Using graphene to protect DNA from cleavage during cellular delivery

We have proved that functionalized nanoscale graphene oxide can protect oligonucleotides from enzymatic cleavage and efficiently deliver oligonucleotides into cells.National Natural Science Foundation of China [20775019, 20735002, 20975023]; National Basic Research Program of China [2010CB732403

Plant Proteomic Research

Plants, being sessile in nature, are constantly exposed to environmental challenges resulting in substantial yield loss. To cope with harsh environments, plants have developed a wide range of adaptation strategies involving morpho-anatomical, physiological, and biochemical traits. In recent years, there has been phenomenal progress in the understanding of plant responses to environmental cues at the protein level. This progress has been fueled by the advancement in mass spectrometry techniques, complemented with genome-sequence data and modern bioinformatics analysis with improved sample preparation and fractionation strategies. As proteins ultimately regulate cellular functions, it is perhaps of greater importance to understand the changes that occur at the protein-abundance level, rather than the modulation of mRNA expression. This Special Issue on "Plant Proteomic Research" brings together a selection of insightful papers that address some of these issues related to applications of proteomic techniques in elucidating master regulator proteins and the pathways associated with plant development and stress responses. This Issue includes four reviews and 13 original articles primarily on environmental proteomic studies

Bio-Functional Natural Products in Edible Resources for Human Health and Beauty

Natural products remain important repositories of promising therapeutic candidates due to their rich chemical and biological diversity. The Special Issue on "Bio-functional Natural Products in Edible Resources for Human Health and Beauty" is intended to offer biological active natural products from edible resources as candidates and/or leads for pharmaceuticals, dietary supplements, functional foods, cosmetics, and food additives, etc. The research fields of this Special Issue include natural products chemistry, phytochemistry, pharmacognosy, food chemistry, bioorganic chemistry, chemical biology, molecular biology, molecular pharmacology, and other related research fields of bioactive natural products obtained from the edible resources. This eBook contains 12 Reviews and Articles focusing on these research areas. I hope that this eBook will be of benefit to outstanding professionals in these research areas

Endothelial Dysfunction: From Pathophysiology to Novel Therapeutic Approaches

Dear colleagues, This Special Issue, “Endothelial Dysfunction: From Pathophysiology to Novel Therapeutic Approaches”, focuses on the pathophysiology of endothelial dysfunction, new biomarkers for endothelial dysfunction related to cardiovascular disorders or tumors, and novel therapeutic approaches for endothelial dysfunctions. Vascular endothelium is an active tissue and plays a crucial role in the maintenance of vascular homeostasis. Chronic exposure to risk factors, such as hypertension, high cholesterolemia, or oxidative stress, induces endothelial dysfunctions and results in a loss of endothelial integrity, smooth muscle cell proliferation, and macrophage recruitment. The pathophysiology of endothelial dysfunction (ED) is complex and multi-factorial factors are involved, such as oxidative stress or chronic inflammation. The primary prevention of cardiovascular risk factors and endothelial dysfunctions, as well as the early detection of or molecular imaging techniques for endothelial dysfunction, helps to prevent the development of cardiovascular disorders. Novel therapeutic approaches or drug delivery systems for endothelial dysfunctions have had promising beneficial effects in preclinical or clinical levels by affecting the progression of atherosclerotic changes, tumor angiogenesis, and host–immune reactions near tumor environments