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The understanding and engineering of the plasmon-exciton coupling are necessary to control the innovative optoelectronic device platform. In this study, we investigated the intertwined mechanism of each plasmon-exciton couplings in monolayer molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) and plasmonic hybrid structure. The results of absorption, simulation, electrostatics, and emission spectra show that interaction between photoexcited carrier and exciton modes are successfully coupled by energy transfer and exciton recombination processes. Especially, neutral exciton, trion, and biexciton can be selectively enhanced by designing the plasmonic hybrid platform. All of these results imply that there is another degree of freedom to control the individual enhancement of each exciton mode in the development of nano optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional (3D) nanoframe structures are very appealing because their inner voids and ridges interact efficiently with light and analytes, allowing for effective optical-based sensing. However, the realization of complex nanoframe architecture with high yield is challenging because the systematic design of such a complicated nanostructure lacks an appropriate synthesis protocol. Here, we show the synthesis method for complex 3D nanoframes wherein two-dimensional (2D) dual-rim nanostructures are engraved on each facet of octahedral nanoframes. The synthetic scheme proceeds through multiple executable on-demand steps. With Au octahedral nanoparticles as a sacrificial template, sequential processes of edge-selective Pt deposition and inner Au etching lead to Pt octahedral mono-rim nanoframes. Then, adlayers of Au are grown on Pt skeletons via the Frank-van der Merwe mode, forming sharp and well-developed edges. Next, Pt selective deposition on both the inner and outer boundaries leads to tunable geometric patterning on Au. Finally, after the selective etching of Au, Pt octahedral dual-rim nanoframes with highly homogeneous size and shape are achieved. In order to endow plasmonic features, Au is coated around Pt frames while retaining their geometric shape. The resultant plasmonic dual-rim engraved nanoframes possess strong light entrapping capability verified by single-particle surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and show the potential of nanoprobes for biosensing through SERS-based immunoassay. Most SERS-active nanostructures suffer from low robustness against misalignment to field polarization. Here, the authors demonstrate three-dimensional nanoframes of octahedral geometry, with two rims engraved on each facet, as polarization-independent SERS nanoprobes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of plasmonic nanostructures with intricate nanoframe morphologies has attracted considerable interest for improving catalytic and optical properties. However, arranging multiple nanoframes in one nanostructure especially, in a solution phase remains a great challenge. Herein, we show complex nanoparticles by embedding various shapes of three-dimensional polyhedral nanoframes within a single entity through rationally designed synthetic pathways. This synthetic strategy is based on the selective deposition of platinum atoms on high surface energy facets and subsequent growth into solid platonic nanoparticles, followed by the etching of inner Au domains, leaving complex nanoframes. Our synthetic routes are rationally designed and executable on-demand with a high structural controllability. Diverse Au solid nanostructures (octahedra, truncated octahedra, cuboctahedra, and cubes) evolved into complex multi-layered nanoframes with different numbers/shapes/sizes of internal nanoframes. After coating the surface of the nanoframes with plasmonically active metal (like Ag), the materials exhibited highly enhanced electromagnetic near-field focusing embedded within the internal complicated rim architecture. The spatial configuration of nanostructure building blocks determines the physical and optical properties of their superstructures. Here, the authors report on complex nanoparticles in which different geometric forms of nanoframes are nested into a single entity by multistep chemical reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the synthetic methodology for silver nanorings with controlled nanoscale morphology. The morphology of Ag nanorings was kinetically controlled by electrochemical potential tuning of Ag deposition using halide counter-ions, which resulted in concentric PtAu@Ag nanorings (i.e., Ag homogeneously wrapped around the Pt nanorings) and eccentric PtAu@Ag nanorings (i.e., Ag selectively deposited at the inner boundary of the Pt nanorings). The resulting high quality of each Ag nanoring allowed us to