supplementary material from A rapid microwave synthesis of green-emissive carbon dots with solid-state fluorescence and pH-sensitive properties

The emerging carbon quantum dots (CQDs) have been attracting significant attention for their prominent fluorescence, excellent stability and outstanding biocompatibility. Here, we report a facile one-step synthesis of highly fluorescent CQDs by using phthalic acid and triethylenediamine hexahydrate as precursors through a simply microwave-assisted method. The reaction time only need 60 s which is less time-consumed than most previous reports. The phthalic acid with a benzene ring can improve the photoluminescence properties of CQDs as it can provide a foreign <i>sp</i>2 conjugating units, and then finally result in long-wavelength emission. The synthesized CQDs were fully characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Besides, the impacts of different freed ratio on physical and chemical properties of CQDs were investigated in detail. The prepared CQDs exhibited strong green fluorescence with a broad maximum emission wavelength. The quantum yields of the CQDs can reach 16.1% in aqueous solution and they were successfully used in cell imaging with good biocompatibility. Moreover, in solid state, the CQDs with the feed ratio of 1 : 0.5 showed a strong green–yellow fluorescence which may have great potential to fabricate optoelectronic devices device. Furthermore, the prepared CQDs also showed highly pH sensitivity and can act as a fluorescence nanosensor for pH sensing

Data_Sheet_1_Perception and willingness toward various immunization routes for COVID-19 vaccines: a cross-sectional survey in China.DOCX

BackgroundTo date, most vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccine, are mainly administered by intramuscular injection, which might lead to vaccine hesitancy in some populations due to needle fear. Alternatively, needle-free immunization technology is extensively developed to improve the efficacy and acceptance of vaccination. However, there is no study to report the perception and willingness toward various immunization routes of the COVID-19 vaccine in the general population.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted nationwide using an online questionnaire. Bivariate analyses were undertaken to assess variable associations among the participants who reported a hesitancy to receive the COVID-19 booster vaccination. Multivariable logistic regression with a backward step-wise approach was used to analyze the predicted factors associated with the willingness to receive the COVID-19 booster vaccination.ResultsA total of 3,244 valid respondents were included in this survey, and 63.2% of participants thought they had a good understanding of intramuscular injection, but only 20.7, 9.2, 9.4, and 6.0% of participants had a self-perceived good understanding of inhalation vaccine, nasal spray vaccine, oral vaccine, and microneedle patch vaccine. Correspondingly, there was high acceptance for intramuscular injection (76.5%), followed by oral inhalation (64.4%) and nasal spray (43.0%). Those participants who were only willing to receive an intramuscular vaccine had less vaccine knowledge (OR = 0.78; 95% CI: 0.65–0.94) than those who were willing to receive a needle-free vaccine (OR = 1.97; 95% CI: 1.52–2.57). Some factors were found to be associated with vaccine hesitancy toward booster COVID-19 vaccination.ConclusionNeedle-free vaccination is a promising technology for the next generation of vaccines, but we found that intramuscular injection was still the most acceptable immunization route in this survey. One major reason might be that most people lack knowledge about needle-free vaccination. We should strengthen the publicity of needle-free vaccination technology, and thus improve the acceptance and coverage of vaccination in different populations.</p

Changes in the apoptosis rate of transplantation tumors in nude mice injected with virus and 5-FU (x±s, n = 5).

<p>*: PBS+5-FU vs. V-BCRPi+5-FU, p<0.01.</p

Changes in tumor weight and volume and the anti-tumor rate in transplantation tumors in nude mice after virus infection and drug treatment (x±s, n = 15).

<p>*: PBS+5-FU vs. V-BCRPi+5-FU, p<0.01.</p

Immunohistochemical staining of tumor bodies in hairless mice bearing JAR cancer cells after injection with V-BCRPi and 5-FU (×100).

<p>The results indicate that V-BCRPi inhibits <i>BCRP/ABCG2</i> expression and improves drug sensitivity to 5-FU in tumors. The red arrows indicate the dead cells.</p

Inhibition ratio of 5-FU against JAR cells infected with V-BCRPi using cell survival analysis.

<p>Experimental groups 1 to 9, which were submitted to the following treatments, are shown: 1: 5-FU, 2: Ko143+5-FU, 3: pLenti6/vector+5-FU, 4: V-BCRP1i+5-FU, 5: V-BCRP1ic+5-FU, 6: V-BCRP2i+5-FU, 7: V-BCRP2ic+5-FU, 8: V-BCRP3i+5-FU, and 9: V-BCRP3ic+5-FU. The inhibition ratio of the V-BCRP3i treatment group was significantly higher than those of the other virus-free treatment groups. Each inhibition ratio represents the mean value of three independent experiments. *<i>P</i><0.01.</p

Knockdown of BCRP/ABCG2 expression by V-BCRPi in tumor cell bodies, as shown by Western blot analysis.

<p>1: Tumor body injected with PBS alone; 2: Tumor body injected with PBS and 5-FU; 3: Tumor body injected with V-BCRPi alone; and 4: Tumor body injected with V-BCRPi and 5-FU. It was concluded from the experimental results that the expression of <i>BCRP/ABCG2</i> in tumors injected with V-BCRPi (with 5-FU treatment) was lower than that of the un-injected tumors (with PBS and 5-FU). There was no difference among the groups injected with the various V-BCRPi retroviruses and 5-FU.</p

Tumor bodies of hairless mice after injection of JAR cancer cells infected with V-BCRPi and treatment with 5-FU.

<p>A1: Tumor body injected with PBS alone; A2: Tumor body injected with PBS and 5-FU; B1: Tumor body injected with V-BCRPi alone; and B2: Tumor body injected with V-BCRPi and 5-FU. After injecting 5-FU, the tumors in the hairless mice injected with V-BCRPi were smaller than those in the un-injected hairless mice. The anti-tumor rate was approximately a factor of 10 (<i>P</i><0.01). It was concluded that V-BCRPi increases the inhibition effects of 5-FU on tumor growth.</p

Knockdown of BCRP/ABCG2 expression by V-BCRPi in JAR cells using immunofluorescence analysis (×100).

<p>The results for experimental groups 1 to 8 are shown: 1: mock cells with MoAb or 2: PBS or cells infected with 3: V-BCRP1i, 4: V-BCRP1i-c, 5: V-BCRP2i, 6: V-BCRP2i-c, 7: V-BCRP3i, or 8: V-BCRP3i-c. The fluorescence intensity of cells subjected to V-BCRP3i treatment was the lowest.</p

Residual drug volumes after infection of JAR cells with V-BCRPi according to flow cytometry analysis.

<p>The results of experimental groups 1 to 9 are shown: 1: mock cells, 2: cells with Mit, 3: cells with Mit and Ko143, or cells with Mit and infected with 4: V-BCRP1i, 5: V-BCRP2i, 6: V-BCRP3i, 7: V-BCRP1i-c, 8: V-BCRP2i-c, or 9: V-BCRP3i-c. Each residual drug volume represents the mean value of three independent experiments. *<i>P</i><0.01.</p