pH-Responsive Nanogel for Photothemal-Enhanced Chemodynamic Antibacterial Therapy

Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) have been widely studied as treatment alternatives to anbiotics to avoid the occurrence of bacterial resistance because of their negligible bacterial resistance and high antibacterial efficiencies. Herein, we developed an infection microenvironment-responsive nanogel (STF) to successfully achieve a PTT synergized CDT for bacterial infection. Through a one-step/pot method, STF nanotherapeutics consisting of Fe3+/sodium alginate (SA) based nanogels and Fe3+/tannic acid (TA) based metal–phenolic networks (MPNs) were conveniently prepared by the coordination-triggered simultaneous self-assembly of SA, TA, and Fe3+ ions. Afterward, their photothermal and catalytic performances were intensively investigated. Moreover, the sterilization effect of the STF nanogel was evaluated through in vitro and in vivo bactericidal assays. The STF nanogel exhibited a photothermal enhanced peroxidase-like activity because of the good photothermal effect of MPNs. In addition, its Fenton activity was further accelerated by an extra amount of Fe2+ derived from the degradation of Fe3+-chelating agents (SA) and reduction of TA. Together, the STF nanogel possessed a photothermal/Fe2+ dual-augmented catalytic property. In vitro and in vivo antibacterial assays proved its satisfactory bactericidal efficiency owing to PTT/Fe2+ dual-enhanced CDT. Our research findings suggested that the developed intelligent bactericidal nanogel has great potential to be used as an antibiotic alternative to avoid bacterial resistance in future clinical treatments

Image1_Curcumin-primed periodontal ligament stem cells-derived extracellular vesicles improve osteogenic ability through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.pdf

Introduction: Curcumin has broad application prospects in the prevention and treatment of periodontal diseases. Periodontal ligament stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (PDLSC-EV) can effectively promote periodontal tissue regeneration and possess good drug delivery capability. Superior pharmacological effects can be exerted using PDLSC-EV as a curcumin carrier.Methods: In the present study, we constructed curcumin-primed PDLSCs-derived extracellular vesicles (Cur-PDLSC-EV) from cell culture supernatants of curcumin-pretreated PDLSCs by ultracentrifugation and investigated their effects on the proliferation, migration, and osteogenic ability of PDLSCs and the corresponding downstream molecular pathways.Results: Both Cur-PDLSC-EV and PDLSC-EV promoted osteoblast proliferation and migration. Compared with PDLSC-EV, Cur-PDLSC-EV possessed a more potent pro-osteogenic ability. Moreover, the improved osteogenesis of Cur-PDLSC-EV was related to the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.Conclusion: This study suggests that Cur-PDLSC-EV can promote osteogenic differentiation by activating Wnt/β-catenin, providing reference bases for the treatment of periodontal diseases.</p

Glycosides with galloyl groups from <i>Balakata baccata</i> and their antineuroinflammatory activities

Seven new glycosides (1 − 7) with galloyl groups and two known kaempferol glycosides (8 and 9) were obtained from the overground parts of Balakata baccata. The structures of the new compounds were determined by comprehensive spectroscopic analyses. The rarely seen allene moiety in compounds 6 and 7 were described by detailed analysis of 1D and 2D NMR data. The antineuroinflammatory effect of all the isolates was assessed through inhibiting nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced BV-2 microglial cells. Compounds 1, 2, 6, and 7 showed potent inhibitory activities with IC50 values of 25.7, 17.2, 15.5 and 24.4 μM, respectively, compared with the positive control minocycline (IC50 = 16.1 μM).</p

Bacitracin-Engineered BSA/ICG Nanocomplex with Enhanced Photothermal and Photodynamic Antibacterial Activity

To reduce the drug resistance of bacteria and enhance the antibacterial ability in bacterial infection therapy, we designed a new antibacterial nanoagent. In this system, a photosensitizer (indocyanine green, ICG) was loaded in bovine serum albumin (BSA) through hydrophobic-interaction-induced self-assembly to form stable BSA@ICG nanoparticles. Furthermore, a positively charged antibacterial peptide bacitracin (Bac) was physically immobilized onto the surface of BSA@ICG to generate a bacterial-targeted nanomedicine BSA@ICG@Bac through electrostatic interactions. Afterward, its photodynamic and photothermal activities were intensely evaluated. Moreover, its bactericidal efficiency was assessed viain vitro antibacterial assays and bacterial biofilm destruction tests. First, the obtained BSA@ICG@Bac showed both good singlet oxygen generation property and high photothermal conversion efficiency. In addition, it showed enhanced photodynamic and photothermal antibacterial capacities and biofilm-removing ability in vitro due to Bac modification. To sum up, our research provided an economic and less-time-consuming approach to preparing antibacterial nanomedicines with excellent antibacterial ability. Therefore, the prepared antibacterial nanomedicines have great potential to be utilized in clinical trials in the future

Ranking of candidate reference genes in order of their expression stability as calculated by NormFinder.

<p>Note: Expression stability and ranking of 10 reference genes as calculated by NormFinder in all samples (A), different ages (B), different tissue types (C), cold-treated (D), heat-treated (E), NaCl-treated (F), PEG-treated (G), ABA-treated (H). Lower average expression stability (M value) indicates more stable expression.</p

Descriptions of candidate genes from <i>Platycladus orientalis</i> for qRT-PCR.

<p>Note: All reference gene sequences from transcriptome data of <i>Platycladus orientalis</i> were searched with BLAST using sequences of <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i> in GenBank. Sequences of candidate housekeeping genes and NAC domain protein gene are provided in the Supporting Information.</p

Expression profiles of <i>NAC</i> in different-aged tissues and in response to stresses in <i>Platycladus orientalis</i> (as determined by qRT-PCR with UBC and aTUB in combination as reference genes).

<p>Expression profiles of <i>NAC</i> in different-aged tissues and in response to stresses in <i>Platycladus orientalis</i> (as determined by qRT-PCR with UBC and aTUB in combination as reference genes).</p

It's Christmas Carol (2006)

1. Poster, 2. Photo, 3. Photo, 4. Photo, 5. Photo, 6. Photo, 7. Photo, 8. Photo, 9. Photo, 10. Photo, 11. Photo, 12. Photo, 13. Photo, 14. Photo, 15. Program, 16. Press Release English, 17. Press Release FrenchArchival file for the Glendon College production of It's Christmas Carol, written and directed by Nicole Toogood. The play was performed November 30th - December 9th, 2006

Figure 1

<p> <b>Expression levels of candidate reference genes in different plant samples.</b></p

Ranking of candidate reference genes in order of their expression stability as calculated by BestKeeper.

<p>Note: Expression stability and ranking of 10 reference genes as calculated by Bestkeeper in all samples (A), different ages (B), different tissue types (C), cold-treated (D), heat-treated (E), NaCl-treated (F), PEG-treated (G), ABA-treated (H). Descriptive statistics of 10 candidate genes based on their coefficient of variance (CV) and standard deviation (SD) of Ct values were determined using the whole data set, and all Ct values were analyzed as a total data set. Reference genes are identified as the most stable genes (those with the lowest coefficient of variance and standard deviation; CV±SD).</p