systematically investigate their corresponding localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) profiles as a function of their geometrical parameters. Additionally, we evaluated the application of the samples as surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates composed of 2D monolayers of varied compositions of Ag and Au nanorings, which showed a different extent of enhancement depending on the adsorption characteristics of the analytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of highly complex two-dimensional (2D) metal nanoframes remains a great challenge. Synthetic strategies for preparing 2D metal nanoframes are few, and rational and systematic synthetic pathways to more complicated architectures have not yet been reported. Herein, we demonstrate a stepwise synthetic strategy for complex 2D metal nanoframes with a high degree of intricacy; the strategy leads to a variety of shapes, including rings, triangles, hexagons, and tripods with tailorable single or double frames in a single entity. These nanoframes of high homogeneity could be obtained through selective combination of four different chemical toolkits consisting of selective etching and deposition on certain facets, and concentric and/or eccentric regrowth by controlling the mismatches of lattice constants of metals. The resulting nanoframes were highly homogeneous in size and shape and had van der Waals interactions that maximized rim-to-rim contact, allowing them to uniquely self-assemble into large-area superstructures. The synthesis of anisotropic nanoparticles with structural diversity and complexity in a rational and systematic fashion is rare. Here, the authors demonstrate a rational and stepwise synthetic strategy for nanoplates with a high degree of intricacy, leading to a gallery of shapes such as rings, triangles, hexagons, and tripods, with tailorable single or double frames. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological effects of suberanilohydroxamic acid (SAHA) have mainly been observed in the context of tumor suppression via epigenetic mechanisms, but other potential outcomes from its use have also been proposed in different fields such as pain modulation. Here, we tried to understand whether SAHA modulates specific pain modalities by a non-epigenetic unknown mechanism. From 24 h Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA)-inflamed hind paws of mice, mechanical and thermal inflammatory pain indices were collected with or without immediate intraplantar injection of SAHA. To examine the action of SAHA on sensory receptor-specific pain, transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channel-mediated pain indices were collected in the same manner of intraplantar treatment. Activities of primarily cultured sensory neurons and heterologous cells transfected with TRP channels were monitored to determine the molecular mechanism underlying the pain-modulating effect of SAHA. As a result, immediate and localized pretreatment with SAHA, avoiding an epigenetic intervention, acutely attenuated mechanical inflammatory pain and receptor-specific pain evoked by injection of a TRP channel agonist in animal models. We show that a component of the mechanisms involves TRPV4 inhibition based on in vitro intracellular Ca2+ imaging and electrophysiological assessments with heterologous expression systems and cultured sensory neurons. Taken together, the present study provides evidence of a novel off-target action and its mechanism of SAHA in its modality-specific anti-nociceptive effect and suggests the utility of this compound for pharmacological modulation of pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary sensory afferent neurons detect environmental and painful stimuli at their peripheral termini. A group of transient receptor potential ion channels (TRPs) are expressed in these neurons and constitute sensor molecules for the stimuli such as thermal, mechanical, and chemical insults. We examined whether a mouse sensory neuronal line, N18D3, shows the sensory TRP expressions and their functionality. In Ca imaging and electrophysiology with these cells, putative TRPV4-mediated responses were observed. TRPV4-specific sensory modalities including sensitivity to a specific agonist, hypotonicity, or an elevated temperature were reproduced in N18D3 cells. Electrophysiological and pharmacological profiles conformed to those from native TRPV4 of primarily cultured neurons. The TRPV4 expression in N18D3 was also confirmed by RT-PCR and Western blot analyses. Thus, N18D3 cells may represent TRPV4-expressing sensory neurons. Further, using this cell lines, we discovered a novel synthetic TRPV4-specific agonist, MLV-0901. These results suggest that N18D3 is a reliable cell line for functional and pharmacological TRPV4 assays. The chemical