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Extracellular nucleic acids are proinflammatory molecules that have been implicated in a diverse range of diseases. We report here the development of a multivalent nucleic acid scavenging nanoprobe, where the fluorochrome thiazole orange (TO) is conjugated to a polymeric 40 kDa dextran carrier. Dextran-TO (Dex-TO) has nanomolar affinity for mammalian and bacterial nucleic acids and attenuates the production of inflammatory cytokines from activated macrophages exposed to DNA and RNA. Mice with myocardial ischemia reperfusion that were treated with Dex-TO showed a decrease in myocardial macrophage infiltration at 24 hours (p<0.05) and a decrease in infarct size (18% ± 9%, p<0.01) on day 7. Dex-TO allows sites of injury to be identified with fluorescence imaging, while simultaneously exerting an anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective effect. Dex-TO could be of significant diagnostic and therapeutic (theranostic) utility in a broad range of conditions including ischemia, trauma, burns, sepsis and autoimmune disease., Version of Record

The effects of plasma surface modification on interfacial behaviors in carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforced alumina (Al2O3) nanocomposites were studied. A unique plasma polymerization method was used to modify the surfaces of CNTs and Al2O3 nanoparticles. The CNT-Al2O3 nanocomposites were processed by both ambient pressure and hot-press sintering. The electron microscopy results showed ultrathin polymer coating on the surfaces of CNTs and Al2O3 nanoparticles. A distinctive stress-strain curve difference related to the structural interfaces and plasma coating was observed from the nanocomposites. The mechanical performance and thermal stability of CNT-Al2O3 nanocomposites were found to be significantly enhanced by the plasma-polymerized coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vacuum deposition method requires high energy and temperature. Hydrophobic reduced graphene oxide (rGO) can be obtained by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition under atmospheric pressure, which shows the hydrophobic surface property. Further, to compare the effect of hydrophobic and the hydrophilic nature of catalysts in the photoelectrochemical cell (PEC), the prepared rGO was additionally treated with plasma that attaches oxygen functional groups effectively to obtain hydrophilic graphene oxide (GO). The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalytic activity of the hydrophobic rGO and hydrophilic GO deposited on the p-type Si wafer was analyzed. Herein, we have proposed a facile way to directly deposit the surface property engineered GO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The study was intended to create a uniform zirconia layer even on the surface of complex structures via atomic layer deposition (ALD). The impact of crystalline zirconia deposited by ALD on bacterial adhesion and osteoblast viability was assessed via surface treatment of dental implants., Methods: Amorphous zirconia was deposited using an atomic layer deposition reactor (Atomic Classic, CN1, Hwaseong, Korea) on titanium discs. Heating the samples at 400°C resulted in crystallization. Samples were divided into three groups: the control group, the group carrying amorphous ALD-zirconia (Z group), and the heat-treated group following zirconia ALD deposition (ZH group).The surface of each sample was analyzed, followed by the assessment of adhesion of Streptococcus mutans and Porphyromonas gingivalis , and viability and differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells., Results: The adhesion of S. mutans and P. gingivalis was significantly reduced in the Z and ZH groups compared with the control group (P < 0.05). The viability of MC3T3-E1 cells was significantly increased in the ZH group compared with the control group (P < 0.001), while no significant differences were observed in the Z group (P > 0.05). Differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells showed a marginally significant increase in the ZH group compared with the control group (P < 0.1), while no significant differences were found in the Z group (P > 0.1)., Conclusion: Compared with the pure titanium group, the groups that were coated with zirconia via ALD showed a decreased adhesion of S. mutans during the early stages of biofilm formation and P. gingivalis adhesion inducing peri-implantitis, and an increase in MC3T3-E1 cell viability and differentiation. The findings indicate the possibility of treating the implant surface to reduce peri-implantitis and improve osseointegration., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work., (© 2021 Jo et al.)

Hydroxylapatite (HA) nanoparticles were conjugated with quantum dots (QDs) for in vivo imaging. The surface structures of HA nanoparticles with conjugated quantum dots (HA-QD) were studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and laser fluorescent spectroscopy. The TEM data showed that the quantum dots were well conjugated on the HA nanoparticle surfaces. The laser fluorescent spectroscopy results indicated that the HA-QD exhibited promising luminescent emission in vitro. The initial in vivo experiments revealed clear images of HA-QD from the hypodermic injected area at the emission of 600 nm. Furthermore, the optimized in vivo images of HA-QD with near-infrared emission at 800 nm were visualized after intravenous injection. These luminescent HA-QD nanoparticles may find important applications as biodegradable substrates for biomarkers and in drug delivery.