Electrochemically Self-Doped TiO₂ Nanotube Arrays for Supercapacitors

The application of highly ordered TiO₂ nanotube arrays (NTAs) for energy storage devices such as supercapacitors has been attractive and of great interest owing to their large surface area and greatly improved charge-transfer pathways compared to those of nonoriented structures. Modification of the semiconductor nature of TiO₂ is important for its application in constructing high-performance supercapacitors. Hence, the present study demonstrates a novel method involving fabrication of self-doped TiO₂ NTAs by a simple cathodic polarization treatment on the pristine TiO₂ NTAs to achieve improved conductivity and capacitive properties of TiO₂. The self-doped TiO₂ NTAs at −1.4 V (vs SCE) exhibited 5 orders of magnitude improvement on carrier density and 39 times enhancement in capacitance compared to those of the pristine TiO₂ NTAs. Impedance analysis based on a proposed simplified transmission line model proved that the enhanced capacitive behavior of the self-doped TiO₂ NTAs was due to a decrease of charge-transport resistance through the solid material. Moreover, the MnO₂ species was introduced onto the TiO₂ NTAs by an impregnation–electrodeposition method, and the optimal specific capacitance achieved (1232 F g^–1) clearly confirmed the suitability of self-doped TiO₂ NTAs as effective current collector materials for supercapacitors

Biomimetic Choline-Like Graphene Oxide Composites for Neurite Sprouting and Outgrowth

Neurodegenerative diseases or acute injuries of the nervous system always lead to neuron loss and neurite damage. Thus, the development of effective methods to repair these damaged neurons is necessary. The construction of biomimetic materials with specific physicochemical properties is a promising solution to induce neurite sprouting and guide the regenerating nerve. Herein, we present a simple method for constructing biomimetic graphene oxide (GO) composites by covalently bonding an acetylcholine-like unit (dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, DMAEMA) or phosphorylcholine-like unit (2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine, MPC) onto GO surfaces to enhance neurite sprouting and outgrowth. The resulting GO composites were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, UV–vis spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, and contact angle analyses. Primary rat hippocampal neurons were used to investigate nerve cell adhesion, spreading, and proliferation on these biomimetic GO composites. GO–DMAEMA and GO–MPC composites provide the desired biomimetic properties for superior biocompatibility without affecting cell viability. At 2 to 7 days after cell seeding was performed, the number of neurites and average neurite length on GO–DMAEMA and GO–MPC composites were significantly enhanced compared with the control GO. In addition, analysis of growth-associate protein-43 (GAP-43) by Western blot showed that GAP-43 expression was greatly improved in biomimetic GO composite groups compared to GO groups, which might promote neurite sprouting and outgrowth. All the results demonstrate the potential of DMAEMA- and MPC-modified GO composites as biomimetic materials for neural interfacing and provide basic information for future biomedical applications of graphene oxide

Supplementary document for Protein sensing using deep subwavelength-engineered photonic crystals - 6696675.pdf

three-dimensional (3D) perturbation approac

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Small Molecule-Initiated Light-Activated Semiconducting Polymer Dots: An Integrated Nanoplatform for Targeted Photodynamic Therapy and Imaging of Cancer Cells

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a noninvasive and light-activated method for cancer treatment. Two of the vital parameters that govern the efficiency of PDT are the light irradiation to the photosensitizer and visual detection of the selective accumulation of the photosensitizer in malignant cells. Herein, we prepared an integrated nanoplatform for targeted PDT and imaging of cancer cells using folic acid and horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-bifunctionalized semiconducting polymer dots (FH-Pdots). In the FH-Pdots, meta-tetra­(hydroxyphenyl)-chlorin (m-THPC) was used as photosensitizer to produce cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS); fluorescent semiconducting polymer poly­[2-methoxy-5-((2-ethylhexyl)­oxy)-<i>p</i>-phenylenevinylene] was used as light antenna and hydrophobic matrix for incorporating m-THPC, and amphiphilic Janus dendrimer was used as a surface functionalization agent to conjugate HRP and aminated folic acid onto the surface of FH-Pdots. Results indicated that the doped m-THPC can be simultaneously excited by the on-site luminol–H₂O₂–HRP chemiluminescence system through two paths. One is directly through chemiluminescence resonance energy transfer (CRET), and the other is through CRET and subsequent fluorescence resonance energy transfer. In vitro PDT and specificity studies of FH-Pdots using a standard transcriptional and translational assay against MCF-7 breast cancer cells, C6 glioma cells, and NIH 3T3 fibroblast cells demonstrated that cell viability decreased with increasing concentration of FH-Pdots. At the same concentration of FH-Pdots, the decrease in cell viability was positively relevant with increasing folate receptor expression. Results from in vitro fluorescence imaging exhibited that more FH-Pdots were internalized by cancerous MCF-7 and C6 cells than by noncancerous NIH 3T3 cells. All the results demonstrate that the designed semiconducting FH-Pdots can be used as an integrated nanoplatform for targeted PDT and on-site imaging of cancer cells

The Emean, Emax, Emin and SD comparison in the border area of torsional and normal testis.

<p>Compared with the Emean, Emax, Emin and SD values in the border area of torsional testis, *P<0.05.</p

The pathological result of torsional testis.

<p>6A-6B: the orchiectomy specimens showed that the size of torsional testis increased and the testis infarction appeared dark red or jet black; 6C-6E: HE staining showed that the lobular gap cavities of infarct testis was filled with diffuse hemorrhage and sporadic died interstitial cells, a large number of spermatogonia, extensive coagulation necrosis of spermatocytes in seminiferous tubules, interstitial hyperplasia and lymphocyte infiltration.</p

The Emean, Emax, Emin and SD comparison in the central area of torsional testis measured by two senior sonographers.

<p>The Emean, Emax, Emin and SD comparison in the central area of torsional testis measured by two senior sonographers.</p

The SWE imaging of twisted and normal testicles.

<p>A: the SWE imaging of twisted testicles; B: the SWE imaging of normal testicles.</p

Novel TEMPO-PEG-RGDs Conjugates Remediate Tissue Damage Induced by Acute Limb Ischemia/Reperfusion

We have recently developed new Tempo-PEG-RGDs conjugates and have quantitatively examined their antithrombotic and antioxidant capabilities. These compounds were therapeutically beneficial when characterized in both in vitro platelet aggregation assays and a rat model of arterial thrombosis. Moreover, these compounds demonstrated significant protection from organ damage in a rat model of ischemia/reperfusion. Our data indicate that Tempo-PEG-RGDs represent a new class of adjuvants with therapeutic efficacy in acute and transient ischemic damage