Autonomous Chitosan-Based Self-Healing Hydrogel Formed through Noncovalent Interactions

A facile strategy was developed for the formation of an autonomous chitosan-based self-healing hydrogel. This hydrogel was fabricated using in situ free radical polymerization of acrylic acid (AA) and acrylamide (AM) in the presence of chitosan in dilute acetic acid aqueous solution under mild conditions. The in situ formed hydrogel is mainly composed of chitosan graft copolymers (CS-g-P­(AM-r-AA)) and a small amount of nongrafted copolymers (P­(AM-r-AA)), which interact with each other through a combination of multiple noncovalent interactions, including the interchain electrostatic complexation between −[AA]– segments and positively charged amino groups of chitosan, the H-bonding between −[AM]– segments, and the H-bonding between −[AM]– segments and the chitosan backbone. Owing to the cooperation of these noncovalent interactions and the reversible nature of the noncovalent network structure, the obtained hydrogel exhibits rapid network recovery, high stretchability, and efficient autonomous self-healing properties. The hydrogel can also dissolve completely in dilute acidic aqueous solution under mild conditions, visibly reflecting the unique network feature of this self-healing hydrogel system

Additional file 2 of Vector flow mapping analysis of left ventricular vortex performance in type 2 diabetic patients with early chronic kidney disease

Supplementary Material

Additional file 1 of Vector flow mapping analysis of left ventricular vortex performance in type 2 diabetic patients with early chronic kidney disease

Supplementary Material

In Situ Proteomic Analysis of Herbicide-Resistant Soybean and Hybrid Seeds via Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Mass Spectrometry Imaging

Transgenic soybean is the commercial crop with the largest cultivation area worldwide. During transgenic soybean cultivation, exogenous genes may be transferred to wild relatives through gene flow, posing unpredictable ecological risks. Accordingly, an environmental risk assessment should focus on fitness changes and underlying mechanisms in hybrids between transgenic and wild soybeans (Glycine soja). Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) was used for in situ detection and imaging of protein changes in the seeds of transgenic herbicide-resistant soybean harboring epsps and pat genes, non-transgenic soybean, wild soybean, and their F2 hybrid. Protein data clearly distinguished wild soybeans, while the F2 seeds had protein characteristics of both parents and were distinguished from wild soybean seeds. Using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS, 22 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified, including 13 specific to wild soybean. Sucrose synthase and stress response-related DEPs were differentially expressed in parental and offspring. Differences in these may underpin the greater adaptability of the latter. MSI revealed DEP distribution in transgenic, wild, and F2 seeds. Identifying DEPs related to fitness may elucidate mechanisms underlying fitness differences among the studied varieties. Our study shows that MALDI-MSI has the potential to become a visual method for transgenic soybean analysis

Hofmeister Effect Mediated Strong PHEMA-Gelatin Hydrogel Actuator

Hydrogels have become popular in biomedical applications, but their applications in muscle and tendon-like bioactuators have been hindered by low toughness and elastic modulus. Recently, a significant toughness enhancement of a single hydrogel network has been successfully achieved by the Hofmeister effect. However, little has been conducted for the Hofmeister effect on the hybrid hydrogels, although they have a special network structure consisting of two types of polymer components. Herein we fabricated hybrid poly­(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA)–gelatin hydrogels with high mechanical performance and stimuli response. An ideal bicontinuous phase separation structure of the PHEMA (rigid) and gelatin (ductile) was observed with embedded microdisc-like gelatin in the three-dimensional polymeric network of PHEMA. A significant enhancement of mechanical performance by the Hofmeister effect was attributed to the salting-out-induced stronger and closer interphase interaction between PHEMA and gelatin. A superior comprehensive mechanical performance with fracture elongation over 650%, tensile strength of 5.2 MPa, toughness of 13.5 MJ/m3, and modulus of 45.6 MPa was achieved with the salting-out effect. More specifically, the synergy of phase separation and Hofmeister effect enable the hydrogel to contract with an enhanced modulus in high-concentration salt solutions, while the same hydrogel swells and relaxes in dilute solutions, exhibiting an ionic stimulus response and excellent shape-memory properties like those of most artificial muscle. This is manifested in highly stretched, twisted, and knotted hydrogel strips that can rapidly recover their original shape in a dilute salt solution. The high strength and modulus, ionic stimuli response, and shape memory property make the hybrid hydrogel a promising material for bioactuators in various biomedical applications

Hofmeister Effect Mediated Strong PHEMA-Gelatin Hydrogel Actuator

Hydrogels have become popular in biomedical applications, but their applications in muscle and tendon-like bioactuators have been hindered by low toughness and elastic modulus. Recently, a significant toughness enhancement of a single hydrogel network has been successfully achieved by the Hofmeister effect. However, little has been conducted for the Hofmeister effect on the hybrid hydrogels, although they have a special network structure consisting of two types of polymer components. Herein we fabricated hybrid poly­(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA)–gelatin hydrogels with high mechanical performance and stimuli response. An ideal bicontinuous phase separation structure of the PHEMA (rigid) and gelatin (ductile) was observed with embedded microdisc-like gelatin in the three-dimensional polymeric network of PHEMA. A significant enhancement of mechanical performance by the Hofmeister effect was attributed to the salting-out-induced stronger and closer interphase interaction between PHEMA and gelatin. A superior comprehensive mechanical performance with fracture elongation over 650%, tensile strength of 5.2 MPa, toughness of 13.5 MJ/m3, and modulus of 45.6 MPa was achieved with the salting-out effect. More specifically, the synergy of phase separation and Hofmeister effect enable the hydrogel to contract with an enhanced modulus in high-concentration salt solutions, while the same hydrogel swells and relaxes in dilute solutions, exhibiting an ionic stimulus response and excellent shape-memory properties like those of most artificial muscle. This is manifested in highly stretched, twisted, and knotted hydrogel strips that can rapidly recover their original shape in a dilute salt solution. The high strength and modulus, ionic stimuli response, and shape memory property make the hybrid hydrogel a promising material for bioactuators in various biomedical applications

sj-pdf-1-jcb-10.1177_0271678X231200117 - Supplemental material for Prediction of early neurological deterioration in acute ischemic stroke patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis

