A simple approach to constructing antibacterial and anti-biofouling nanofibrous membranes

<div><p>In this work, antibacterial and anti-adhesive polymeric thin films were constructed on polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibrous membranes in order to extend their applications. Polyhexamethylene guanidine hydrochloride (PHGH) as an antibacterial agent and heparin (HP) as an anti-adhesive agent have been successfully coated onto the membranes <i>via</i> a layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly technique confirmed by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The antibacterial properties of LBL-functionalized PAN nanofibrous membranes were evaluated using the Gram-positive bacterium <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and the Gram-negative <i>Escherichia coli.</i> Furthermore, the dependence of the antibacterial activity and anti-biofouling performance on the number of layers in the LBL films was investigated quantitatively. It was found that these LBL-modified nanofibrous membranes possessed high antibacterial activities, easy-cleaning properties and stability under physiological conditions, thus qualifying them as candidates for anti-biofouling coatings.</p></div

Wearable Sensor Based on a Tough Conductive Gel for Real-Time and Remote Human Motion Monitoring

The usage of a conductive hydrogel in wearable sensors has been thoroughly researched recently. Nonetheless, hydrogel-based sensors cannot simultaneously have excellent mechanical property, high sensitivity, comfortable wearability, and rapid self-healing performance, which result in poor durability and reusability. Herein, a robust conductive hydrogel derived from one-pot polymerization and subsequent solvent replacement is developed as a wearable sensor. Owing to the reversible hydrogen bonds cross-linked between polymer chains and clay nanosheets, the resulting conductive hydrogel-based sensor exhibits outstanding flexibility, self-repairing, and fatigue resistance performances. The embedding of graphene oxide nanosheets offers an enhanced hydrogel network and easy release of wearable sensor from the target position through remote irradiation, while Li+ ions incorporated by solvent replacement endow the wearable sensor with low detection limit (sensing strain: 1%), high conductivity (4.3 S m–1) and sensitivity (gauge factor: 3.04), good freezing resistance, and water retention. Therefore, the fabricated wearable sensor is suitable to monitor small and large human motions on the site and remotely under subzero (−54 °C) or room temperature, indicating lots of promising applications in human-motion monitoring, information encryption and identification, and electronic skins

Additional file 1 of Alamandine attenuates ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis by promoting osteogenic differentiation via AMPK/eNOS axis

Supplementary Material

MicroRNA-497 Induces Apoptosis and Suppresses Proliferation via the Bcl-2/Bax-Caspase9-Caspase3 Pathway and Cyclin D2 Protein in HUVECs

<div><p>Introduction</p><p>MicroRNAs play crucial roles in various types of diseases. However, to date, no information about the role of miR-497 in the development of atherosclerosis has been reported. This study investigated the possible role of miR-497 in vascular endothelial cell injury during the early stage of atherosclerosis.</p><p>Materials and Methods</p><p>The expression level of miR-497 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) exposed to ox-LDL was detected using qRT-PCR. To perform gain of function and loss of function analyses, miR-497 mimics were transfected into HUVECs, and miR-497 inhibitors were transfected into HUVECs stimulated with ox-LDL. Flow cytometry was used to analyze cell cycle progression and apoptosis. EdU and CCK-8 assays were employed to detect DNA synthesis and cell proliferation, respectively. After bioinformatics prediction, a dual Luciferase Reporter assay was used to analyze the direct target genes of miR-497. The mRNA and protein levels of the target genes were detected using qRT-PCR and western blot analyses, respectively. Caspase-9/3 activity was analyzed to determine the mechanism of endothelial dysfunction.</p><p>Results</p><p>We showed that miR-497 was significantly upregulated in HUVECs stimulated with ox-LDL. Ectopic expression of miR-497 suppressed cell proliferation, induced apoptosis and increased the activity of caspase-9/3. After verification, Bcl2 and CCND2 were shown to be direct target genes of miR-497 in HUVECs. MiR-497 significantly suppressed cell proliferation by arresting the cell cycle through the CCND2 protein and induced apoptosis through the Bcl2/Bax-caspase9-caspase3 pathway.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>Overall, our study shows that miR-497 might play a role in the development of atherosclerosis by inducing apoptosis and suppressing the proliferation of vascular endothelial cells. Therefore, miR-497 could be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of atherosclerosis.</p></div

Batch effects on DM genes of six cancer types.

<p>For each cancer type denoted in the x-axis, a box plot in the y-axis represents the consistency score defined as the proportion of DM genes with consistent methylation states among all overlapping DM gene commonly detected in both of the two groups (see <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0029686#s2" target="_blank">‘Methods’</a> section). The consistency score takes value ranging from 0 (no consistent states) to 1 (100% consistent states). Each box stretches from the lower hinge (defined as the 25th percentile) to the upper hinge (the 75th percentile) and the median is shown as a line across the box.</p

The effects of miR-497 on caspase-9/3 activities.

<p>(A) The caspase-9/3 activities in the HUVECs were increased after transfection of miR-497. (B) Inhibition of miR-497 could partially reduce the caspase-9/3 activities that were increased following ox-LDL treatment in HUVECs. The data are presented as the mean ± SD from three separate experiments.*P<0.05 and **P<0.01 versus the control groups.</p

Keratin associated protein genes hypomethylated in five cancers.

<p>Keratin associated protein genes hypomethylated in five cancers.</p

The effects of miR-497 suppression on the proliferation and apoptosis of ox-LDL-induced HUVECs.

<p>(A) Cell cycle changes detected by a flow cytometer. The cells were stained with PI prior to detection. Suppression of miR-497 could partially increase the percentage of S-phase cells that were reduced by the addition of ox-LDL. (B) EdU cell proliferation analysis after transfection, as detected using a fluorescence microscope (magnification 200×). (C) Apoptotic status after transfection, as detected by FCM after Annexin V-FITC/PI labeling. (D) CCK-8 cell proliferation assay for HUVECs. Suppression of miR-497 could partially reduce the inhibition of cell proliferation induced by ox-LDL. (E) Rate of EdU-positive cells in the different groups. Loss of miR-497 can partially reverse the reduction of cellular DNA replication in HUVECs stimulated with ox-LDL. (F) Comparison of apoptotic cells in the various groups. Inhibition of miR-497 could partially reduce the number of apoptotic cells induced by ox-LDL. The data are presented as the mean ± SD. All results shown are representative of three independent experiments. *P<0.05 and **P<0.01 versus the control groups.</p

The datasets of nine cancer types for analyzing batch effects.

<p>The datasets of nine cancer types for analyzing batch effects.</p

Bcl2 and CCND2 are target genes of miR-497 in HUVECs.

<p>(A) Luciferase assay in HUVECs co-transfected with miR-497 or miR-497-mutant and a luciferase reporter containing the Bcl2 3’UTR. (B) Luciferase assay in HUVECs co-transfected with miR-497 or miR-497-mutant and a luciferase reporter containing the CCND2 3’UTR. (C) Bcl2 mRNA was analyzed using qRT-PCR after transfection with miR-497 or the miR-497 inhibitor. (D) CCND2 mRNA was analyzed using qRT-PCR after transfection with miR-497 or the miR-497 inhibitor. (E) The Bcl2/Bax, CCND2, and caspase-3 and -9 proteins were analyzed using western blot analysis after transfection with miR-497. (F) The Bcl2/Bax, CCND2, and caspase-3 and -9 proteins were analyzed using western blot analysis after transfection with miR-497 inhibitor. The data are presented as the mean ± SD from three separate experiments. **P<0.01 versus the control groups.</p