Real-Time Information-Variable Invisible Barcode Comprising Freely Deformable Infrared-Emitting Yarns

Barcodes are utilized for product information management in shops, offices, hospitals, passenger facilities, and factories because they enable substantial amounts of data to be processed quickly and accurately. However, a limited amount of information can be loaded on the currently used monochrome barcodes that are based on thin-film coatings. Therefore, these barcodes require constant replacement with new barcodes to update the information; furthermore, they cannot be applied to textile products. This study demonstrated the performance of wearable invisible infrared (IR)-emitting barcodes by using twisted yarns that comprised five highly elastic/conductive spandex fibers. The barcode information can be actively updated via the selective IR emission from specific yarns of the barcode by controlling the applied voltage to the IR-emitting yarns. Therefore, the IR barcode required a relatively small number of bars to express a higher volume of information compared to the existing monochrome barcodes. Because the emitted IR light from the yarns was invisible to the human eye and was only recognized by an IR camera, the information-variable IR-emitting yarn-based barcode exhibited an aesthetic design and was composed of a sustainable fabric-type material that could be easily applied to clothes, bags, and shoes. It is expected that the fabricated barcode will be widely utilized as wearable invisible barcodes, whose information will remain invisible to humans and can be updated in real time to ensure information fluidity

Self-Emitting Artificial Cilia Produced by Field Effect Spinning

In nature, many cells possess cilia that provide them with motor or sensory functions, allowing organisms to adapt to their environment. The development of artificial cilia with identical or similar sensory functions will enable high-performance and flexible sensing. Here, we investigate a method of producing artificial cilia composed of various polymer materials, such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyurethane, poly­(methyl methacrylate), polyvinylpyrrolidone, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, and poly (allylamine hydrochloride), using a field effect spinning (FES) method. Unlike wet- or electro-spinning, in which single or multiple strands of fibers are pulled without direction, the FES method can grow fiber arrays vertically and uniformly on a substrate in cilia-like patterns. The lengths and diameters of the vertically grown artificial cilia can be controlled by the precursor polymer concentration in the solution, applied electric current and voltage, and shape and size of the needle tip used for FES. The red, green, and blue emission characteristics of the polymer-quantum dot-based self-emitting artificial cilia prepared in polymer–inorganic nanoparticle hybrid form were determined. In addition, an artificial cilia-based humidity sensor made of the polymer–polymer composite was fabricated

Self-Emitting Artificial Cilia Produced by Field Effect Spinning

In nature, many cells possess cilia that provide them with motor or sensory functions, allowing organisms to adapt to their environment. The development of artificial cilia with identical or similar sensory functions will enable high-performance and flexible sensing. Here, we investigate a method of producing artificial cilia composed of various polymer materials, such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyurethane, poly­(methyl methacrylate), polyvinylpyrrolidone, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, and poly (allylamine hydrochloride), using a field effect spinning (FES) method. Unlike wet- or electro-spinning, in which single or multiple strands of fibers are pulled without direction, the FES method can grow fiber arrays vertically and uniformly on a substrate in cilia-like patterns. The lengths and diameters of the vertically grown artificial cilia can be controlled by the precursor polymer concentration in the solution, applied electric current and voltage, and shape and size of the needle tip used for FES. The red, green, and blue emission characteristics of the polymer-quantum dot-based self-emitting artificial cilia prepared in polymer–inorganic nanoparticle hybrid form were determined. In addition, an artificial cilia-based humidity sensor made of the polymer–polymer composite was fabricated

Colon-Targeted Delivery Facilitates the Therapeutic Switching of Sofalcone, a Gastroprotective Agent, to an Anticolitic Drug via Nrf2 Activation