information from the novel agonist will contribute to TRPV4-targeting drug design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TRPV1 is well known as a sensor ion channel that transduces a potentially harmful environment into electrical depolarization of the peripheral terminal of the nociceptive primary afferents. Although TRPV1 is also expressed in central regions of the nervous system, its roles in the area remain unclear. A series of recent reports on the spinal cord synapses have provided evidence that TRPV1 plays an important role in synaptic transmission in the pain pathway. Particularly, in pathologic pain states, TRPV1 in the central terminal of sensory neurons and interneurons is suggested to commonly contribute to pain exacerbation. These observations may lead to insights regarding novel synaptic mechanisms revealing veiled roles of spinal cord TRPV1 and may offer another opportunity to modulate pathological pain by controlling TRPV1. In this review, we introduce historical perspectives of this view and details of the recent promising results. We also focus on extended issues and unsolved problems to fully understand the role of TRPV1 in pathological pain. Together with recent findings, further efforts for fine analysis of TRPV1’s plastic roles in pain synapses at different levels in the central nervous system will promote a better understanding of pathologic pain mechanisms and assist in developing novel analgesic strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels expressed in the sensory afferents play an important role as body thermosensors and also as peripheral pain detectors. It is known that a number of natural compounds specifically activate those sensory neuronal TRP channels, and a well-known example is cinnamaldehyde for TRPA1. Here we show that human and mouse TRPA1 are activated by acetaldehyde, an intermediate substance of ethanol metabolism, in the HEK293T cell heterologous expression system and in cultured mouse trigeminal neurons. Acetaldehyde failed to activate other temperature-sensitive TRP channels expressed in sensory neurons. TRPA1 antagonists camphor and gadolinium, and a general TRP blocker ruthenium red inhibited TRPA1 activation by acetaldehyde. Camphor, gadolinium and ruthenium red also suppressed the acute nociceptive behaviors induced by the intradermal administration of acetaldehyde into the mouse footpads. Intradermal co-application of prostaglandin E2 and acetaldehyde greatly potentiated the acetaldehyde-induced nociceptive responses, and this effect was reversed by treatment with the TRPA1 antagonist camphor. These results suggest that acetaldehyde causes nociception via TRPA1 activation. Our data may also help elucidate the mechanisms underlying acetaldehyde-related pathological symptoms such as hangover pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pain, whether acute or persistent, is a serious medical problem worldwide. However, its management remains unsatisfactory, and new analgesic molecules are required. We show here that TAFA4 reverses inflammatory, postoperative, and spared nerve injury (SNI)-induced mechanical hypersensitivity in male and female mice. TAFA4 requires functional low-density lipoprotein receptor-related proteins (LRPs) because their inhibition by RAP (receptor-associated protein) dose-dependently abolishes its antihypersensitive actions. SNI selectively decreases A-type K+ current (I A) in spinal lamina II outer excitatory interneurons (L-IIo ExINs) and induces a concomitant increase in I A and decrease in hyperpolarization-activated current (I h) in lamina II inner inhibitory interneurons (L-IIi InhINs). Remarkably, SNI-induced ion current alterations in both IN subtypes were rescued by TAFA4 in an LRP-dependent manner. We provide insights into the mechanism by which TAFA4 reverses injury-induced mechanical hypersensitivity by restoring normal spinal neuron activity and highlight the considerable potential of TAFA4 as a treatment for injury-induced mechanical pain. [Display omitted] • TAFA4 reverses inflammatory, postoperative, and nerve injury-induced mechanical pain • TAFA4-mediated antihypersensitive effect requires functional LDL receptor family members • SNI alters spinal I A in opposite direction in excitatory and inhibitory interneurons • TAFA4 reverses SNI-induced alteration of I A in both interneuron subtypes Yoo et al. demonstrate that intrathecal or systemic administration of human recombinant TAFA4 reverses inflammatory, postoperative, and nerve injury-induced mechanical pain. The TAFA4 antihypersensitive effect requires functional RAP-sensitive LDL receptors to restore normal mechanical sensitivity by rescuing the injury-induced alterations of I A in two distinct subsets of spinal cord dorsal horn interneurons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]