercellular ROS levels, and decreased intracellular GSH levels. Further, we observed that carcinomatous liver cells and human liver cells exhibited more tolerance to TiO₂ NPs exposure for 24 h, compared to normal liver cells and rat liver cells, respectively. The results indicate that the in vitro cytotoxicity induced by NPs should be assessed with great caution before the use of nanocomposites and that there is a need to standardize the cytotoxicity testing procedure of nanoscale components in composites when using different cell lines.     

Immunomodulatory effects of feruloylated oligosaccharides from rice bran

Feruloylated oligosaccharides (FOs), the ferulic acid ester of oligosaccharides, can be released either by the enzymatic or mild acid hydrolysis of arabinoxylans present in cereal bran, and are usually considered as natural antioxidants. However, no related research is available to explain their immunomodulatory effects. This report elucidated their immunomodulatory effects through the variations of pro-inflammatory mediators in vitro. FOs were obtained from the mild acid hydrolysis of rice bran. We found that FOs (0.1–100 μg/ml) induced tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), IL-1β, IL-6, nitric oxide (NO) and PGE₂ production in unstimulated macrophages, RAW264.7 cells. Furthermore, pre- and post-treated FOs (0.1–100 μg/ml) dose-dependently suppressed TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and NO production, and induced IL-10 production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells without exerting cytotoxicity. As a result anti-inflammatory and therapeutic activities were revealed. It is noteworthy that prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) production was significantly suppressed at an FO level of 100 μg/ml. The in vitro assessment of inflammatory mediators should be useful in further characterising the effects of FOs on immunomodulation. Moreover, it will create the economical value of rice bran, which has long been considered as conventional agricultural wastes.     

基于QFD与FBS模型的坐便器多适性设计研究

目的 设计能够适应多类用户群体的多适性坐便器,让老年用户也能够平等的使用。方法 以针对一般群体的主流坐便器为设计基础,合理融入老年人群的特殊需求。运用质量功能展开（Quality Function Deployment,QFD）建立多适性坐便器用户需求与设计要求关系矩阵,确定关键设计要求的目标作为功能引入FBS（Function-Behavior-Structure）模型,最终获得坐便器结构化信息。结论 结合运用QFD和FBS模型展开的坐便器多适性设计研究,能够精确有效地将用户需求转化为设计要求,使最终的产品客观表现与用户需求之间能够精准映射匹配。同时验证了QFD和FBS融合应用的可行性和有效性。     

基于CMR+FBS方法模型的家庭智能体交互设计

目的 FBS（即功能—行为—结构）认知计算设计模型对内容容器的设计缺乏对应的有效指导方法。本文提出针对内容功能关系需求的CMR认知计算设计模型,探讨家庭智能体交互设计的功能与内容设计的本体论框架。方法 除了在家庭智能体的功能设计中引入FBS模型,本文还提出了针对智能体及人机交互内容设计的CMR（即内容—心智及交互模型—需求与关系）设计模型。其中,内容包括用户自身产生内容（UGC）、专业生产内容（PGC）、职业生产内容（OGC）,以及本文提出的生态系统生成内容（EGC）。本文提出CMR+FBS方法模型,分析了功能任务与内容描述之间的转换关系,并将CMR+FBS模型应用于百度智能音箱项目的研究中,对其唤醒功能的设计进行了分析。结论 FBS模型与CMR模型的结合能够支持高度灵活的智能体产品设计和数据服务的交互设计,CMR模型是提供高满意度用户体验的关键因素。寻求功能任务需求与构建用户生成内容的人机交互（HRI）关系是智能产品交互设计的新方法。     

一种移动背景下的污染气体遥感探测算法

作为一种有效的大气污染气体遥感探测识别手段,傅里叶变换红外光谱仪已经得到越来越广泛的应用。当污染气体与背景存在温差时,红外光谱就能反映出污染气体的吸收或发射特征。利用布鲁克公司的OPAG 22型光谱仪采样得到2048点的干涉图,当采用合适的信号处理算法时,可以在不需要预先测量背景的前提下直接分析干涉图得到污染气体的特征信号。本文介绍的快速背景扣除算法在污染气体的特征峰是单峰、多峰等情况下都能快速有效地扣除掉低频背景信号,检出目标特征。这一方法为快速移动背景下的污染气体探测识别研究提供了一个快速简便的方法。     

Complexes between linoleate and native or aggregated β-lactoglobulin: Interaction parameters and in vitro cytotoxic effect

The dairy protein β-lactoglobulin (βlg) is known to form a complex with fatty acids (FA). Due to industrial processing, βlg is often in its non-native form in food products, which can modify the FA/βlg complex properties. We investigated the interaction of bovine βlg, in selected structural forms (native βlg, a covalent dimer and as nanoparticles), with linoleate (C18:2). Using fluorescence and Isothermal Titration Calorimetry, linoleate was found to bind βlg at two different binding sites. Regardless of the structural state of βlg, association constants remained in the same order of magnitude. However, the stoichiometry increased up to 6-fold for nanoparticles, compared to that of native βlg. The impact of these structural changes on linoleate uptake in vitro was measured by cytotoxicity assays on Caco-2 cells. The order of cytotoxicity of linoleate was as follows: free > complexed to dimers > complexed to nanoparticles > complexed to native βlg. Therefore, the in vitro cytotoxicity of linoleate could be modulated by altering the state of βlg aggregation, which in turn affects its binding capacity to the FA.     

