Reversible Hydrogels from Self-Assembling Genetically Engineered Protein Block Copolymers

A series of triblock protein copolymers composed of a central water-soluble polyelectrolyte segment flanked by two coiled-coil domains was synthesized by genetic engineering methods. The copolymers self-assembled into reversible hydrogels in response to changes in temperature, pH, and the presence or absence of denaturating agent (guanidine hydrochloride, GdnHCl). Hydrogel formation was concentration-dependent, and the concentration needed for hydrogel formation correlated with the oligomerization state of the coiled-coil domains in the protein copolymers. The morphology of the hydrogels, as determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), indicated the presence of porous interconnected networks. The thermal stabilities and self-assembling properties of the protein copolymers were successfully controlled by manipulating the amino acid sequences of the coiled-coil domains. The stimuli responsiveness and reversibility of the hydrogel self-assembly suggest that these protein copolymers may have potential in biomedical applications

Table_1_Association between dietary inflammatory index and risk of endometriosis: A population-based analysis.docx

Background and aimsChronic inflammation plays a significant role in the etiology of endometriosis, which might be affected by dietary intake. This study aimed to investigate the association between dietary inflammatory index (DII) and the risk of endometriosis.MethodsA cross-sectional analysis using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999–2006) was conducted on 3,410 American participants, among whom 265 reported a diagnosis of endometriosis. DII scores were calculated based on the dietary questionnaire. The association of DII scores with endometriosis was evaluated by adjusted multivariate logistic regression analyzes, which were further investigated in the subgroups.ResultsIn the fully adjusted models, the odds ratio (OR) for endometriosis participants in the highest and middle tertiles of DII scores were 1.57 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.14–2.17] and 1.18 (95% CI: 0.84–1.65), compared to the lowest tertile (Ptrend = 0.007). In subgroup analyzes, the significant positive association between DII scores and the endometriosis risk was also observed in non-obese women (ORtertile3vs1: 1.69, 95% CI: 1.12–2.55; Ptrend = 0.012), women without diabetes (ORtertile3vs1: 1.62, 95% CI: 1.16–2.27; Ptrend = 0.005), women with hypertension (ORtertile3vs1: 2.25, 95% CI: 1.31–3.87; Ptrend = 0.003), parous women (ORtertile3vs1: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.11–2.17; Ptrend = 0.011), and women using oral contraceptives (ORtertile3vs1: 1.63, 95% CI: 1.15–2.30; Ptrend = 0.006).ConclusionThis nationally representative study found that increased intake of the pro-inflammatory diet, as a higher DII score, was positively associated with endometriosis risk among American adults. Our results suggested anti-inflammatory dietary interventions may be promising in the prevention of endometriosis. Further prospective studies are necessary to confirm these findings.</p

Two Y6 Derivations with Similar Chemical Structure As One Alloyed Acceptor Enable Efficient Ternary-Blend Polymer Solar Cells

A series of polymer solar cells (PSCs) was prepared with PM6 as the donor and Y6–1O and N3 as the acceptor based on a sandwich structure. The narrow bandgap material N3 was opted as the second acceptor to strengthen photon harvesting and morphology regulator to ameliorate the fill factor (FF) of ternary-blend PSCs. The two acceptors have similar highest unoccupied molecular orbits levels and chemical structures, which are conducive to forming an alloyed acceptor for sufficient charge transport in ternary hybrid films. By doping 10 wt % N3 in the acceptor, the FF and short circuit current density (JSC) of ternary-blend PSCs can be simultaneously improved, while keeping a constant open-circuit voltage (VOC) of 0.90 V. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of ternary-blend PSCs is enhanced to 17.32%, which is much larger than the 16.14 and 15.93% for Y6–1O- and N3-based binary-blend PSCs. The more than 7% PCE improvement can be achieved via employing a ternary strategy with two Y6-series derivations as the alloyed acceptor. The alloyed acceptor should be a potential principle for picking materials to prepare high-performance ternary-blend PSCs

Over 18.1% Efficiency of Layer-by-Layer Polymer Solar Cells by Enhancing Exciton Utilization near the ITO Electrode

In this work, layer-by-layer (LbL) polymer solar cells (PSCs) are constructed without/with the incorporation of a dissociation strengthening layer (DSL) on the basis of the wide-bandgap donor D18-Cl, as well as the narrow-bandgap nonfullerene acceptor Y6. The efficiency of LbL PSCs is enhanced from 17.62 to 18.15% through introducing a DSL, originating from the enhanced dissociation of D18-Cl excitons near the ITO electrode. Meanwhile, the interfacial energy between D18-Cl and Y6 layers is decreased by incorporating a DSL, which should facilitate molecular interdiffusion for more adequate exciton dissociation in LbL active layers. This work offers a simple and resultful way for realizing power conversion efficiency (PCE) improvement of LbL PSCs with maximized exciton utilization in LbL active layers. The universality of the DSL incorporation strategy on performance improvement can be further confirmed with a boosted PCE from 17.39 to 18.03% or from 17.13 to 17.61% for D18-Cl/L8-BO- or D18-Cl/N3-based LbL PSCs by incorporating a DSL

