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In this study, we report a UV-light-curable azide ligand (AzL) for the micro-patterning of PeQDs. AzL can be attached to the surface of the PeQDs during their synthesis without additional ligand exchange. Using the AzL-grafted CsPbBr3 PeQDs, high-color-purity 240 × 240 μm2 square-shaped patterns were successfully fabricated using UV light irradiation, which corresponds to a resolution of >50 pixels per inch.

This research reports on the atomic layer deposition (ALD) mechanism of MgO thin film using bis(cyclopentadienyl) magnesium [Mg(Cp)2] as the Mg-precursor and O3 or H2O as an oxygen source. The different growth temperature effects of growth behaviour for the two types of oxygen sources were carefully evaluated. Insufficient H2O purging time caused the Mg-hydrides to remain in the deposited MgO thin film, which may cause inhibited growth on the bare-Si substrate. For the case of O3-based ALD, such an adverse reaction was not observed. However, it showed a complicated temperature-dependent growth behaviour, and an abnormal ‘overgrowth’ zone around 290 °C was found when the growth temperature was varied from 140 °C to 390 °C. The carbonate intermediates and OH− reactive sites involving the growth mechanism with Cp-ring rupture were suggested. This mechanism was supported by the subsequent chemical and physical properties analysis, correlating the electrical characteristics using the planar metal–insulator–metal capacitors [metal layer was titanium nitride (TiN)], with the substrate temperature varying from 230 °C to 390 °C. The MgO deposited at 290 °C, where oligomerisation may happen between ligands after the Cp-ring rupture, caused the void formation, low density, and a relatively high-impurity level. The post-deposition and post-metallisation annealing conditions were examined for the optimal leakage current and dielectric constant of the MgO film. MgO and TiN showed local epitaxial growth due to the close lattice match. This finding suggested the possible use of the in situ crystallised MgO as a crystallisation seed layer for ultrathin (

Semitransparent organic solar cells (ST-OSCs) are considered to be an influential tool for aesthetic and economic building-integrated photovoltaics, which can be fabricated by the printing technology. A poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrenesulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) and ionic liquid (IL) composite has been considered as an electrode for ST-OSCs because of its high electrical conductivity, high transparency, and printability. However, we found that the introduction of IL into the PEDOT:PSS solution for enhancing its electrical conductivity results in (1) nonreliable printing of PEDOT:PSS/IL composite films because of gradual gelation of the mixture solution and (2) the production of chemically reactive ion pairs during ion exchange between PSS and IL, which induces the oxidation of the underlying organic semiconductors during printing. To solve these problems, we developed a sequential printing method using pristine PEDOT:PSS and IL solutions to retard ion exchange, thus preventing chemical doping of organic semiconductors by newly generated ion pairs. Finally, by using only solution processes, we demonstrate efficient ST-OSCs with a printed PEDOT:PSS/IL composite as the top electrode, exhibiting a power conversion efficiency of 6.32% at an average visible transmittance of 35.4%.

Cryopreservation of living cells is an effective tool for protection, maintenance, and distribution of genetic resources, which involves exposure to cryogenic temperatures and requires precise control over various parameters to avoid potential cell damages. Hundreds of protocols have been reported for cryopreservation of aquatic species, but replicating them is challenging without a reliable monitoring technique during a cryopreservation process. In this work, we aim to use electrical impedance as a monitoring parameter to assist standardization of cryopreservation processes and reporting. Specifically, this paper reports an impedance sensing probe compatible with cryogenic temperatures and conventional containers in cryopreservation of aquatic species based on printed circuit board technology its characterization in cryopreservation conditions including different sperm extenders (buffer) compositions and concentrations, presence of cryoprotectant, and multiple cooling rates. The developed probe based on printed circuit board (PCB) technology shows a capability of measuring conditions during cryopreservation differentiating among samples with different buffer contents and cryoprotectants. The probe also demonstrates the capability to distinguish different cooling regimes and detect phase change phenomena. This PCB-based sensing platform provides quantitative impedance measurement data during the cryopreservation process at sample preparation, cooling, and while frozen. Technology such as this offers opportunities for improving the reproducibility of protocols generated by the aquatic species community and can be made widely available as open hardware.

Background/aim Canine mammary gland tumors (CMGTs) are the most common tumors in female dogs. Rivoceranib (also known as apatinib) is a novel anti-angiogenic tyrosine kinase inhibitor that selectively binds to vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR2). The aim of this study was to disclose the antitumor effects of rivoceranib on CMGT cell lines. Materials and methods The direct effects of rivoceranib on CMGT cells in vitro were analyzed by cell proliferation and migration assays. Cell-cycle distribution and apoptotic ratio were analyzed by flow cytometry. Expression levels of phosphorylated VEGFR2 were evaluated by western blot analysis. Results Rivoceranib treatment significantly reduced the proliferation and migration of CMGT cells in a dose-dependent manner. Flow cytometry results revealed significant increases in G0/G1 phase arrest and apoptosis proportional to the drug concentration used. Rivoceranib reduced the level of phosphorylated VEGFR2. Conclusion We confirm that rivoceranib exerts antitumor effects on CMGT cells by inhibiting biological functions.