Supplemental material, sj-pdf-1-jcb-10.1177_0271678X231200117 for Prediction of early neurological deterioration in acute ischemic stroke patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis by Tian Tian, Lanjing Wang, Jiali Xu, Yujie Jia, Kun Xue, Shuangfeng Huang, Tong Shen, Yumin Luo, Sijie Li and Lianqiu Min in Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism</p

Hofmeister Effect Mediated Strong PHEMA-Gelatin Hydrogel Actuator

Hydrogels have become popular in biomedical applications, but their applications in muscle and tendon-like bioactuators have been hindered by low toughness and elastic modulus. Recently, a significant toughness enhancement of a single hydrogel network has been successfully achieved by the Hofmeister effect. However, little has been conducted for the Hofmeister effect on the hybrid hydrogels, although they have a special network structure consisting of two types of polymer components. Herein we fabricated hybrid poly­(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA)–gelatin hydrogels with high mechanical performance and stimuli response. An ideal bicontinuous phase separation structure of the PHEMA (rigid) and gelatin (ductile) was observed with embedded microdisc-like gelatin in the three-dimensional polymeric network of PHEMA. A significant enhancement of mechanical performance by the Hofmeister effect was attributed to the salting-out-induced stronger and closer interphase interaction between PHEMA and gelatin. A superior comprehensive mechanical performance with fracture elongation over 650%, tensile strength of 5.2 MPa, toughness of 13.5 MJ/m3, and modulus of 45.6 MPa was achieved with the salting-out effect. More specifically, the synergy of phase separation and Hofmeister effect enable the hydrogel to contract with an enhanced modulus in high-concentration salt solutions, while the same hydrogel swells and relaxes in dilute solutions, exhibiting an ionic stimulus response and excellent shape-memory properties like those of most artificial muscle. This is manifested in highly stretched, twisted, and knotted hydrogel strips that can rapidly recover their original shape in a dilute salt solution. The high strength and modulus, ionic stimuli response, and shape memory property make the hybrid hydrogel a promising material for bioactuators in various biomedical applications

Data_Sheet_1_Personalized Nutrition Intervention Improves Health Status in Overweight/Obese Chinese Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial.docx

BackgroundOverweight and obesity increase the risk of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Personalized nutrition (PN) approaches may provide tailored nutritional advice/service by focusing on individual's unique characteristics to prevent against NCDs.ObjectiveWe aimed to compare the effect of PN intervention with the traditional “one size fits all” intervention on health status in overweight/obese Chinese adults.MethodsIn this 12-week randomized controlled trial, 400 adults with BMI ≥24 kg/m2 were randomized to control group (CG, n = 200) and PN group (PNG, n = 200). The CG received conventional health guidance according to the Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents and Chinese DRIs Handbook, whereas the PNG experienced PN intervention that was developed by using decision trees based on the subjects' anthropometric measurements, blood samples (phenotype), buccal cells (genotype), and dietary and physical activity (PA) assessments (baseline and updated).ResultsCompared with the conventional intervention, PN intervention significantly improved clinical outcomes of anthropometric (e.g., body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, waist circumference) and blood biomarkers (e.g., blood lipids, uric acid, homocysteine). The improvement in clinical outcomes was achieved through behavior change in diet and PA. The subjects in the PNG had higher China dietary guidelines index values and PA levels. Personalized recommendations of “lose weight,” “increase fiber” and “take multivitamin/mineral supplements” were the major contributors to the decrease of BMI and improvement of lipid profile.ConclusionWe provided the first evidence that PN intervention was more beneficial than conventional nutrition intervention to improve health status in overweight/obese Chinese adults. This study provides a model of framework for developing personalized advice in Chinese population.Chictr.org.cn (ChiCTR1900026226).</p

DataSheet1_Branched PCL-Based Thermogelling Copolymers: Controlling Polymer Architecture to Tune Drug Release Profiles.docx

Temperature-responsive hydrogels, or thermogels, are a unique class of biomaterials that show facile and spontaneous transition from solution to gel when warmed. Their high biocompatibility, and ease of formulation with both small molecule drugs and biologics have made these materials prime candidates as injectable gel depots for sustained local drug delivery. At present, controlling the kinetics and profile of drug release from thermogels is achieved mainly by varying the ratio of hydrophobic: hydrophilic composition and the polymer molecular weight. Herein, we introduce polymer branching as a hitherto-overlooked polymer design parameter that exhibits profound influences on the rate and profile of drug release. Through a family of amphiphilic thermogelling polymers with systematic variations in degree of branching, we demonstrate that more highly-branched polymers are able to pack less efficiently with each other during thermogel formation, with implications on their physical properties and stability towards gel erosion. This in turn resulted in faster rates of release for both encapsulated small molecule hydrophobic drug and protein. Our results demonstrate the possibility of exploiting polymer branching as a hitherto-overlooked design parameter for tailoring the kinetics and profile of drug release in injectable thermogel depots.</p