Folate receptor-targeted mixed polysialic acid micelles for combating rheumatoid arthritis: <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> evaluation

<p><b>Objective:</b> Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with chronic inflammation. The suppression of inflammation is key to the treatment of RA. Glucocorticoids (GCs) are classical anti-inflammatory drugs with several disadvantages such as poor water solubility and low specificity in the body. These disadvantages are the reasons for the quick elimination and side effects of GCs <i>in vivo</i>. Micelles are ideal carriers for GCs delivery to inflamed synovium. We set out to improve the targeting and pharmacokinetic profiles of GCs by preparing a targeting micelle system.</p> <p><b>Methods:</b> In this study, natural chlosterol (CC) and folic acid (FA) were used to fabricate polysialic acid (PSA) micelles for the targeted delivery of Dexamethasone (Dex). The biodistribution and therapeutic efficacy of the resulting micelles were evaluated <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i>.</p> <p><b>Results:</b> PSA-CC and FA-PSA-CC micelles showed a size below 100 nm and a moderate negative charge. PSA-CC and FA-PSA-CC micelles could also enhance the intracellular uptake of Dex and the suppression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i>. Arthritis mice showed reduced paw thickness and clinical arthritis index using PSA-CC and FA-PSA-CC micelle treatment. Micellized Dex demonstrated a 4 ∼ 5 fold longer elimination half-life and a 2 ∼ 3 folds higher bioavailability than commercial Dex injection. FA modification significantly improved the anti-inflammatory efficacy of PSA-CC micelles.</p> <p><b>Conclusion:</b> FA-PSA-CC micelles demonstrated significant advantages in terms of the suppression of inflammation and the treatment of inflammatory arthritis. These reliable and stable micelles possess a high potential to be transferred for clinical use.</p

Table_1_Cardiovascular benefits of air purifier in patients with stable coronary artery disease: A randomized single-blind crossover study.docx

BackgroundExposure to PM2.5 will accelerate the progression of cardiovascular diseases. Air purifier can reduce the PM2.5 exposure and theoretically alleviate the influence of PM2.5 on patients with stable coronary artery disease (SCAD). However, few studies of the protective effect showed significant results because the interferent effects of routine medication had not been taken into account. In order to explore the actual effect on patients with SCAD, we conducted a randomized single-blind crossover air purifier intervention trial.MethodLevels of PM2.5 exposure during intervention and cardiovascular indicators (inflammation, coagulation, plaque stability, and blood lipids) after intervention were detected, meanwhile the information of drug use was obtained by questionnaire. The kinds of drug used by more than 20% of the subjects were sorted out. And the influence of these drugs on cardiovascular indicators was summarized through literature review. Based on that, the drug use was included as a variable in linear mixed effects models that used to analyze the associations between PM2.5 exposure reduction by air purifier and cardiovascular indicators.ResultsThe result revealed that the interpretation contribution rate of drug use was more than that of PM2.5 exposure. The level of C-reactive protein significantly decreased by 20.93% (95%CI: 6.56%, 33.10%), 23.44% (95%CI: 2.77%, 39.39%) and 24.11% (95%CI: 4.21%, 39.69%) on lag1, lag01 and lag02 respectively, while the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol significantly increased by 5.10% (95%CI: 0.69%, 9.05%), 3.71% (95%CI: 0.92%, 6.60%) and 6.48% (95%CI: 2.58%, 10.24%) respectively on lag0, lag1 and lag01 associated with an interquartile range decrease of 22.51 μg/m3 in PM2.5 exposure.ConclusionThe study shows positive effects of air purifier on SCAD, and also provides methodological reference for future related research.</p

Over 17% Efficiency of Ternary Organic Photovoltaics Employing Two Acceptors with an Acceptor–Donor–Acceptor Configuration

Ternary organic photovoltaics (OPVs) were constructed with one wide-band-gap donor PM6 and two A–D–A-type acceptors (M-series M36 and MQ5) with similar chemical structures. Power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the optimal ternary OPVs reaches 17.24% with 20 wt % MQ5 content, arising from a simultaneously increased short circuit current density (JSC) of 25.36 mA cm–2 and a fill factor (FF) of 76.02% as compared to those of two binary OPVs. The photon harvesting of ternary active layers can be maximized by adjusting the MQ5 content by reason of the complementary absorption spectra of M36 and MQ5. The molecular arrangement of PM6 and M36 can be collectively optimized by introducing an appropriate amount of MQ5 as a morphology regulator for facilitating effective charge transportation in ternary active layers. The improved photon harvesting and charge transport in active layers should be two important factors responsible for JSC and FF improvement of optimal ternary OPVs, respectively. More than an 8.8% improvement of PCE is achieved in ternary OPVs with an appropriate amount of MQ5 as the photon-harvesting enhancer and morphology regulator. The huge potential of A–D–A-type materials in constructing highly efficient OPVs can be further exploited based on a ternary strategy

Supplementary Table from Inhibiting Type I Arginine Methyltransferase Activity Promotes T Cell–Mediated Antitumor Immune Responses

Supplementary Table from Inhibiting Type I Arginine Methyltransferase Activity Promotes T Cell–Mediated Antitumor Immune Response