허혈 재관류 손상은 기관 이식, 외과적 혈관 재개통 및 출혈 시에 발생하며 조직 및 기관 기능 장애를 유발한다. 최근 허혈 재관류 손상의 기전적 연구를 위해 간장 허혈 모델을 많이 이용하고 있다. 본 연구는 허혈 재관류 랫드 모델을 이용하여 항산화와 항염증 효과를 가진 것으로 알려진 Vanillin에 의한 간장 및 신장 손상에 대한 보호 효과를 알아보고 관련된 기전을 조사하기 위하여 실시하였다. 시험물질은 각각 100 mg/kg의 농도로 3일간 투여한 후, 60분동안 간을 결찰하여 허혈 재관류를 유도하여 관찰하였으며, 음성대조군, sham대조군 및 허혈재관류만 실시한 허혈 재관류대조군을 따로 두어, 약물투여군과 비교하였다. Vanillin 처치군에서는 AST, ALT 활성이 허혈 재관류대조군에 비해 유의하게 억제되었고, 조직병리학적 관찰에서도 염증 부분과 괴사부분이 현저하게 감소하였다. MDA와 SOD는 허혈 재관류군에 비해 유의적인 변화를 보였다. 이상의 결과를 종합하면 Vanillin은 간장 허혈 재관류에 의한 세포염증 및 세포괴사를 완화시켜 간세포 보호작용을 나타내었고, 신장의 사구체 및 원 위세뇨관에 염증 변화를 완화 시키고 있어 세포 손상을 방어하는 것으로 생각되며, 이러한 방어효과는 항산화 기능에 의한 영향으로 사료된다.

A noncontact single-beam acoustic trapping technique has proven to be a promising tool for cell manipulation and characterization that provide essential knowledge for a variety of biomedical applications. Here, we investigated cell characteristics as to whether the calcium responses of suspended breast cancer cells to different acoustic trapping forces are related to their invasiveness. For this, we combined a single-beam acoustic trapping system with a 30-MHz press-focused lithium niobate ultrasound transducer and an epifluorescence microscope. Using the system, intracellular calcium changes of suspended MDA-MB-231 (highly invasive) and MCF-7 (weakly invasive) cells were monitored while trapping the cells at different acoustic pressures. The results showed that a single suspended breast cancer cell isolated by the acoustic microbeam behaved differently on the calcium elevation in response to changes in acoustic trapping force, depending on its invasiveness. In particular, the MDA-MB-231 cells exhibited higher calcium elevation than MCF-7 cells when each cell was trapped at low acoustic pressure. Based on these results, we believe that the single-beam acoustic trapping technique has high potential as an alternative tool for determining the degree of invasiveness of suspended breast cancer cells.

Environmentally harmless Antimony sulfide (Sb2S3) photoanode introduced water splitting device have a great potential for producing hydrogen from its optical characteristic. However, fabrication of highly pure Sb2S3 film by solution process has been suppressed due to the presence of various sulfide antimony compounds while chemical synthesis process. Here, high phase purity and high crystallinity Sb2S3 nanocrystal was successfully fabricated by mechanical alloying method. The solvent free and simple fabrication process realized low manufacturing cost of Sb2S3 nanocrystal fabrication without environmental hazard. Optical characterization by XRD, XPS and Raman spectroscopy confirmed that Sb2S3 nanocrystal film has high phase purity with high crystallinity. Furthermore, observed SEM images shows that fabricated Sb2S3 nanocrystal based nanostructure has high thermal stability till 300 °C. Finally, nanostructured Sb2S3 photoanode introduced water splitting device presented a saturation photocurrent of 0.69 mA cm−2 at 1.9 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) in 0.5 M H2SO4 under 1-sun illumination, with high stability and Фsaved, NPAC value, 4.36%. High photocurrent of water splitting device is originated from enlarged surface area of Sb2S3 nanocrystal film and electrical conduction improvement due to thermal annealing which reduced imperfections between nanoparticles.

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) has been extensively used as a hole transport layer in many inverted polymer solar cell devices. However, its potential as an electron transport layer in a solar cell device has rarely been reported. In this paper, we demonstrate an iPSC with enhanced photovoltaic performance by the introduction of a MoS2 nanosheet (NS) interlayer. Herein, MoS2 NS thin films were uniformly deposited on a polyethylenimine ethoxylated polymer by an electrostatic interaction. The MoS2 NS interlayer in the iPSC device plays important roles as a sub-photo sensitizer and an electron transport layer and provides effective charge separation for the enhancement of device performance. iPSCs with MoS2 NSs based on bulk heterojunction active materials such as P3HT:PC60BM, PTB7:PC71BM and PTB7-Th:PC71BM showed maximum power conversion efficiencies of 3.54%, 8.12%, and 9.08%, respectively, which were 27%, 11%, and 15% higher than those of the reference, respectively. Furthermore, the enhanced photovoltaic performance and electron transport mechanism of the iPSCs with the MoS2 NSs were confirmed experimentally using finite-difference-time-domain modeling and time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) measurements. The computational simulation results showed that the light absorption of the iPSCs with the MoS2 NS interlayer was slightly better than that of the iPSCs without the MoS2 NS interlayer. The electron decay time of PTB7:PC71BM with the MoS2 NS interlayer at a wavelength of 700 nm was reduced to 60 ps from 100 ps of PTB7:PC71BM without the MoS2 NS interlayer. The efficient light absorption and electron transfer characteristics of MoS2 NSs significantly improved the photovoltaic conversion performance of the iPSC devices.