We investigated if the therapeutic switching of sofalcone (SFC), a gastroprotective agent, to an anticolitic agent is feasible using colon-targeted drug delivery. SFC can activate the anti-inflammatory nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2)-hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1) pathway in human colon epithelial cells and murine macrophages. For the efficient treatment of colitis, SFC was coupled with acidic amino acids to yield SFC-aspartic acid (SFC-AA) and SFC-glutamic acid, and their colon targetability and therapeutic effects were assessed as an anticolitic agent in a 2,4-dinitrobenezenesulfonic acid-induced rat colitis model. The SFC derivatives were decoupled up to 72% in the cecal contents but remained stable in the small intestinal contents. Oral gavage of SFC-AA (oral SFC-AA, equivalent to 1.67 mg/kg of SFC) delivered SFC (maximal cecal concentration: 57.36 μM) to the cecum, while no SFC was detected with oral gavage of SFC (oral SFC, 1.67 mg/kg). Moreover, oral SFC-AA (equivalent to 10 mg/kg of SFC) did not afford detectable concentration of SFC in the blood but detected up to 4.64 μM with oral SFC (10 mg/kg), indicating efficient colonic delivery and limited systemic absorption of SFC upon oral SFC-AA. Oral SFC-AA ameliorated colonic damage and inflammation in rat colitis with elevating colonic levels of HO-1 and nuclear Nrf2 protein, and the anticolitic effects of SFC-AA were significantly undermined by an HO-1 inhibitor. At an equivalent dose of SFC, oral SFC-AA but not oral SFC increased colonic HO-1 and nuclear Nrf2 levels, and oral SFC-AA was more effective than oral SFC in treating rat colitis. Moreover, oral SFC-AA was as effective against colitis as oral sulfasalazine being used for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. In conclusion, colon-targeted delivery of SFC facilitated the therapeutic switching of the drug to an anticolitic drug via Nrf2 activation

A Colon-Targeted Prodrug of Riluzole Improves Therapeutic Effectiveness and Safety upon Drug Repositioning of Riluzole to an Anti-Colitic Drug

Riluzole (RLZ) is a neuroprotective drug indicated for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. To examine the feasibility of RLZ for repositioning as an anti-inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) drug, RLZ (2, 5, and 10 mg/kg) was administered orally to rats with colitis induced by 2,4-dinitrobenzenesulfonic acid. Oral RLZ was effective against rat colitis in a dose-dependent manner, which was statistically significant at doses over 5 mg/kg. To address safety issues upon repositioning and further improve anti-colitic effectiveness, RLZ was coupled with salicylic acid (SA) via an azo-bond to yield RLZ-azo-SA (RAS) for the targeted colonic delivery of RLZ. Upon oral gavage, RAS (oral RAS) was efficiently delivered to and activated to RLZ in the large intestine, and systemic absorption of RLZ was substantially reduced. Oral RAS ameliorated colonic damage and inflammation in rat colitis and was more effective than oral RLZ and sulfasalazine, a current anti-IBD drug. Moreover, oral RAS potently inhibited glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) in the inflamed distal colon, leading to the suppression of NFκB activity and an increase in the level of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10. Taken together, RAS, which enables RLZ to be delivered to and inhibit GSK3β in the inflamed colon, may facilitate repositioning of RLZ as an anti-IBD drug

DataSheet1_N-benzyl-N-methyldecan-1-amine and its derivative mitigate 2,4- dinitrobenzenesulfonic acid-induced colitis and collagen-induced rheumatoid arthritis.docx

As our previous study revealed that N-benzyl-N-methyldecan-1-amine (BMDA), a new molecule originated from Allium sativum, exhibits anti-neoplastic activities, we herein explored other functions of the compound and its derivative [decyl-(4-methoxy-benzyl)-methyl-amine; DMMA] including anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative activities. Pretreatment of THP-1 cells with BMDA or DMMA inhibited tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-1β production, and blocked c-jun terminal kinase (JNK), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), MAPKAP kinase (MK)2 and NF-κΒ inflammatory signaling during LPS stimulation. Rectal treatment with BMDA or DMMA reduced the severity of colitis in 2,4-dinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (DNBS)-treated rat. Consistently, administration of the compounds decreased myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity (representing neutrophil infiltration in colonic mucosa), production of inflammatory mediators such as cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC)-3 and TNF-α, and activation of JNK and p38 MAPK in the colon tissues. In addition, oral administration of these compounds ameliorated collagen-induced rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in mice. The treatment diminished the levels of inflammatory cytokine transcripts, and protected connective tissues through the expression of anti-oxidation proteins such as nuclear factor erythroid-related factor (Nrf)2 and heme oxygenase (HO)1. Additionally, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels did not differ between the BMDA- or DMMA-treated and control animals, indicating that the compounds do not possess liver toxicity. Taken together, these findings propose that BMDA and DMMA could be used as new drugs for curing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and RA.</p