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Abstract This study was conducted to evaluate whether baicalin inhibits red blood cell (RBC) immunization and elucidate the underlying mechanism. We used human RBCs with adjuvant lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and transfused mice to induce antibodies as an experimental system for studying the effect of baicalin on RBC immunization. Mice were divided into a human RBC transfused positive control group administered with human RBC and LPS intravenously once or weekly for 4 weeks, control group administered dexamethasone (DEX) intraperitoneally daily for 4 weeks, and treatment group administered baicalin intraperitoneally daily for 4 weeks. Assessment of human RBC immunization was performed by measuring serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) against human RBC weekly. Lymphocyte changes in spleen were monitored by flow cytometry. We found that baicalin treatment significantly decreased serum IgG but not IgM production in a time and does dependent manner, with a concomitant reduction in Th17 cells and increase in CD4 regulatory T cells in the spleen. The percentage of CD4-positive cells in the spleen was not decreased in the baicalin-treated group but was decreased in the dexamethasone-treated group. In conclusion, baicalin inhibited RBC immunization, particularly IgG production by regulating the Treg/Th17 axis without damaging spleen function. Highlights • LPS induced robust antibody production in mouse model of blood transfusion. • Baicalin inhibited Th17 development and increase Treg proportion. • Baicalin inhibited IgG production in mouse model of blood transfusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel hydrogel dressing with excellent biocompatibility and photothermal antibacterial properties was prepared. • The composite hydrogel dressing exhibits excellent and stable compression elasticity. • Hydrogel dressing shows rapid hemostasis and promotes the healing of infected wounds. • Hydrogel dressing promoted angiogenesis, reduced inflammation, as well as greatly facilitated epithelialization and collagen deposition. Skin wounds accompanied by massive bleeding and bacterial infection can be life-threatening and pose a significant challenge to clinical wound management. Herein, we prepared gellan gum/sericin hydrogels containing PDA-encapsulated halloysite nanotubes (halloysite@polydopamine) to achieve fast hemostasis and photothermally antibacterial effects. The morphology and compressive properties of the composite hydrogels were characterized, and the biocompatibility was investigated by hemocompatibility and cytocompatibility tests. The hemostatic properties were further evaluated in the rat liver hemorrhage and tail amputation model. The mechanical performance (compressive strength 353.2 KPa) and the hemostatic effect (30.33 ± 3.68 s in the liver injury model and 28.33 ± 2.35 s in the caudal amputation model) of the composite hydrogel were improved due to the introduction of halloysite@polydopamine. In addition, the composite hydrogel rapidly heated under 808 nm near-infrared (NIR) light irradiation, making the hydrogel extremely effective against E. coli and S. aureus. Furthermore, the wound closure rate, granulation tissue thickness, collagen deposition, and expression of inflammation-associated cytokines (CD68) and angiogenesis-associated cytokines (CD31) were investigated in a rat full-thickness skin defect model infected with S. aureus. All results showed that this multifunctional hydrogel provided better healing effects, suggesting that the composite hydrogel has become a promising alternative for infected wound repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To meet the rising demand of injectable hydrogels with self-healing, robustness and biocompatibility for biomedical engineering, the reversible ketoester-type acylhydrazone linkages was used for the fabrication of novel cellulose-based hydrogel. The ketoester-type acylhydrazone bond exchanged rapidly, endowing the hydrogels with highly efficient self-healing performance without any external stimuli under physiological environment, which was hardly achieved with the widely used arylhydrozone bond. The dynamic hydrogels exhibited tunable mechanical property, pH responsiveness, injectability and biocompatibility, demonstrating immense applications prospect for various biomedicines, such as drug and cell delivery. The pH-responsive controlled release of model drug doxorubicin (DOX) loaded in the hydrogel was demonstrated. In addition, benefitting from the excellent biocompatibility and the reversible ketoester-type acylhydrazone bonds, cells were encapsulated in the hydrogels as 3D carrier. The covalent adaptable network intensified injectability of cell-laden hydrogels and improved the long-lasting viability for cell culture, showing great potential in the biomedical field. The ketoester-type acylhydrazone bond hydrogels are dressed with fast self-healing performance, robust mechanical properties, pH-responsibility, biocompatibility and shear-thinning behaviors. The superior self-healing property was attributed to the dynamic network generated through the reversible ketoester-type acylhydrazone bonds via acylhydrazide and ketoester groups without any external intervention, which was dominated by the kinetics of the reaction. Besides, the hydrogels are regarded as an ideal candidate for effective drug carrier due to its excellent injectability and pH-responsive