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Cu–Cr–O films were co-sputtered from Cu and Cr targets on fused silica substrates. Then, these films were annealed at 700 °C for 2 h under controlled Ar atmosphere. [Cu]/[Cr] ratio was increased from 0.59 to 2.02 by increasing the Cu-target power from 10 W to 52 W. When the film was prepared at Cu-target power of 10 W, a pure spinel CuCr2O4 phase was formed in the film. As the Cu-target power increased to 22 W, the phase transformed gradually from spinel CuCr2O4 to delafossite CuCrO2. Further increase of Cu-target power resulted in the appearance of an additional monoclinic CuO phase. The [Cu]/[Cr] ratio was approximately 1 at Cu-target power of 22 W, which caused the film to exhibit pure delafossite CuCrO2 phase and high crystallinity. Accordingly, optimum electrical conductivity and visible transparency were achieved for the pure CuCrO2 film prepared at Cu-target power of 22 W with a figure of merit of 1.51 × 10−8 Ω−1. The formation of the CuO and CuCr2O4 phase was confirmed to deteriorated optoelectronic properties of films. Keywords: Sputtering, Ceramic coating, Phase change, Coating process

The dual-modified dendrimer containing dexamethasone (DET) and phenylalanine (Phe) was prepared to deliver plasmid DNA encoding dCas9 and single-guide RNA (sgRNA) for specific upregulation of β-defensin. DET and Phe moieties synergistically enhanced the transfection efficiency and reduced cytotoxicity of dendrimers. Combination of three sgRNAs targeting β-defensin gene demonstrated higher activation efficacy of β-defensin than any single sgRNA and combinations of any two sgRNAs, showing an efficient inhibition of virus infection and replication. The titer of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) in the cells treated with dCas9-sgRNA targeting β-defensin was reduced by about 100-fold compared to that of cells treated with dCas9-scramble sgRNA (dCas9-scr sgRNA). In vivo experiments demonstrated that the DET- and Phe-modified dendrimer effectively delivered plasmid DNA encoding dCas9 protein into the airway epithelium, inducing β-defensin expression. Delivery of the CRISPR activation system by a dendrimer modified with DET and Phe was a promising approach against viral disease.

To inform rational therapeutics to alleviate many senescence-related diseases in terms of the pathogenic pathways, we investigated the protective mechanisms of TLH-3 against premature senescence in tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-induced human embryonic lung fibroblast (HELF) cells model and d-galactose-induced premature aging mice model.We demonstrate that TLH-3 ameliorated t-BHP-induced premature senescence, which is characterized by decreased senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-Gal) positive cells containing decreased senescence effector p53 level, via up-regulating bcl-2 and down-regulated bax and caspase-3 protein expression to block t-BHP-induced inappropriate apoptosis. Furthermore, d-galactose-induced mice exhibit senescence hallmark features such as increased senescence-associated secretory phenotype characterized by increased interleukin-6 (IL-6) secretion. TLH-3 diminished age-dependent increase in circulating IL-6, lipofuscin pigment (LPF) and advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) accumulation, the monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity and the intensity of nuclear p53 staining, which was up-regulated by d-galactose stimulation in premature aging mice. Meanwhile, TLH-3 attenuated d-galactose-induced histopathological lesions in premature aging mice.

Abstract Background New data suggests that endothelial cells (ECs) elaborate essential “angiocrine factors”. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of activated ovarian endothelial cells in early in-vitro follicular development. Methods Mouse ovarian ECs were isolated using magnetic cell sorting or by FACS and cultured in serum free media. After a constitutive activation of the Akt pathway was initiated, early follicles (50–150 um) were mechanically isolated from 8-day-old mice and co-cultured with these activated ovarian endothelial cells (AOEC) (n = 32), gel (n = 24) or within matrigel (n = 27) in serum free media for 14 days. Follicular growth, survival and function were assessed. Results After 6 passages, flow cytometry showed 93% of cells grown in serum-free culture were VE-cadherin positive, CD-31 positive and CD 45 negative, matching the known EC profile. Beginning on day 4 of culture, we observed significantly higher follicular and oocyte growth rates in follicles co-cultured with AOECs compared with follicles on gel or matrigel. After 14 days of culture, 73% of primary follicles and 83% of secondary follicles co-cultured with AOEC survived, whereas the majority of follicles cultured on gel or matrigel underwent atresia. Conclusions This is the first report of successful isolation and culture of ovarian ECs. We suggest that co-culture with activated ovarian ECs promotes early follicular development and survival. This model is a novel platform for the in vitro maturation of early follicles and for the future exploration of endothelial-follicular communication. Capsule In vitro development of early follicles necessitates a complex interplay of growth factors and signals required for development. Endothelial cells (ECs) may elaborate essential “angiocrine factors” involved in organ regeneration. We demonstrate that co-culture with ovarian ECs enables culture of primary and early secondary mouse ovarian follicles.