23 research outputs found
Safe and cost-effective method for application of liquid ethyl formate (FumateTM) as a methyl bromide alternative for perishable commodities: Poster
The cylinderized liquid ethyl formate (EF) formulated with CO2 is one of the great potential fumigants to replace methyl bromide (MeBr) for fresh fruit. However, it is too expensive to adapt commercial practices, and also involves work place safety issue including handling of heavy cylinders as well as restrict emission of CO2, particularly for use in large scale commercial fumigationw. Therefore, it is urgently needed to develop environmental friendly, safe for workers and cost-effective alternative method for application of liquid ethyl formate as a MeBr alternative for perishable commodities. Recently, the environmentally friendly, cost-effective and practically safe use of liquid EF (FumateTM, registered name) with nitrogen gas has been developed and commercialized in Republic of Korea and Australia. The new technology for application of liquid EF is 100 times safer than MeBr in terms of threshold values (EF, TLV = 100 ppm). Ethyl formate is known as food additive and naturally occurred substances as well as a non-ozone depletion chemical. In this report, we demonstrate the liquid EF application technology that offers a clean environment (no ozone depletions and CO2 emissions), safe to fumigators and related workers and practically cost-effective technology to fumigation industry.The cylinderized liquid ethyl formate (EF) formulated with CO2 is one of the great potential fumigants to replace methyl bromide (MeBr) for fresh fruit. However, it is too expensive to adapt commercial practices, and also involves work place safety issue including handling of heavy cylinders as well as restrict emission of CO2, particularly for use in large scale commercial fumigationw. Therefore, it is urgently needed to develop environmental friendly, safe for workers and cost-effective alternative method for application of liquid ethyl formate as a MeBr alternative for perishable commodities. Recently, the environmentally friendly, cost-effective and practically safe use of liquid EF (FumateTM, registered name) with nitrogen gas has been developed and commercialized in Republic of Korea and Australia. The new technology for application of liquid EF is 100 times safer than MeBr in terms of threshold values (EF, TLV = 100 ppm). Ethyl formate is known as food additive and naturally occurred substances as well as a non-ozone depletion chemical. In this report, we demonstrate the liquid EF application technology that offers a clean environment (no ozone depletions and CO2 emissions), safe to fumigators and related workers and practically cost-effective technology to fumigation industry
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Simultaneous Detection of EGFR and VEGF in Colorectal Cancer using Fluorescence-Raman Endoscopy
Fluorescence endomicroscopy provides quick access to molecular targets, while Raman spectroscopy allows the detection of multiple molecular targets. Using a simultaneous fluorescence-Raman endoscopic system (FRES), we herein demonstrate its potential in cancer diagnosis in an orthotopically induced colorectal cancer (CRC) xenograft model. In the model, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were targeted with antibody-conjugated fluorescence and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (F-SERS) dots. FRES demonstrated fast signal detection and multiplex targeting ability using fluorescence and Raman signals to detect the F-SERS dots. In addition, FRES showed a multiplex targeting ability even on a subcentimeter-sized CRC after spraying with a dose of 50 µg F-SERS dots. In conclusion, molecular characteristics of tumor cells (EGFR in cancer cell membranes) and tumor microenvironments (VEGF in the extracellular matrix) could be simultaneously investigated when performing a colonoscopy
Three-Dimensional Macroporous Alginate Scaffolds Embedded with Akaganeite Nanorods for the Filter-Based High-Speed Preparation of Arsenic-Free Drinking Water
Separation of arsenic
