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Plant‐derived exosomes (PEs) possess an array of therapeutic properties, including antitumor, antiviral, and anti‐inflammatory capabilities. They are also implicated in defensive responses to pathogenic attacks. Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) regeneration represents a global medical challenge, with appropriate research concentration on three pivotal domains: neural regeneration promotion, inflammation inhibition, and innovation and application of regenerative scaffolds. Unfortunately, the utilization of PE in SCI therapy remains unexplored. Herein, we isolated PE from the traditional Chinese medicinal herb, Lycium barbarum L. and discovered their inflammatory inhibition and neuronal differentiation promotion capabilities. Compared with exosomes derived from ectomesenchymal stem cells (EMSCs), PE demonstrated a substantial enhancement in neural differentiation. We encapsulated isoliquiritigenin (ISL)‐loaded plant‐derived exosomes (ISL@PE) from L. barbarum L. within a 3D‐printed bionic scaffold. The intricate construct modulated the inflammatory response following SCI, facilitating the restoration of damaged axons and culminating in ameliorated neurological function. This pioneering investigation proposes a novel potential route for insoluble drug delivery via plant exosomes, as well as SCI repair. The institutional animal care and use committee number is UJS‐IACUC‐2020121602. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the regulatory effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) derived exosomes on intimal hyperplasia and expression of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in rat model of carotid artery balloon injury and its potential mechanism. Methods Rat BMSCs-derived exosomes were extracted from male SD rats by differential centrifugation, and then identified by Western blotting and transmission electron microscopy. Then a total of 36 male SD rats were randomly divided into sham-operation group, model group (carotid artery balloon injury), and model+exosome treatment group (in situ injection of 400 μL 0.25 μg/μL exosomes), with 12 rats in each group. In 14 d after the treatment, all rats were sacrificed to harvest the carotid artery. HE staining was used to observe the intima/media (I/M) area ratio of carotid artery. Immunohistochemical assay was used to detect the expression of PCNA, and Western blotting was applied for the expression of the proteins involved in the intimal proliferation and phenotypic transformation. LncRNA-mRNA co-expression microarray and bioinformatics analysis were employed to analyze the differentially expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs in carotid artery tissues of the rats from the sham operation group and the model group for the potential molecular mechanism. qRT-PCR was performed to detect the expression of candidate lncRNAs in the carotid artery tissues. Results Transmission electron microscopy displayed that the BMSCs-derived exosomes presented "coaster-like" changes. Western blotting results confirmed that CD63, Alix and HSP70 were expressed in the extracted exosomes. The treatment of BMSCs-derived exosomes resulted in significant reduce in the I/M area ratio of carotid artery (P < 0.05) and decreased expression of proliferation-related proteins PCNA and Cyclin D1 (P < 0.05). The results of lncRNA-mRNA co-expression microarray showed that there were 1 083 up- and 629 down-regulated lncRNAs, and 2 004 up- and 2 487 down-regulated mRNA (Fold change>2.0, P < 0.05) in the model group when compared with the sham operation group. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis indicated that these multiple lncRNAs were correlated with mRNAs, and the corresponding target mRNAs are involved in many biological processes, such as vascular smooth muscle contraction, actin cytoskeleton regulation and cell cycle, which are related to the mechanism of vascular restenosis after balloon injury. In combination with bioinformatics analysis, qRT-PCR detected 7 lncRNAs with significant differential expression, and the results showed that XR_593268 was up-regulated (P < 0.05), and XR_602080, XR_602012 and XR_591017 were down-regulated (P < 0.05) in the exosome treatment group compared with the model group. Conclusion The BMSCs-derived exosomes inhibit intimal hyperplasia in rats after balloon injury of carotid artery. The potential mechanism may be related to the regulation of smooth muscle cell cycle changes by lncRNAs XR_602080 and XR_591017 through Gsk3b, Cdkn2b and Ccna2.

To enable high performance of all solid-state batteries, a catholyte should demonstrate high ionic conductivity, good compressibility and oxidative stability. Here, a LaCl3-based Na+ superionic conductor (Na1−xZrxLa1−xCl4) with high ionic conductivity of 2.9 × 10−4 S cm−1 (30 °C), good compressibility and high oxidative potential (3.80 V vs. Na2Sn) is prepared via solid state reaction combining mechanochemical method. X-ray diffraction reveals a hexagonal structure (P63/m) of Na1−xZrxLa1−xCl4, with Na+ ions forming a one-dimensional diffusion channel along the c-axis. First-principle calculations combining with X-ray absorption fine structure characterization etc. reveal that the ionic conductivity of Na1−xZrxLa1−xCl4 is mainly determined by the size of Na+-channels and the Na+/La3+ mixing in the one-dimensional diffusion channels. When applied as a catholyte, the NaCrO2||Na0.7Zr0.3La0.7Cl4||Na3PS4||Na2Sn all-solid-state batteries demonstrate an initial capacity of 114 mA h g−1 and 88% retention after 70 cycles at 0.3 C. In addition, a high capacity of 94 mA h g−1 can be maintained at 1 C current density. The advancement of sodium halide solid-state electrolytes can propel high-energy-density all-solid-state sodium-ion batteries. Here, the authors present a LaCl3-based electrolyte facilitating rapid Na+ ion conduction along the c-axis diffusion channel, ensuring high capacity even at elevated current densities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the effect of long noncoding RNA (LncRNA) LOC100360491 on apoptosis of H9c2 cardiomyocytes induced by hypoxia-reoxygenation injury and explore the possible mechanism. Methods H9c2 cells were infected with lentiviral vectors carrying LOC100360491 gene or its inhibitor (shLncRNA) or with a negative control vector, and the changes in LOC100360491 expression in the cells were detected by qRT-PCR. The infected H9c2 cells were exposed to hypoxia for 24 h followed by reoxygenation for 6 h, and early apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production of the cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. The expression of pro-caspase-3, cleaved caspase-3, Bax, and Bcl-2 proteins in the cells were detected using Western blotting; the cellular expression levels of PAK3 and CNNM2 mRNA were detected using qRT-PCR. Results The results of qRT-PCR confirmed successful overexpression or inhibition of LOC100360491 in H9c2 cells (P < 0.05). Compared with the cells infected with the control lentiviral vector, the cells with lentivirus-mediated LOC100360491 overexpression showed significantly decreased early apoptosis and ROS production with obviously down-regulated expressions of cleaved caspase-3 and Bax and up-regulated Bcl-2 expression following hypoxia-reoxygenation (P < 0.05). Inhibition of LOC100360491 in H9c2 cells resulted in the opposite changes, which were not significant compared with negative control group. Compared with the cells infected with the negative control vector, the cells with LOC100360491 suppression showed significantly down-regulated expressions of PAK3 and CNNM2 mRNA (P < 0.05), while LOC100360491 overexpression resulted in obviously up-regulated PAK3 expression (P < 0.05) without significantly affecting CNNM2 expression. Conclusion Overexpression of LOC100360491 inhibits apoptosis of H9c2 cells induced by hypoxia-reoxygenation possibly by inhibiting mitochondrial release of ROS through upregulating the transcription of PAK3.