A new highly soluble isoindigo based organic material with both cleavable carbamate protecting groups bearing long alkyl chains and thiophene groups was successfully synthesized. The carbamate protecting groups were easily removed by solvent-vapor thermal annealing using a mixture of trifluoroacetic acid and chloroform. Deprotection of the NH functional groups in the isoindigo backbone in situ facilitated H-bonding that dramatically improved the strength of the intermolecular interactions. X-ray diffraction and high-voltage electron microscopy studies of the resulting organic material showed long-range ordered crystalline structure. High crystallinity due to enhanced π-π stacking and hydrogen bonding significantly improved the charge carrier mobility. The hole mobilities of isoindigo based organic material measured by SCLC method improved from 3.46 x 10−6 cm2 V−1 s−1 to 1.13 x 10-3 cm2 V−1 s−1 upon deprotection of the NH functional groups.

CO2 gas generating poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microsphere (MS) was designed for rapid release of tanespimycin (17-AAG) in transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). As poorly water-soluble drug is generally released from PLGA MS in a sustained manner, the drug release profile should be controlled according to its clinical indications. In current study, responding to immediate increase in hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) level under hypoxia state followed by embolization of tumor feeding arteries, sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) was added to PLGA/17-AAG MS for fast drug release by CO2 gas generation in slightly acidic tumor microenvironment. With the aid of NaHCO3, initial burst release of 17-AAG was available without losing the micron-size and spherical shape of designed MS for embolization of artery. Acid-responsive CO2 gas generation and subsequent immediate release of 17-AAG from MS were successfully verified. PLGA/17-AAG/NaHCO3 MS-treated group exhibited higher antiproliferation and apoptosis induction efficacies in McA-RH7777 and SNU-761 cells. McA-RH7777 tumor-implanted rats treated by TACE using PLGA/17-AAG/NaHCO3 MS presented a complete therapeutic response. All these findings suggest that developed tumor microenvironment-responsive gas-generating MS can be efficiently applied to TACE therapy of HCC.

Cost-effective, abundant, and non-toxic SnS nanosheet semiconductors can be used as water-splitting cells. Herein, a photoanode based on high-purity and highly crystalline SnS nanosheets was fabricated. We used sodium thiosulfate (Na2S2O3·5H2O) and stannous chloride (SnCl2·2H2O) as the tin and sulfur source materials, in place of SnCl4 and H2S gas, respectively, which have been used in previous studies. This gas-free fabrication process represents a new, environment-friendly fabrication method that can reduce the manufacturing cost of SnS nanosheets. The fabricated samples were characterized via X-ray diffraction, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, XPS, scanning electron microscopy, and Raman analyses. The XPS result indicated no Sn0 or Sn4+ in the S3 nanosheet, the nanosheet was SnS. These results with XRD show that the SnS nanosheet has high phase purity and crystallinity. Its direct optical band gap is 1.31 eV, and its lattice parameters are similar to those of standard SnS. The SnS nanosheet-based photoanode exhibited a maximum saturation photocurrent of 6.86 mA cm−2 at 0.57 V versus Ag/AgCl, with high stability. The most effective photocurrent for the photocatalytic water-splitting cell is attained with an increase in the surface area and developed electrical conduction. This is attributed to thermal annealing, which eliminates nanoparticle imperfections. This study confirms that SnS nanosheets are excellent candidates for water-splitting applications.

Aging is a multifactorial process that involves numerous genetic changes, so identifying anti-aging agents is quite challenging. Age-associated genetic factors must be better understood to search appropriately for anti-aging agents. We utilized an aging-related gene expression pattern-trained machine learning system that can implement reversible changes in aging by linking combinatory drugs.In silicogene expression pattern-based drug repositioning strategies, such as connectivity map, have been developed as a method for unique drug discovery. However, these strategies have limitations such as lists that differ for input and drug-inducing genes or constraints to compare experimental cell lines to target diseases. To address this issue and improve the prediction success rate, we modified the original version of expression profiles with a stepwise-filtered method. We utilized a machine learning system called deep-neural network (DNN). Here we report that combinational drug pairs using differential expressed genes (DEG) had a more enhanced anti-aging effect compared with single independent treatments on leukemia cells. This study shows potential drug combinations to retard the effects of aging with higher efficacy using innovative machine learning techniques.

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have attracted immense attention owing to their outstanding power conversion efficiency (PCE). However, their counter electrodes are commonly produced by evaporating metals, such as Ag and Au, under high vacuum conditions, which make the PSCs costly, thereby limiting their large-scale production. In this study, a free-standing hybrid graphene/carbon nanotube film was carefully designed to replace noble metal PSC counter electrodes to reduce the cost and increase the stability of PSCs. A highly conductive and stable hybrid carbon thin film can be easily transferred to the various desired substrates by a simple rolling process. The PSCs with hybrid graphene/carbon nanotube films showed a high PCE of 15.36%. Moreover, the devices exhibited excellent stability and could retain 86% of their initial PCE after storage for 500 h in a high-moisture atmosphere (RH 50%). The outstanding stability of PCEs can be attributed to the efficient moisture blocking by the multilayered graphene/carbon nanotube present in the hybrid film. The thin, flexible, and easy-to-synthesize free-standing hybrid graphene/CNT film with high conductivity showed great potential for realizing the low-cost production of highly stable PSCs.

