Ultrafast dynamics of near-field enhancements at an off-resonance nano-dimer via femtosecond laser excitations

Giant electric-field enhancements localized on nano-antennas are important for the optical near-field applications in fields such as super-resolution imaging, near-field optical tweezers, and photothermal therapy. Physically, the field enhancement requires plasmon resonance with respect to structure matching. We report a tunable near-field effect, including localized electric-field enhancement and resistive heating at an off-resonance Au nano-sphere dimer via femtosecond laser irradiation. The near field was strongly modified (up to 81 times) with respect to time evolution at a laser fluence of $0.1\ \text{J/cm}^{2}$ . The results are explained as thermal dynamics manipulation of the Au nano-sphere dimer plasmon resonances. This study provides a new alternative route to tailoring the near-field enhancement for wide applications in nano-antennas

MiR-144 Inhibits Uveal Melanoma Cell Proliferation and Invasion by Regulating c-Met Expression

<div><p>MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group endogenous small non-coding RNAs that inhibit protein translation through binding to specific target mRNAs. Recent studies have demonstrated that miRNAs are implicated in the development of cancer. However, the role of miR-144 in uveal melanoma metastasis remains largely unknown. MiR-144 was downregulated in both uveal melanoma cells and tissues. Transfection of miR-144 mimic into uveal melanoma cells led to a decrease in cell growth and invasion. After identification of two putative miR-144 binding sites within the 3' UTR of the human c-Met mRNA, miR-144 was proved to inhibit the luciferase activity inMUM-2B cells with a luciferase reporter construct containing the binding sites. In addition, the expression of c-Met protein was inhibited by miR-144. Furthermore, c-Met-mediated cell proliferation and invasion were inhibited by restoration of miR-144 in uveal melanoma cells. In conclusion, miR-144 acts as a tumor suppressor in uveal melanoma, through inhibiting cell proliferation and migration. miR-144 might serve as a potential therapeutic target in uveal melanoma patients.</p></div

Uniformly dispersed and controllable ligand-free silver-nanoparticle-decorated TiO2 nanotube arrays with enhanced photoelectrochemical behaviors

Homogeneously dispersed silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were successfully decorated onto the surface of TiO2 nanotube arrays (TNTA) by means of an in situ photoreduction method. TNTA films as supports exhibit excellent properties to prevent agglomeration of AgNPs, and they also avoid using polymer ligands, which is deleterious to enhancing the properties of the fabricated NPs. The silver particle size and its content could be controlled just by changing the immersion time. Detailed SEM and TEM analyses combined with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analyses with different immersion times (5, 10, 30, 60 min) have revealed the variation tendency. The prepared Ag/TNTA composite films were also characterized by XRD, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and high-resolution TEM. The UV/Vis diffuse reflectance spectra displayed a redshift of the absorption peak with the growth of AgNPs. The photocurrent response and the photoelectrocatalytic degradation of methyl orange (MO) were used to evaluate the photoelectrochemical properties of the fabricated samples. The results showed that the photocurrent response and photoelectrocatalytic activity largely depended on the loaded Ag particle size and content. TNTA films with a diameter of 17.92 nm and silver content of 1.15 at % showed the highest photocurrent response and degradation rate of MO. The enhanced properties could be attributed to the synergistic effect between AgNPs and TiO2. To make good use of this effect, particle size and silver content should be well controlled to develop the electron charge and discharge process during the photoelectrical process. Neither smaller nor larger AgNPs caused decreased photoelectrical properties

c-Met is a critical downstream target of miR-144 (A) Targetscan analysis using available algorithms indicated that c-Met is a theoretical target gene of miR-144.

<p>(B) Luciferase reporter gene assays showed that ectopic of miR-144 remarkably reduced luciferase activity in the c-Met wild-type reporter gene but not the mutant c-Met 3’UTR.(C) qRT-PCR analysis of c-Met expression in the MUM-2B cells which was transected miR-144 mimics, inhibitors, scramble or control. GAPDH was used as internal control. (D) Western blot analysis has shown that miR-144 mimic inhibited the protein expression of c-Met in MUM-2B cells. GAPDH was also detected as a loading control. ***p<0.001.</p

Inhibition of c-Met inhibits uveal melanoma cell proliferation and invasion (A) Western blotting analysis was performed to examine the effects of siRNA-c-Met on the expression of c-Met.

<p>GAPDH was also detected as a loading control. (B) The cell growth in MUM-2B cells co-transfected with either siRNA-c-Met, siRNA-c-Met and miR-144 inhibitor or control using CCK-8 proliferation assay. (C) The cell invasive in MUM-2B cells co-transfected with either siRNA-c-Met, siRNA-c-Met and miR-144 inhibitor or control using invasion assay. *p<0.05, ** p<0.01, and ***p<0.001.</p

The expression ofmiR-144 was downregulated in uveal melanoma cells and tissues (A) qRT–PCR analysis of miR-144expression in uveal melanoma cell lines (MUM-2B, C918, MUM-2C and OCM-1A) and one human melanocyte cell line (D78).

<p>The level of miR-144 expression was normalized to U6. (B) qRT–PCR analysis of miR-144expression in 5human uveal melanoma tissues and 5 normal uvea tissues. The level of miR-144 expression was normalized to U6.***p<0.001.</p

Overexpression of miR-144inhibited proliferation and invasion of uveal melanoma cells (A) qRT–PCR analysis of miR-144 expression in MUM-2B cells which was transfected miR-144 mimics, inhibitors, scramble or control.

<p>(B) The CCK-8 proliferation assay showed that miR-144 mimics can inhibit the proliferation of the MUM-2B cells. Meanwhile, miR-144 inhibitor increased the proliferation of the MUM-2B cells. (C) Invasion analysis of MUM-2B cells after treatment withmiR-144 mimics, inhibitors or scramble or control; the relative ratio of invasive cells per field is shown below, *p<0.05, ** p<0.01, and ***p<0.001.</p

Controllable Adhesive Superhydrophobic Surfaces Based on PDMS Microwell Arrays

This paper presents a one-step method to fabricate superhydrophobic surfaces with extremely controllable adhesion based on PDMS microwell arrays. The microwell array structures are rapidly produced on PDMS films by a point-by-point femtosecond laser scanning process. The as-prepared superhydrophobic surfaces show water controllable adhesion that ranges from ultrahigh to ultralow by adjusting the extent of overlap of the adjacent microwells, on which the sliding angle can be controlled from 180° (a water droplet can not slide down even when the as-prepared surface is turned upside down) to 3°. A “micro-airbag effect” is introduced to explain the adhesion transition phenomenon of the microwell array structures. This work provides a facile and promising strategy to fabricate superhydrophobic surfaces with controllable adhesion

Controllable Adhesive Superhydrophobic Surfaces Based on PDMS Microwell Arrays

This paper presents a one-step method to fabricate superhydrophobic surfaces with extremely controllable adhesion based on PDMS microwell arrays. The microwell array structures are rapidly produced on PDMS films by a point-by-point femtosecond laser scanning process. The as-prepared superhydrophobic surfaces show water controllable adhesion that ranges from ultrahigh to ultralow by adjusting the extent of overlap of the adjacent microwells, on which the sliding angle can be controlled from 180° (a water droplet can not slide down even when the as-prepared surface is turned upside down) to 3°. A “micro-airbag effect” is introduced to explain the adhesion transition phenomenon of the microwell array structures. This work provides a facile and promising strategy to fabricate superhydrophobic surfaces with controllable adhesion