Insights into Chemical Bonds for Eliminating the Depletion Region and Accelerating the Photo-Induced Charge Efficient Separation toward Ultrasensitive Photoelectrochemical Sensing

The empty-space-induced depletion region in photoelectrodes severely exacerbates the recombination of electron–hole pairs, thereby reducing the photoelectrochemical (PEC) analytical performance. Herein, the chemical bond that can suppress the potential barrier and overcome the high energy barrier of out-of-plane Ohmic or Schottky contact is introduced into the PEC sensor to eliminate the depletion region and dramatically promote the separation of electron–hole pairs. Specifically, three-dimensional (3D) hierarchically wheatear-like TiO2 (HWT) nanostructures featuring a large surface area to absorb incident light are crafted as the substrate. The facile carbonized strategy is further employed to engineer the Ti-C chemical bond, serving as the touchstone. The average PL lifetime of HWT-C (4.14 ns) is much shorter than that of the 3D HWT (8.57 ns) due to the promoting effect of the chemically bonded structure on carrier separation. Consequently, the 3D HWT-C covalent photoelectrode (600 μA/cm2) exhibits a 3.6-fold increase in photocurrent density compared with the 3D HWT (167 μA/cm2). Ultimately, the model analyte of the tumor marker is detected, and the linear range is 0.02 ng/mL–100 ng/mL with a detection limitation of 0.007 ng/mL. This work provides a basic understanding of chemical bonds in tuning charge separation and insights on strategies for designing high-performance PEC sensors

Effects of Dietary Supplementation of Alpha-Ketoglutarate in a Low-Protein Diet on Fatty Acid Composition and Lipid Metabolism Related Gene Expression in Muscles of Growing Pigs

The aim of the current study was to investigate whether dietary supplementation with alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) in a reduced crude protein (CP) diet would affect fatty acid composition and lipid metabolism related gene expression in the muscles of growing pigs. A total of 27 Large White × Landrace growing pigs at 44 ± 1 d of age (11.96 ± 0.18 kg) were randomly allocated to three treatments (n = 9). Dietary treatments included: (1) normal protein diet with 20% crude protein (CP) (NP); (2) a low crude protein diet formulated to contain approximately 17% CP (LP); and (3) a low crude protein diet with 17% CP supplemented with 1% AKG at the expense of regular corn components (ALP). The experimental trial lasted 35 d. The results showed that compared with the NP and LP diets, supplementation with AKG in a low-protein diet increased the intramuscular fat (IMF), oleic acid (C18:1n-9), and monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) contents (p < 0.05), and tended to increase the percentage of palmitoleic acid (C16:1) and stearic acid (C18:0) (p < 0.10) in the biceps femoris and longissimus dorsi muscles of growing pigs. These effects may be associated with increased relative mRNA expression levels of fatty acid synthase (FAS), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), adipocyte determination and differentiation factor 1 (ADD1), fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4), and stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) in skeletal muscle, indicating that AKG might be involved in the differential regulation of some key lipogenic genes in skeletal muscles of pigs

Bi-lineage inducible and immunoregulatory electrospun fibers scaffolds for synchronous regeneration of tendon-to-bone interface

Facilitating regeneration of the tendon-to-bone interface can reduce the risk of postoperative retear after rotator cuff repair. Unfortunately, undesirable inflammatory responses following injury, difficulties in fibrocartilage regeneration, and bone loss in the surrounding area are major contributors to suboptimal tendon-bone healing. Thus, the development of biomaterials capable of regulating macrophage polarization to a favorable phenotype and promoting the synchronous regeneration of the tendon-to-bone interface is currently a top priority. Here, strontium-doped mesoporous bioglass nanoparticles (Sr-MBG) were synthesized through a modulated sol-gel method and Bi-lineage Inducible and Immunoregulatory Electrospun Fibers Scaffolds (BIIEFS) containing Sr-MBG were fabricated. The BIIEFS were biocompatible, showed sustained release of multiple types of bioactive ions, enhanced osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and facilitated macrophage polarization towards the M2 phenotype in vitro. The implantation of BIIEFS at the torn rotator cuff resulted in greater numbers of M2 macrophages and the synchronous regeneration of tendon, fibrocartilage, and bone at the tendon-to-bone interface, leading to a significant improvement in the biomechanical strength of the supraspinatus tendon-humerus complexes. Our research offers a feasible strategy to fabricate immunoregulatory and multi-lineage inducible electrospun fibers scaffolds incorporating bioglass nanoparticles for the regeneration of soft-to-hard tissue interfaces

Termite Fungus Comb Polysaccharides Alleviate Hyperglycemia and Hyperlipidemia in Type 2 Diabetic Mice by Regulating Hepatic Glucose/Lipid Metabolism and the Gut Microbiota