A novel hierarchical solution-processed fractional structured molybdenum oxide (MoO3) catalyst is fabricated from tricarbonyltris (propionitrile) molybdenum and used as the counter electrode of all-solid-state fiber-shaped dye-sensitized solar cells (S-FDSSC). The Tafel plot results and electrical impedance spectroscopy suggest that the use of the fractional structured MoO3 catalyst enhances the efficiency of the reduction of I3− to 3I− at the counter electrode/electrolyte interface. Because of the improvements of the short-current circuit and fill factor, the power conversion efficiency of the MoO3-modified S-FDSSC improves by 60% compared with that of the reference S-FDSSC. In addition, because of the robust fractional structure of MoO3, the MoO3-modified S-FDSSC maintains 90% and 95% of efficiency after 350-fold bending and the incident light angle dependency test, respectively. At 65% humidity and at 65 °C, the power conversion efficiency of the MoO3-modified device decreases by

Flexible sensors composed of carbon nanostructures and elastic materials have been developed for healthcare monitoring, environmental monitoring, disposable biochemical or electrochemical sensors, and many other applications. Fabrication approaches for such sensors and their advantages and current issues related to patterning high‐performance flexible sensors are reviewed. A focus is placed on patterning techniques for carbon‐based flexible sensors including carbon nanotubes, graphene, and other carbon nanostructures. First, novel patterning techniques for nanomaterials are described, along with their current challenges. Next, emerging flexible sensors including humidity, temperature, strain, and pressure sensors are discussed. Finally, the challenges and perspectives for flexible sensors are addressed.

Targeting cancer stem cells (CSCs) without damaging normal stem cells could contribute to the development of novel radical cancer therapies. Cells expressing leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein coupled receptor 5 (Lgr5) constitute a cancer-causing population in the colon, therefore, targeting of Lgr5+ cells is expected to provide an opportunity to mitigate colon cancer. However, the expression of Lgr5 in normal stem cells makes it difficult to prove the efficacy of therapies targeted exclusively at Lgr5+ cancer cells. We used a modified photodynamic therapy technique involving cellular radiative transfer between green fluorescent protein (GFP)-expressing cells and a rose bengal photosensitizer. After treatment, tumors containing GFP-Lgr5+ cells were observed to be significantly suppressed or retarded with little effect on GFP-Lgr5+ stem cells at the crypt bottom. Lgr5+ CSCs were specifically eradicated in situ, when localized based on the depth from the colon lumen, revealing the potential preventive efficacy of Lgr5-targeted therapy on tumor growth. This study supports the idea that Lgr5+ cells localized near the colon luminal surface are central to colorectal cancer. With further development, the targeting of localized Lgr5+ cancer stem cells, which this study demonstrates in concept, may be feasible for prevention of colon cancer in high-risk populations.

PURPOSE To compare tumor vascularity in 4 types of rat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) models: N1S1, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-transfected N1S1 (VEGF-N1S1), McA-RH7777, and VEGF-transfected McA-RH7777 (VEGF-McA-RH777) tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS The N1S1 and McA-RH7777 cell lines were transfected with expression vectors containing cDNA for rat VEGF. Eighty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats (weight range, 400-450 g) were randomly divided into 4 groups (ie, 22 rats per model), and 4 types of tumor models were created by using the N1S1, VEGF-N1S1, McA-RH7777, and VEGF-McA-RH777 cell lines. Tumor vascularity was evaluated by perfusion computed tomography (CT), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of VEGF, CD34 staining, angiography, and Lipiodol transarterial embolization. Intergroup discrepancies were evaluated by Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS Arterial perfusion (P < .001), portal perfusion (P = .015), total perfusion (P < .001), tumor VEGF level (P = .002), and microvessel density (MVD; P = .007) were significantly different among groups. VEGF-McA-RH7777 tumors showed the greatest arterial perfusion (46.7 mL/min/100 mL ± 15.5), total perfusion (60.7 mL/min/100 mL ± 21.8), tumor VEGF level (3,376.7 pg/mL ± 145.8), and MVD (34.5‰ ± 7.5). Whereas most tumors in the N1S1, VEGF-N1S1, and McA-RH7777 groups showed hypovascular staining on angiography and minimal Lipiodol uptake after embolization, 5 of 6 VEGF-McA-RH7777 tumors (83.3%) presented hypervascular tumor staining and moderate to compact Lipiodol uptake. CONCLUSIONS McA-RH7777 tumors were more hypervascular than N1S1 tumors, and tumor vascularity was enhanced further by VEGF transfection. Therefore, the VEGF-McA-RH7777 tumor is recommended to mimic hypervascular human HCC in rats.

In this paper, we present the development of a solution-processed photovoltaic structure designed to convert human body thermal radiation into electricity. An active layer composed of a layer of isopropylamine-capped lead sulfide (PbS) quantum dots (QDs) covered with a layer of lithium chloride (LiCl) on top is sandwiched between a substrate and an aluminum contact. Experimental measurements reveal that the device was sensitive to infrared radiation with energies lower than the optical bandgap energy of the incorporated nanocrystals (Eg = 1.26 eV), allowing one to harvest thermal radiation from a human body. We used a conceptually different approach to harvest this radiation by intentionally introducing mid-gap states to the lead sulfide quantum dots through passivation with isopropylamine and likely enabling a multi-step photon absorption mechanism.