from water is an urgent worldwide issue because
of its serious toxic effect on human health and aquatic life. In this
study, a filter device composed of three-dimensional (3D) macroporous
alginate/akaganeite composite (MAAC) scaffolds is proposed for the
convenient separation of arsenic from contaminated water. Akaganeite
nanorods with superior arsenic adsorption capability are incorporated
and distributed within the macroporous alginate scaffold, without
significant aggregation. The micron-sized pores and oxygen functional
groups in the MAAC scaffold offer enhanced mass transport of the contaminated
water throughout the scaffold without the need for input of any force
and allow easy contact of arsenic with the active adsorption sites
of the scaffold. The high mechanical strength of the MAAC facilitates
structural stability of the materials in aqueous solutions. Moreover,
the scaffold is capable of excellent arsenic adsorption and can reduce
the concentration of arsenic in contaminated water to the acceptable
drinking-water level (10 μg L<sup>–1</sup>). We also
demonstrate that a column filter device constructed by stacking several
MAAC scaffolds enables a continuous supply of drinking water with
a permissible limit of arsenic according to the World Health Organization
in a high-purification speed (∼22–25 mL min<sup>–1</sup> under gravity), which could potentially provide an appropriate technology
to obtain arsenic-free drinking water in developing countries
Extra-Large Pore Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles Enabling Co-Delivery of High Amounts of Protein Antigen and Toll-like Receptor 9 Agonist for Enhanced Cancer Vaccine Efficacy
Cancer
vaccine aims to invoke antitumor adaptive immune responses
to detect and eliminate tumors. However, the current dendritic cells
(DCs)-based cancer vaccines have several limitations that are mostly
derived from the <i>ex vivo</i> culture of patient DCs.
To circumvent the limitations, direct activation and maturation of
host DCs using antigen-carrying materials, without the need for isolation
of DCs from patients, are required. In this study, we demonstrate
the synthesis of extra-large pore mesoporous silica nanoparticles
(XL-MSNs) and their use as a prophylactic cancer vaccine through the
delivery of cancer antigen and danger signal to host DCs in the draining
lymph nodes. Extra-large pores of approximately 25 nm and additional
surface modification of XL-MSNs resulted in significantly higher loading
of antigen protein and toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) agonist compared
with conventional small-pore MSNs. <i>In vitro</i> study
showed the enhanced activation and antigen presentation of DCs and
increased secretion of proinflammatory cytokines. <i>In vivo</i> study demonstrated efficient targeting of XL-MSNs co-delivering
antigen and TLR9 agonist to draining lymph nodes, induction of antigen-specific
cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), and suppression of tumor growth after
vaccination. Furthermore, significant prevention of tumor growth after
tumor rechallenge of the vaccinated tumor-free mice resulted, which
was supported by a high level of memory T cells. These findings suggest
that mesoporous silica nanoparticles with extra-large pores can be
used as an attractive platform for cancer vaccines
Injectable Macroporous Ferrogel Microbeads with a High Structural Stability for Magnetically Actuated Drug Delivery
Macroporous
hydrogels are an attractive material platform that can provide shortened
interfacial diffusion pathways and high biomacromolecule loading.
Recently, macroporous ferrogels have shown high potential for use
in the on-demand delivery of bioactive molecules, resulting from their
reversible and large volumetric deformation upon magnetic stimulation.
However, these macroporous ferrogels require surgical placement in
the body due to their large size; an injectable form of macroporous
ferrogels has not yet been reported. In this study, injectable macroporous
ferrogel microbeads loaded with iron oxide nanoparticles have been
prepared on the basis of alginate microbeads for on-demand drug release.
