A Near-Infrared and Temperature-Responsive Pesticide Release Platform through Core–Shell Polydopamine@PNIPAm Nanocomposites

Controlled stimuli-responsive release systems are a feasible and effective way to increase the efficiency of pesticides and help improve environmental pollution issues. However, near-infrared (NIR)-responsive systems for encapsulation of pesticides for controlling release have not been reported because of high cost and load ability of conventional NIR absorbers as well as complicated preparation process. Herein, we proposed polydopamine (PDA) microspheres as a photothermal agent owing to their abundant active sites, satisfactory photothermal efficiency, low cost, and easy fabrication, followed by capping with a PNIPAm thermosensitive polymer shell. In this core–shell PDA@PNIPAm hybrid system, the PDA core provided excellent temperature and NIR-light sensitivity as well as high loading capacity, while the PNIPAm applied as both a thermosensitive gatekeeper and a pesticide reservoir. The structure of the PDA@PNIPAm nanocomposites was characterized by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and thermogravimetric analysis; the results showed that the nanocomposites had a well-defined core–shell configuration for efficient loading of small pesticide molecules. Moreover, the core–shell PDA@PNIPAm nanocomposites exhibited high loading capacity and temperature- or NIR-controlled release performance. Overall, this system has significant potential in controlled drug release and agriculture-related fields as a delivery system for pesticides with photothermal responsive behavior

Forest plots of HR and 95%CI for disease-free survival / progress-free survival in ovarian cancer according to presence of HER2.

<p>Random-effects model was used.</p

The prognostic value of HER2 in ovarian cancer: A meta-analysis of observational studies - Fig 6

<p><b>6A.</b> Begg’s publication bias plot of the studies assessing HER2 expression and overall survival in ovarian cancer. <b>6B.</b> Begg’s publication bias plot of the studies assessing HER2 expression and disease-free survival / progress-free survival in ovarian cancer. Visual inspection of the funnel plot did not identify substantial asymmetry.</p

Forest plots of HR and 95%CI for disease-free survival / progress-free survival in ovarian cancer according to presence of HER2.

<p>Random-effects model was used.</p

Forest plots of HR and 95%CI for overall survival in ovarian cancer according to presence of HER2.

<p>Random-effects model was used.</p

Subgroup analyses of the relationship between HER2 expression and disease-free survival / progress-free survival of ovarian cancer.

<p>Subgroup analyses of the relationship between HER2 expression and disease-free survival / progress-free survival of ovarian cancer.</p

The prognostic value of HER2 in ovarian cancer: A meta-analysis of observational studies - Fig 7

<p><b>7A.</b> Sensitivity analysis of 34 studies included in this meta-analysis for overall survival. <b>7B.</b> Sensitivity analysis of 14 studies included in this meta-analysis for disease-free survival / progress-free survival. Leave-one-out method was used to confirm the stability of the results.</p

PRISMA flow chart of literature search and study selection.

<p>PRISMA flow chart of literature search and study selection.</p

Self-Aggregation of Amphiphilic Dendrimer in Aqueous Solution: The Effect of Headgroup and Hydrocarbon Chain Length

The self-aggregation of amphiphilic dendrimers G₁QPAMC_<i>m</i> based on poly­(amidoamine) PAMAM possessing the same hydrophilic group but differing in alkyl chain length in aqueous solution was investigated. Differences in the chemical structures lead to significant specificities in the aggregate building process. A variety of physicochemical parameters presented monotonous regularity with the increase in alkyl chain length in multibranched structure, as traditional amphiphilic molecules. A significant difference, however, existed in the morphology and the microenvironment of the microdomain of the aggregates, with G₁QPAMC_<i>m</i> with an alkyl chain length of 16 intending to form vesicles. To obtain supporting information about the aggregation mechanism, the thermodynamic parameters of micellization, the free Gibbs energy Δ<i>G</i>_mic, and the entropy Δ<i>S</i>_mic were derived subsequently, of which the relationship between the hydrophobic chain length and the thermodynamic properties indicated that the self-assembly process was jointly driven by enthalpy and entropy. Other than traditional surfactants, the contribution of enthalpy has not increased identically to the increase in hydrophobic interactions, which depends on the ratio of the alkyl chain length to the radius in the headgroup. Continuous increases in the hydrophobic chain length from 12 to 16 lead to the intracohesion of the alkyl chain involved in the process of self-assembly, weakening the hydrophobic interactions, and the increase in −Δ<i>H</i>_mic, which offers an explanation of the formation of vesicular structures

Relationship between stroke and PM₁₀ and NO₂ concentrations in a two-pollutant model in the cold season for 10 µg/m³ increases in pollutant level, adjusted for temperature and humidity.

<p>Relationship between stroke and PM₁₀ and NO₂ concentrations in a two-pollutant model in the cold season for 10 µg/m³ increases in pollutant level, adjusted for temperature and humidity.</p