This paper reports a portable fluorescent sensor platform containing multiple excitation light illumination for quantification and differentiation of multiple analytes. The fluorescent sensor platform utilizes: (i) three different wavelengths of light emitting diodes (LEDs) for selectively stimulating target analytes; (ii) a sensitive photodetector for corresponding fluorescence measurements; (iii) a custom-built electronic system for data measurement and storage; and (iv) a compact three-dimensional printed housing for the developed sensor platform. Based on the fluorescent emission pattern obtained from each target analyte, multivariate analytical methods were applied to differentiate one analyte from the other in a mixture of multiple analytes. The fluorescent sensor platform was tested to selectively detect two target phytoplankton species: Chlorella vulgaris and Spirulina. Fluorescent emission of phytoplankton is caused by stimulation of photosynthetic pigments and is widely utilized to quantify and classify phytoplankton groups. Biomass estimation was therefore conducted by measuring chlorophyll a fluorescence emission for green algae (Chlorella vulgaris) using blue LED excitation and phycocyanin fluorescence emission for cyanobacteria (Spirulina) using amber LED excitation. The results demonstrated the viability of the developed device as a portable generic fluorescence sensor platform for simultaneously detecting various biochemical analytes.

With recent advances in biotechnology, mammalian cells are used in biopharmaceutical industries to produce valuable protein therapeutics and investigated as effective therapeutic agents to permanently degenerative diseases in cell based therapy. In these exciting and actively expanding fields, a reliable, efficient, and affordable platform to culture mammalian cells on a large scale is one of the most vital necessities. To produce and maintain a very large population of anchorage-dependent cells, a microcarrier-based stirred tank bioreactor is commonly used. In this approach, the cells are exposed to harmful hydrodynamic shear stress in the bioreactor and the mass transfer rates of nutrients and gases in the bioreactor are often kept below an optimal level to prevent cellular damages from the shear stress. In this paper, a hollow microcarrier (HMC) is presented as a novel solution to protect cells from shear stress in stirred bioreactors, while ensuring sufficient and uniform mass transfer rate of gases and nutrients. HMC is a hollow microsphere and cells are cultured on its inner surface to be protected, while openings on the HMC provide sufficient exchange of media inside the HMC. As a proof of concept, we demonstrated the expansion of fibroblasts, NIH/3T3 and the expansion and cardiac differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells, along with detailed numerical analysis. We believe that the developed HMC can be a practical solution to enable large-scale expansion of shear-sensitive anchorage-dependent cells in an industrial scale with stirred bioreactors.

We have successfully achieved the molecular ordering of semiconducting small molecules comprising a newly designed A(D–A′–D)2 system. The A(D–A′–D)2 small molecules have two different acceptors based on isoindigo and diketopyrrolopyrrole along with tert-butoxycarbonyl (t-Boc) groups and hexyl chains, which improve the solubility of the materials. After simple thermal annealing, the t-Boc groups were removed to allow strong hydrogen bonds between N–H⋯CO to form, and this resulted in improved molecular ordering of the organic semiconductors. The crystalline morphology was confirmed by X-ray diffraction coupled with high-voltage electron microscopy, and the resulting materials showed improved hole mobilities. In this work, the effect of the incorporation of t-Boc groups onto A(D–A′–D)2-based organic semiconductors on their morphological and electrical properties was evaluated.

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) has been widely used in fabricating microfluidic devices for prototyping and proof-of-concept experiments. Due to several material limitations, PDMS has not been widely adopted for commercial applications that require large-scale production. This paper describes a novel injection-molded plastic array 3D culture (IMPACT) platform that incorporates a microfluidic design to integrate patterned 3D cell cultures within a single 96-well (diameter = 9 mm) plate. Cell containing gels can be sequentially patterned by capillary-guided flow along the corner and narrow gaps designed within the 96-well form factor. Compared to PDMS-based hydrophobic burst valve designs, this work utilizes hydrophilic liquid guides to obtain rapid and reproducible patterned gels for co-cultures. When a liquid droplet (i.e. cell containing fibrin or collagen gel) is placed on a corner, spontaneous patterning is achieved within 1 second. Optimal dimensionless parameters required for successful capillary loading have been determined. To demonstrate the utility of the platform for 3D co-culture, angiogenesis experiments were performed by patterning HUVEC (human umbilical endothelial cells) and LF (lung fibroblasts) embedded in 3D fibrin gels. The angiogenic sprouts (with open lumen tip cells expressing junctional proteins) are comparable to those observed in PDMS based devices. The IMPACT device has the potential to provide a robust high-throughput experimental platform for vascularized microphysiological systems.

Doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded, hyaluronic acid-ceramide (HACE) nanoassembly-releasing poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres (MSs) were developed for transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) therapy of liver cancer. DOX/HACE MSs with a mean diameter of 27 μm and a spherical shape were prepared based on the modified emulsification method. Their in vitro biodegradability in artificial biological fluids was observed. A more sustained drug release pattern was observed from DOX/HACE MS than from DOX MS at pH 7.4. The cellular internalization efficiency of DOX of the DOX/HACE MS group was higher than that of the DOX MS group in liver cancer cells (HepG2 and McA-RH7777 cells), mainly due to CD44 receptor-mediated endocytosis of the released DOX/HACE nanoassembly. In both HepG2 and McA-RH7777 cells, the antiproliferation and apoptotic potentials of the DOX/HACE MS were significantly higher than those of the DOX MS (p

Although paclitaxel is routinely prescribed for the treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), paclitaxel resistance is common in EOC and correlates with short survival of patients. A previous pharmacogenomic study revealed the importance of cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) activity in a response on paclitaxel. However, a subsequent research showed that the expression level of CDK1 failed to show significant correlation with delayed apoptosis and patient survival. Rather, the expression and phosphorylation of capase-9, the downstream target molecule of CDK1, appeared to determine drug resistance. Our results suggest that treatment with the CDK1 inhibitor alsterpaullone reduces phosphorylation of caspase-9. Its phosphorylation level was dependent on CDK1 activity and it directs paclitaxel resistance. This observation was reproducible in xenografted tumors. Thus, the regulation of caspase-9 may be a novel therapeutic strategy to reverse paclitaxel-induced resistance in ovarian cancer cells.

Liquid embolic agents are considered the most promising for various embolization procedures because they enable deep penetration. For realizing effective procedures, the delivery of liquid embolic agents should be guided under X-ray imaging systems and the solidification time should be optimized for the specific indication. The biocompatibility of embolic agents is also crucial because they remain in the vessel after embolization. In this study, we synthesized new biocompatible embolic agents based on tantalum ethoxide. Tantalum alkoxide liquid embolics (TALE) possess the radiopacity for fluoroscopy and can control the penetration depth by modifying the sol-gel kinetics. Furthermore, TALE can serve as drug carriers for synergistic treatment. Using these excellent characteristics, we demonstrated that TALE agents can be used in various situations including the transarterial chemoembolization of hepatocellular carcinoma and embolotherapy of massive bleeding from the femoral artery. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Herein, we report a novel micro-flower lamellar structured α-MoO3 counter electrode for solid-state fiber-shaped dye–sensitized solar cells. The α-MoO3 sol-gel precursor, which is Tricarbonyltris (propionitrile) molybdenum, fabricates the α-MoO3 microstructures by applying Joule heating. Cyclic voltammetry and Tafel polarization results indicate that the α-MoO3 counter electrode with micro-flower lamellar has higher catalytic activity than pristine Pt. Therefore, based on the efficient reduction reaction of triiodide ions, the novel α-MoO3 counter electrode with flower-structure could enhance short-circuit current with high power conversion efficiency (PCE). Furthermore, the device with the α-MoO3 counter electrode provides better device stability and flexibility. Under 500 bending cycles, the PCE of the novel α-MoO3 counter electrode device maintains more than 90% characteristics, while the bare Pt device reduces to 70%.

In this paper, we explore the impact of isopropylamine (IPAM) as a short ligand on a solution-processed infrared photodetector and a photovoltaic device using lead sulfide (PbS) colloidal quantum dots. Original oleic acid capping is replaced by isopropylamine through a solution-phase ligand exchange process. Then a blend of poly[2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] or MEH-PPV and the isopropylamine-capped PbS colloidal quantum dots is prepared for a photosensitive layer sandwiched by two different electrodes. Results illustrate that contribution of isopropylamine can improve the responsivity of a photodetector and enhance the photovoltaic performance by increasing the open circuit voltage and short circuit current.

This paper presents a two dimensional force sensor fabricated on PDMS nanocomposite, with patterned carbon nanotubes (CNTs) acting as a force sensing unit. A novel fabrication method is composed of inkjet printing of CNTs onto polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and subsequent transfer of the CNT patterns to PDMS, resulting in a CNT-elastomer nanocomposite that is flexible and conductive. This approach allows patterning of a large-area conductive carbon nanotube pattern on PDMS. The achieved sheet resistance of the transferred patterns on PDMS was 1.2k/ when printed 35 times, using an office inkjet printer. The fabricated sensor changes its resistance when force is applied perpendicularly to the sensor. A two dimensional force sensor, working on the principle of compression-induced deformation was fabricated and characterized with achieved resolution of four sensing cells per cm2. Additionally, we demonstrate a two dimensional flexible force sensor capable of creating a pressure map of the applied force. Together with inkjet printing, this pattern transfer process represents a highly effective patterning technique for embedding carbon nanotubes in PDMS. Display Omitted A transfer printing technique has been developed to pattern embedded carbon nanotubes onto PDMS.Patterns show good uniformity, forming an embedded CNT network.A highly flexible two dimensional force sensor has been demonstrated, showing the pressure map applied.