A simple solvent exchange and subsequent covalent cross-linking of
the alginate chains in hydrogel microbeads induced a high polymer
density on the hydrogel network and led to enhanced mechanical properties
even after the generation of macropores in the microbeads. The macroporous
ferrogel microbeads exhibited good mechanical stability and were stable
during needle injection. The increased loading of large biomolecules
due to the macroporosity of the microbeads and their large reversible
volumetric deformation response to the external magnetic field enabled
their potential for use in the on-demand delivery of drugs of assorted
sizes by magnetic actuation. As a result of their structural stability,
injectable size, and ability for on-demand drug delivery, ferrogel
microbeads have promising potential for application in many biomedical
fields
One-Component Room Temperature Vulcanizing-Type Silicone Rubber-Based Calcium-Selective Electrodes
Potentiometric Properties of Ion-Selective Electrode Membranes Based on Segmented Polyether Urethane Matrices
Extra-Large Pore Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Directing in Vivo M2 Macrophage Polarization by Delivering IL‑4
Over
the past decade, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) smaller than
200 nm with a high colloidal stability have been extensively studied
for systemic drug delivery. Although small molecule delivery via MSNs
has been successful, the encapsulation of large therapeutic biomolecules,
such as proteins or DNA, is limited due to small pore size of the
conventional MSNs obtained by soft-templating. Here, we report the
synthesis of mesoporous silica nanoparticles with extra-large pores
(XL-MSNs) and their application to in vivo cytokine delivery for macrophage
polarization. Uniform, size-controllable XL-MSNs with 30 nm extra-large
pores were synthesized using organic additives and inorganic seed
nanoparticles. XL-MSNs showed significantly higher loadings for the
model proteins with different molecular weights compared to conventional
small pore MSNs. XL-MSNs were used to deliver IL-4, which is an M2-polarizing
cytokine and very quickly degraded in vivo, to macrophages and polarize
them to anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages in vivo. XL-MSNs induced
a low level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and no pro-inflammatory
cytokines in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) and in mice injected
intravenously with XL-MSNs. We found that the injected XL-MSNs were
targeted to phagocytic myeloid cells, such as neutrophils, monocytes,
macrophages, and dendritic cells. Finally, we demonstrated that the
injection of IL-4-loaded XL-MSNs successfully triggered M2 macrophage
polarization in vivo, suggesting the clinical potential of XL-MSNs
for modulating immune systems via targeted delivery of various cytokines
Carbohydrate-Functionalized rGO as an Effective Cancer Vaccine for Stimulating Antigen-Specific Cytotoxic T Cells and Inhibiting Tumor Growth
Efficient
delivery of antigens to dendritic cells (DCs), potent
antigen-presenting cells, and subsequent antigen presentation to initiate
the production of activated cytotoxic T cells are vital parameters
that determine the success of cancer immunotherapy. Here, we report
dextran-functionalized reduced graphene oxide (rGO-dextran) as an
antigen delivery carrier for cancer immunotherapy. We synthesized
dextran-functionalized rGO, where the dextran component facilitated
good colloidal stability by exposing hydroxyl groups on the surface
of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and also enhanced cellular uptake
via interaction with carbohydrate receptors present on DCs. High surface
area and intrinsic hydrophobic surface of rGO facilitated high loading
of the model antigen, ovalbumin (OVA). We found that rGO-dextran efficiently
delivered OVA to DCs and enhanced the antigen presentation via major
histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I). In addition, the release
of inflammatory cytokines, IL-12 and TNF-α, for DCs incubated
with OVA-loaded rGO-dextran was remarkably higher than that for those
incubated with soluble OVA. We also demonstrated that OVA-loaded rGO-dextran
induced production of antigen-specific cytotoxic T cells in vivo and
significantly inhibited tumor growth. Therefore, the proposed rGO-dextran
could be a potent candidate for cancer vaccine and other immunotherapy
Self-Position of Au NPs in Perovskite Solar Cells: Optical and Electrical Contribution
Metallic
nanoparticles (NPs) exhibit a localized surface plasmon resonance
(LSPR) and act as scattering centers and subwavelength antennas, so
metallic NPs can be incorporated into perovskite solar cells (PSCs)
to effectively improve the light absorption of light harvesting devices.
Here, we have embedded Au nanoparticles (NPs) into the hole transport
layer (HTL) of the PSCs to investigate the photovoltaic effect of
the PSCs with Au NPs. Interestingly, it was found that Au NPs dispersed
spiro-OMeTAD HTL solution could naturally end up located near the
perovskite layer as the result of the spin-coating step. Solar cell
performance observations indicate that the LSPR and electrical effects
of Au NPs enhance the photovoltaic response of PSCs, in spite of a
slight decrease in the open-circuit voltage (<i>V</i><sub>OC</sub>), by causing an incredible improvement in the photocurrent
density as a dominant factor