Search

Native and carbonized freeze‐cast bacterial cellulose‐alginate (BC‐ALG) foams possess an ice‐templated honeycomb‐like architecture with remarkable properties. Their unique pore morphology consists of two levels of porosity: 20–50 µm diameter pores between, and 0.01–10 µm diameter pores within the cell‐walls. The mechanical properties of the BC‐ALG foams, a Young's modulus of up to 646.2 ± 90.4 kPa and a compressive yield strength of up to 37.1 ± 7.9 kPa, are high for their density and scale as predicted by the Gibson–Ashby model for cellular materials. Carbonizing the BC‐ALG foams in an inert atmosphere at 1000–1200 °C in a second processing step, both pore morphology and mechanical properties of the BC‐ALG remain well preserved with specific mechanical properties that are higher than those reported in the literature for similar foams. Also the electrical conductivity of the BC‐ALG foams is high at 1.68 ± 0.04 S cm−1 at a density of only 0.055 g cm−3, and is found to increase with density as predicted, and as a function of the degree of carbonization determined by both carbonization temperature and atmosphere. The property profile makes freeze‐cast BC‐ALG foams and their carbonized foams attractive for energy applications and as a sorbent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulating evidence have suggested the function of long noncoding RNAs as crucial players in the pathogenesis of prostate cancer (PC), a urologic tumor in male with poor prognosis. This study was designed to explore the functions of long intergenic noncoding RNA 00844 (LINC00844) in PC progression. The expression of LINC00844 and glutathione S‐transferase P1‐1 (GSTP1) was detected by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction, followed by the identification of the relationship among LINC00844, GSTP1, and early B cell factor 1 (EBF1) by dual luciferase reporter gene assay, RNA immunoprecipitation assay, electrophoretic mobility shift assay, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. Using loss‐ and gain‐of‐function assays, the effects of LINC00844, GSTP1, and EBF1 on the biological characteristics of PC cells were assessed by cell counting kit‐8 assay, 5‐ethynyl‐2′‐deoxyuridine assay, and flow cytometry. Lastly, the results from in vitro experiments were verified in vivo by establishing a xenograft tumor model in nude mice. LINC00844 and GSTP1 both displayed low expression in PC tissues and cells. LINC00844 positively regulated the expression of GSTP1 via recruiting EBF1. Overexpression of LINC00844 reduced proliferation and elevated apoptosis of PC cells through recruiting EBF1, which subsequently upregulated GSTP1. In vivo experiments confirmed that LINC00844 or GSTP1 upregulation attenuated tumor growth. LINC00844 elevated GSTP1 expression by recruiting EBF1 to the promoter region of GSTP1, thereby suppressing PC progression. Hence, LINC00844 is a novel therapeutic target for the development of new treatment protocols for PC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design and development of novel methodologies and customized materials to fabricate patient‐specific 3D printed organ models with integrated sensing capabilities can yield advances in smart surgical aids for preoperative planning and rehearsal. Here, 3D printed prostate models are demonstrated with physical properties of tissue and integrated soft electronic sensors using custom‐formulated polymeric inks. The models show high quantitative fidelity in static and dynamic mechanical properties, optical characteristics, and anatomical geometries to patient tissues and organs. The models offer tissue‐mimicking tactile sensation and behavior and thus can be used for the prediction of organ physical behavior under deformation. The prediction results show good agreement with values obtained from simulations. The models also allow the application of surgical and diagnostic tools to their surface and inner channels. Finally, via the conformal integration of 3D printed soft electronic sensors, pressure applied to the models with surgical tools can be quantitatively measured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a common microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus, and insulin therapy has many side effects in the treatment of DN. Islet transplantation has emerged as a promising therapy for diabetic patients. This study was established to investigate its advantageous effects in a rat model of early DN. Methods. Streptozotocin was administered to the rats to induce diabetes. Twelve weeks later, the diabetic rats were divided into 3 groups: the islet-transplanted group (IT group), the insulin-treated group (IN group), and the untreated group (DN group). Renal injury and kidney structure were assessed by urinalysis and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) detection. Immunohistochemical staining and western blotting were performed to assess renal fibrosis levels. Results. The early DN features were reversed and the glomerular filtration barrier and basement membrane structures were improved at 4 weeks after islet transplantation. The urine microalbumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR), protein-to-creatinine ratio, and mean thickness of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) were significantly decreased in the IT group. The expression of renal fibrotic factors was also significantly decreased. Conclusions. These data suggest that early DN can be reversed after islet transplantation, and they may facilitate the development of a clinical therapeutic strategy for human diabetes mellitus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) based thin membrane-like fully biodegradable nanocomposites were produced by blending individualized HNT dispersion with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Stable individualized HNT dispersion was obtained using several separation techniques, sequentially, prior to blending with PVA. PVA was crosslinked using malonic acid (MA) as crosslinker and phosphoric acid as catalyst, to increase the mechanical and thermal properties of HNT-PVA nanocomposites. Crosslinking was also intended to make PVA water-insoluble and hence more useful in commercial applications. Examination of the composites indicated that HNTs were uniformly dispersed in both PVA as well as crosslinked PVA. Excellent mechanical properties of the HNT-PVA nanocomposites were achieved. These nanocomposites are intended to be composted at the end of their life rather than ending up in landfills as most of today's traditional petroleum based non-biodegradable plastics. POLYM. COMPOS., 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of a general‐purpose machine learning algorithm capable of quickly identifying optimal 3D‐printing settings can save manufacturing time and cost, reduce labor intensity, and improve the quality of 3D‐printed objects. Existing methods have limitations which focus on overall performance or one specific aspect of 3D‐printing quality. Here, for addressing the limitations, a multi‐objective Bayesian Optimization (BO) approach which uses a general‐purpose algorithm to optimize the black‐box functions is demonstrated and identifies the optimal input parameters of direct ink writing for 3D‐printing different presurgical organ models with intricate geometry. The BO approach enhances the 3D‐printing efficiency to achieve the best possible printed object quality while simultaneously addressing the inherent trade‐offs from the process of pursuing ideal outcomes relevant to requirements from practitioners. The BO approach also enables us to effectively explore 3D‐printing inputs inclusive of layer height, nozzle travel speed, and dispensing pressure, as well as visualize the trade‐offs between each set of 3D‐printing inputs in terms of the output objectives which consist of time, porosity, and geometry precisions through the Pareto front. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioprinting: 3D Printed Organ Models with Physical Properties of Tissue and Integrated Sensors (Adv. 3D printed sensors, 3D printing, organ models, soft materials, surgical aids Keywords: 3D printed sensors; 3D printing; organ models; soft materials; surgical aids EN 3D printed sensors 3D printing organ models soft materials surgical aids 1 1 1 08/19/21 20180301 NES 180301 In article number 1700235, Robert M. Sweet, Michael C. McAlpine, and co-workers designed and developed 3D printed organ models with physical properties of tissue and integrated sensors for surgical planning and rehearsal. [Extracted from the article]