(E)-6,6′-Dibromo-1,1-bis(2-octyldodecyl)-(3,3′-biindolinylid-ene)-2,2′-dione and/or 2,5-bis(2-octyldodecyl)-3,6-di(5-bromothien-2-yl)pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole-1,4-(2H,5H)-dione and their tBoc-counterparts were propagated with 2,5-bis(tributylstannyl)thiophene in a molar ratio of 0.8 : 0.2 : 1.0 to release P(ODIDT-BID), P(ODIDT·BDPP), P(ODDPPT·BID) and P(ODDPPT·BDPP) as a new series of random conjugated polymers (RCPs) bearing a large number of octyldodecyl chains to ensure solubility and a small number of thermocleavable tBoc function to cast H-bonding upon heating up to 220 °C. All new polymers were synthesised via Pd catalysed Stille cross-coupling methodology in high yields and reasonable average molecular weights. The cast polymer films exhibited considerable red-shifted UV-vis absorption spectra and a further red-shift was also obtained in the thermal annealed films (at 220 °C for 30 min), which reflected the increasing of crystalline structure. The formation of H-bonding in these polymers was investigated using X-ray diffractometry (XRD) measurements. The field-effect mobilities of these polymers were investigated in the configuration of bottom-gate and bottom-contact (BGBC) field-effect transistors (FETs). The results from FETs indicated that the crystalline structure of RCPs exhibited reasonable FET mobilities with 1.17 × 10−3 cm2 V−1 s−1 for P(ODDPPT·BID) and 1.41 × 10−3 cm2 V−1 s−1 for P(ODDPPT·BDPP).

This work reports the development of a field-deployable and fully handheld fluorometer for environmental water monitoring. Our developed fluorimeter can detect both green algae and cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) while simultaneously differentiating and measuring two different species by selectively measuring chlorophyll a fluorescence from green algae and phycocyanin fluorescence from blue-green algae. As a demonstration, chlorophyll a and phycocyanin photopigments were estimated and differentiated. The system was also tested with an environmental water sample collected from a lake to validate the system functionality. The presented results suggest that our developed fluorimeter could be used as a portable water quality monitoring system for detection of different photopigment of algae.

Fiber-shaped solar cells have attracted significant attention for their potential applications in portable and wearable electronics. Developing highly efficient and stable counter electrodes (CEs) to replace rare and expensive noble metals in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) is a research challenge. The low cost, excellent activity, and stability of carbon materials make them the most qualified noble-metal-free CEs for the commercialization of photovoltaic devices. In this study, we incorporated a carbon nanotube yarn (CNTY) as a CE for efficient and stable solid-state fiber-shaped DSSCs. After device optimization, the power conversion efficiency with the CNTY fiber-shaped DSSCs was approximately 4.00%, which is comparable to that of devices with platinum electrodes (2.64%). The superior mechanical property and performance stability after repeated bending, cleaning, and high output voltage for in-series connection suggest that the proposed CNTY fiber-shaped DSSCs may find applications as flexible power sources in next-generation flexible/wearable fiber electronics and energy textiles.

Portable fluorescence sensors have been developed for biochemical detection, water quality monitoring, biomedical sensing, and many other applications. With help of advancement in modern electronics, conventional fluorescence-based instrumentations are now integrated into portable sensing devices for remote and resource-limited settings. In this work, fluorescence sensing technology is introduced and different applications of portable fluorescence sensors and their characteristics are reviewed. Current issues, technological challenges, and future direction of the portable fluorescence sensor development are discussed. The goal is to provide a comprehensive survey on the recent advancements in optics, semiconductors, smartphones, and many other manufacturing technologies that increased the portability, miniaturization, and sensitivity of portable fluorescence sensor devices.

This paper proposes a simple and rapid fabrication of a glucose sensor based on inkjet printing method. A commercially available inkjet printer is used to print carbon nanotubes and polyaniline nanowires for patterning low sheet resistance electrodes and a chemiresistive glucose sensing area, respectively. Enzyme glucose oxidase, in conjunction with platinum nanoparticles were also incorporated into the chemiresistive sensor to generate a two-step catalytic process: in the first step, glucose is catalyzed by the oxidase to produce hydrogen peroxide as a byproduct, and in the second step, platinum nanoparticles catalyze hydrogen peroxide to produce hydroxide ions which causes a local pH change near the site of reaction. Since the conductivity of polyaniline is known to be pH-responsive, the polyaniline layer serves as a chemiresistive sensor to detect the H2O2 concentration which subsequently leads to the quantification of the glucose concentration. The developed inkjet-printed glucose sensor was able to achieve a detection limit of 2 mM and a good linear relationship between current measurements and glucose concentration was obtained. The results indicate that the proposed method to print a simple, rapid, and disposable glucose sensing device can lead to the development of an on-demand printable point-of-care diagnostic kit for glucose measurement.

Introduction : Recent studies have revealed that vitamin D and its synthetic analogues have a protective effect on experimental ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) models in several organs, but little is known about its effect on the liver. The aim of this study was to evaluate the beneficial effects of vitamin D in a model of liver I/R in rats, focusing on Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 signaling, which has been shown to be involved in I/R injury. Material and methods : Twenty-four male Wistar rats were randomized into four groups: Saline + Sham, Saline + I/R, Paricalcitol + Sham, and Paricalcitol + I/R. A synthetic vitamin D2 analogue, paricalcitol, was intraperitoneally injected 24 h prior to surgery. The animals were subjected to 60 min of partial warm ischemia (70%), followed by reperfusion for 6 h on the same day. The ischemic lobe of the liver and blood were collected for molecular biochemical analyses. Results: Liver damage following I/R was diminished by pretreatment with paricalcitol. Pretreatment with paricalcitol decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory mediators, such as interleukin (IL)-1, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-, and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), in both plasma and liver tissue. In addition, pretreatment with paricalcitol markedly down-regulated the expression of TLR4, HMGB1, TNF- and NF-B. Conclusions : The vitamin D analogue paricalcitol attenuates hepatic I/R injury through down-regulation of the TLR4 signaling pathway and might be considered to be a potential nutritional therapeutic agent against I/R injury in the liver.