融合TRIZ理论和FBS模型的担架车创新设计

目的 提出TRIZ理论和FBS模型融合的创新设计模式,以更充分地发挥两者在产品创新设计上的特点,形成优势互补,基于该模式设计一款代替救护车通过狭小路段实施救援的新型担架车。方法 基于现有担架车产品,运用FBS模型挖掘医护人员和伤者的用户需求,并由用户需求推导分析用户行为,进而得到担架车创新结构特征。之后,应用TRIZ理论矛盾冲突矩阵对担架车结构及功能设计中出现的矛盾冲突进行分析,找到问题解决的思路并形成方案。结果 根据产品创新设计模式设计出一款带有动力系统、可快速转移伤员、携带一定数量的救援物资,并能够通过狭窄空间、可承载多人的新型担架车。结论 融合TRIZ理论和FBS模型的产品创新设计模式,为产品创新设计过程中的问题挖掘与问题解决,提供了一套系统且有效的设计思路与工具。     

Magnetic manipulation device for the optimization of cell processing conditions

Variability in human cell phenotypes make it's advancements in optimized cell processing necessary for personalized cell therapy. Here we propose a strategy of palm-top sized device to assist physically manipulating cells for optimizing cell preparations. For the design of such a device, we combined two conventional approaches: multi-well plate formatting and magnetic cell handling using magnetite cationic liposomes (MCLs). From our previous works, we showed the labeling applications of MCL on adhesive cells for various tissue engineering approaches. To feasibly transfer cells in multi-well plate, we here evaluated the magnetic response of MCL-labeled suspension type cells. The cell handling performance of Jurkat cells proved to be faster and more robust compared to MACS (Magnetic Cell Sorting) bead methods. To further confirm our strategy, prototype palm-top sized device “magnetic manipulation device (MMD)” was designed. In the device, the actual cell transportation efficacy of Jurkat cells was satisfying. Moreover, as a model of the most distributed clinical cell processing, primary peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from different volunteers were evaluated. By MMD, individual PBMCs indicated to have optimum Interleukin-2 (IL-2) concentrations for the expansion. Such huge differences of individual cells indicated that MMD, our proposing efficient and self-contained support tool, could assist the feasible and cost-effective optimization of cell processing in clinical facilities.     

Antioxidant and protective properties of six Tanacetum species against hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress in K562 cell line: A comparative study

The antioxidant activities of ethanolic extract of six species of Tanacetum (T. budjnurdense, T. hololeucum, T. chiliophyllum, T. sonboli, T. tabrisianum, T. kotschyi) from Iran were examined by employing various established in vitro assay systems. The results showed that all Tanacetum extracts displayed antioxidant activities, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 59.55 to 157.24 μg/ml, using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The extract of T. hololeucum, with an IC₅₀ value of 59.55 μg/ml was nearly two or three times more active than the other used Tanacetum extracts. The amounts of total phenolics and total flavonoids were also determined by spectrophotometer. A similar order of the amounts of phenolics and flavonoids in all plant extracts were found. The results showed that the extent of antioxidant activities is in accordance with the amounts of phenolics and flavonoids existing in all plant extracts. Regarding high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) data, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, luteolin, apigenin and rutin were detected as major phenolic compounds in all the species investigated. Pretreatment of K562 cells with various concentrations of Tanacetum extracts (10–100 μg/ml) for 16 h prevent cell damage and enhanced activity of antioxidant enzymes induced by a treatment with H₂O₂. Moreover, lower level of glutathione caused by hydrogen peroxide in K562 cells were partly recovered by a pretreatment of cells with various Tanacetum species extract. These results may show the significant protection effect of Tanacetum sp. against oxidation of the cells.     

The uptake of oligogalacturonide and its effect on growth inhibition,lactate dehydrogenase activity and galactin-3 release of human cancer cells

Anti-tumour activity and membrane permeability of 1 kDa oligogalacturonide (PET-pectin), prepared from citrus pectin after 24 h hydrolysis, by commercial pectic enzyme produced by Aspergillus niger, on four human cell lines (HepG2, A549, Colo 205, and HEK293) and the uptake of oligogalacturonide by HEK293 cell and BALB/c mouse were investigated. PET-pectin causes a higher value of growth inhibition, lactate dehydrogenase release, and galactin-3 release in human cancer cells, as compared to the human normal HEK293 cell. There was a good correlation between growth inhibition of human cells and the uptake of rhodamine B-PET-pectin content by these cells. Additionally, almost no difference between growth inhibitions of human normal HEK293 cells cultivated with PET-pectin and pectin was found. Total pectin content in the blood of PET-pectin administrated mice increased to a maximum at 2 h after oral administration, while it did not increase and change in pectin administrated mice. Our findings suggested that citrus PET-pectin can be developed as a potential dietary supplement in plant origin for cancer prevention.