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia. The termite fungus comb is an integral component of nests of termites, which are a global pest. Termite fungus comb polysaccharides (TFCPs) have been identified to possess antioxidant, anti-aging, and immune-enhancing properties. However, their physicochemical characteristics and their role in fighting diabetes have not been previously reported. In the current study, TFCPs were isolated and structurally characterized. The yield of TFCPs was determined to be 2.76%, and it was found to be composed of a diverse array of polysaccharides with varying molecular weights. The hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of TFCPs, as well as their potential mechanisms of action, were investigated in a T2D mouse model. The results demonstrated that oral administration of TFCPs could alleviate fasting blood glucose levels, insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, and the dysfunction of pancreatic islets in T2D mice. In terms of mechanisms, the TFCPs enhanced hepatic glycogenesis and glycolysis while inhibiting gluconeogenesis. Additionally, the TFCPs suppressed hepatic de novo lipogenesis and promoted fatty acid oxidation. Furthermore, the TFCPs altered the composition of the gut microbiota in the T2D mice, increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Allobaculum and Faecalibaculum, while reducing the levels of pathogens like Mailhella and Acetatifactor. Overall, these findings suggest that TFCPs may exert anti-diabetic effects by regulating hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism and the composition of the gut microbiota. These findings suggest that TFCPs can be used as a promising functional ingredient for the prevention and treatment of T2D

Bioactive Patch for Rotator Cuff Repairing via Enhancing Tendon-to-Bone Healing: A Large Animal Study and Short-Term Outcome of a Clinical Trial

Tissue engineering has demonstrated its efficacy in promoting tissue regeneration, and extensive research has explored its application in rotator cuff (RC) tears. However, there remains a paucity of research translating from bench to clinic. A key challenge in RC repair is the healing of tendon–bone interface (TBI), for which bioactive materials suitable for interface repair are still lacking. The umbilical cord (UC), which serves as a vital repository of bioactive components in nature, is emerging as an important source of tissue engineering materials. A minimally manipulated approach is used to fabricate UC scaffolds that retain a wealth of bioactive components and cytokines. The scaffold demonstrates the ability to modulate the TBI healing microenvironment by facilitating cell proliferation, migration, suppressing inflammation, and inducing chondrogenic differentiation. This foundation sets the stage for in vivo validation and clinical translation. Following implantation of UC scaffolds in the canine model, comprehensive assessments, including MRI and histological analysis confirm their efficacy in inducing TBI reconstruction. Encouraging short-term clinical results further suggest the ability of UC scaffolds to effectively enhance RC repair. This investigation explores the mechanisms underlying the promotion of TBI repair by UC scaffolds, providing key insights for clinical application and translational research.</p

Regulating Macrophages through Immunomodulatory Biomaterials Is a Promising Strategy for Promoting Tendon-Bone Healing

The tendon-to-bone interface is a special structure connecting the tendon and bone and is crucial for mechanical load transfer between dissimilar tissues. After an injury, fibrous scar tissues replace the native tendon-to-bone interface, creating a weak spot that needs to endure extra loading, significantly decreasing the mechanical properties of the motor system. Macrophages play a critical role in tendon-bone healing and can be divided into various phenotypes, according to their inducing stimuli and function. During the early stages of tendon-bone healing, M1 macrophages are predominant, while during the later stages, M2 macrophages replace the M1 macrophages. The two macrophage phenotypes play a significant, yet distinct, role in tendon-bone healing. Growing evidence shows that regulating the macrophage phenotypes is able to promote tendon-bone healing. This review aims to summarize the impact of different macrophages on tendon-bone healing and the current immunomodulatory biomaterials for regulating macrophages, which are used to promote tendon-bone healing. Although macrophages are a promising target for tendon-bone healing, the challenges and limitations of macrophages in tendon-bone healing research are discussed, along with directions for further research

General characteristics of the subjects.

<p>General characteristics of the subjects.</p

(A) Fragment containing 65-bp upstream non-coding region of the lysyl oxidase (LOX) gene.

<p>The −22G/C polymorphism is underlined. Core promoters Initiator (Inr) and downstream core promoter element (DPE) are labeled with boxes. (B) Schematic representation of LOX promoter-reporter chimeras with or without Inr, DPE and −22G/C polymorphisms. (C, D) Luciferase activity mediated by the upstream non-coding region of the wild-type and −22G/C polymorphism in MG-63 cells (C) and Jurkat cells (D). Data represent three independent experiments with similar results. Data shown are the mean ± S.D. of three experiments, each determined with triplicate dishes. P values for differences in fold increase are shown.</p