Objective We investigated the effect and regulatory mechanism of 2′,4′-dihydroxy-6′-methoxy-3′,5′-dimethylchalcone (DMC) isolated from Cleistocalyx operculatus on metabolic parameters in myotubes, adipocytes and an obese mouse model. Materials and methods Myotubes and adipocytes were incubated with or without DMC. Glucose uptake, fatty acid oxidation, AMPK activation and adipocytes differentiation were investigated. To examine in vivo effect of DMC, 30 mg/kg/day DMC was administered by oral gavage for 2 weeks in high fat fed C57BL/6 male mice and intra-peritoneal glucose tolerance test was performed. In order to examine whether DMC directly activates AMPK, we performed cell free AMPK assay and surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy analysis. Result DMC increases glucose uptake and fatty acid oxidation (FAO) in myotubes. Also, DMC inhibits adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells. Interestingly, DMC stimulates phosphorylation of AMP-dependent protein kinase (AMPK) alpha subunit (T172) by directly binding to AMPK, which results in the activation of AMPK. Furthermore, DMC binds AMPK with a higher affinity than AMP. When AMPK was knocked down, the stimulatory effect of DMC on FAO and its inhibitory effect on adipogenesis were abolished. These results suggest that the effects of DMC were primarily mediated by AMPK activation. In addition, treating mice fed a high fat diet with DMC improved glucose tolerance and significantly increased FAO of the muscles. Conclusion DMC, as a novel AMPK activator, shows anti-diabetic effects in cell culture systems, such as myotubes and adipocytes, and in a diet-induced obese mouse model.

The plasma has been used in various industrial fields of semiconductors, displays, transparent electrode and so on. Plasma diagnostics is critical to the uniform process and the product. We use the electron temperature of the various plasma parameters for the diagnosis of plasma. Generally, the range of the electron temperature which is used in a semiconductor process used the range of 1 eV to 10 eV. The difference of electron temperature of 0.5 eV has a influence in plasma process. The electron temperature can be measured by the electrical method and the optical method. Measurement of electron temperature for various gas flow rates was performed in DC-magnetron sputter and Inductively Coupled Plasma. The physical properties of the thin film were also determined by changing electron temperatures. The transmittance was measured using the integrating sphere, and wavelength range was measured at 300 ~ 1100 nm. We obtain the thin film of the mobility, resistivity and carrier concentration using the hall measurement system. As to the electron temperature increase, optical and electrical properties decrease. We determine it was influenced by the oxygen flow ratio and plasma.

The vital role of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in many enzyme-catalyzed reactions, has attracted much interest to develop novel approaches for accurate and fast detection of this simple compound [2]. Also, the determination of the hydrogen peroxide level is essential in food processing, environmental analysis, and clinical diagnosis [2]. Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) has shown to be a superior electrode material for electrochemical analysis due to its high electron transfer rate and active surface area [3]. However, the fabrication of such rGO-based electrodes involves complicated and expensive fabrication processes. Herein, we present a disposable, simple, and low-cost H2O2 electrochemical sensor based on rGO for amperometric detection of hydrogen peroxide concentration. First, the rGO ink material was prepared by mixing 10 ml of graphene oxide (GO) solution with 10 ml of DI water, and sodium dodecyl sulfate (2 mg/ml). The SDS works as a surfactant and reduces the possibility of printer nozzle clogging. The solution was sonicated for 30 minutes and was loaded to a cartridge of an office inkjet printer. To achieve a thicker layer of GO, the printing process was repeated 25 times on a PET film. Next, the electrodes were placed inside hydroiodic (HI) acid for 24 hours at 100 oC to remove oxygenated groups from GO molecular structure. The color of the electrodes became darker after the GO was reduced to rGO (Figure 1.A). Then, the printed pattern was sliced into 20 by 2.5 mm electrodes, and the resistance of the electrode was measured to validate the reduction process. The step voltammetry method was adopted to measure the H2O2 inside 0.1 M PBS buffer. The solution was stirred at 200 rpm, and -800 mV vs. Ag/AgCl was applied to the working electrode. As it is shown in Figure 1.B, after the addition of 100 µM of H2O2, the current increases due to the reduction of H2O2. Finally, the selectivity of the sensor was evaluated against ascorbic acid and glucose. In summary, the rGO-based electrochemical sensor was fabricated by inkjet printing graphene oxide with a regular office inkjet printer followed by chemical reduction procedure. The sensor was used to determine the hydrogen peroxide level in aqueous solution. Inkjet-printed rGO electrodes can be used for simple and precise measurement of hydrogen peroxide with high selectivity and sensitivity. References [1] W. Chen, S. Cai, Q.-Q. Ren, W. Wen, and Y.-D. Zhao, Analyst, 137 (1), 49-58 (2012). [2] S. Chen, R. Yuan, Y. Chai, and F. Hu, Microchimica Acta, 180 (1-2), 15-32 (2013). [3] M. Zhou, Y. Zhai, and S. Dong, Analytical chemistry, 81 (14), 5603-5613 (2009). Figure 1

A microfluidic chip is described that facilitates research and quality control analysis of zebrafish sperm which, due to its miniscule (i.e., 2–5 μl) sample volume and short duration of motility (i.e.