behavior. Due to the excellent biocompatibility, cells remained good viability even after injecting the cell loaded hydrogel after 3D encapsulation. The present work supplied a biocompatible self-healing hydrogel with high performances, long-life service and minimally invasion, in the field of biomedical engineering. [Display omitted] • Injectable cellulose hydrogels were engineered via dynamic ketoester-type acylhydrazone crosslinkers. • The hydrogels had highly efficient self-healing performance without any external stimuli under physiological environment. • The hydrogels exhibited tunable mechanical property, pH responsiveness, injectability and biocompatibility. • The dynamic network could support 3D cell encapsulation and enhanced injectability of cell-laden hydrogels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Novel cellulose-based supramolecular nanoparticles (SNPs) with excellent biocompatibility were developed via a modular and flexible host–guest strategy. • Doxorubicin-functionalized β-cyclodextrin could be readily included into SNPs by an in situ co-assembly process, leading to the formation of DOX-loaded SNPs (DOX-SNPs) with a high drug loading efficiency (∼94 %). • The DOX-SNPs possessed the pH-responsive drug release properties, resulting in the fast release of DOX under intracellular acidic conditions. • The DOX-SNPs could be rapidly internalized by HeLa cells, showing high-efficiency cellular proliferation inhibition. To extend the applications of natural products in nanomedicine, novel cellulose-based supramolecular nanoparticles (SNPs) were fabricated via a host–guest driven self-assembly strategy here. The adamantane-grafted carboxyethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose and β-cyclodextrin-grafted glycerol ethoxylate were synthesized to self-assemble into the SNPs. Furthermore, doxorubicin (DOX)-functionalized β-cyclodextrin was encapsulated into SNPs via an in situ co-assembly process to generate DOX-loaded SNPs (DOX-SNPs). The SNPs exhibited a quasi-spherical morphology with an average diameter of ∼25 nm. The DOX-SNPs with relatively larger diameter possessed a high DOX loading efficiency (∼94 %) and the pH-responsive drug release behaviors, which made them suitable as a drug delivery system. In vitro cytotoxicity assays demonstrated the excellent cytocompatibility of SNPs and the efficient inhibition of Hela cell proliferation of DOX-SNPs. Moreover, the DOX-SNPs could effectively enter Hela cells via endocytosis and release DOX under endo/lysosome pH. Thus, this nanocarrier has promising translational potential in cancer therapy and personalized nanomedicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The retrieval of soil moisture (SM) using the Global Navigation Satellite System-Reflectometry (GNSS-R) technique has become a prominent topic in recent years. Although prior research has reached a spatial resolution of up to 9 km through the Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS), it is insufficient to meet the requirements of higher spatial resolutions for hydrological or agricultural applications. In this paper, we present an SM downscaling method that fuses CYGNSS and SMAP SM. This method aims to construct a dataset of CYGNSS observables, auxiliary variables, and SMAP SM (36 km) products. It then establishes their nonlinear relationship at the same scale and finally builds a downscale retrieval model of SM using the eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) algorithm. Focusing on the southern United States, the results indicate that the SM downscaling method exhibits robust performance during both the training and testing processes, enabling the generation of a CYGNSS SM product with a 1 day/3 km resolution. Compared to existing methods, the spatial resolution is increased threefold. Furthermore, in situ sites are utilized to validate the downscaled SM, and spatial correlation analysis is conducted using MODIS EVI and MODIS ET products. The CYGNSS SM obtained by the downscaling model exhibits favorable correlations. The high temporal and spatial resolution characteristics of GNSS-R are fully leveraged through the downscaled method proposed. Furthermore, this work provides a new perspective for enhancing the spatial resolution of SM retrieval using the GNSS-R technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial infections can significantly impede wound healing and pose a serious threat to the patient’s life. The excessive use of antibiotics to combat bacterial infections has led to the emergence of multi-drug-resistant bacteria. Therefore, there is a pressing need for alternative approaches, such as photothermal therapy (PTT), to address this issue. In this study, for the first time, CuS NPs with photothermal properties were synthesized using sericin as a biological template, named CuS@Ser NPs. This method is simple, green, and does not produce toxic and harmful by-products. These nanoparticles were incorporated into a mixture (XK) of xanthan gum and konjac glucomannan (KGM) to obtain XK/CuS NPs composite hydrogel, which could overcome the limitations of current wound dressings. The composite hydrogel exhibited excellent mechanical flexibility, photothermal response, and biocompatibility. It also demonstrated potent antibacterial properties against both Gram-positive and negative bacteria via antibacterial experiments and accelerated wound healing in animal models. Additionally, it is proved that the hydrogel promoted tissue regeneration by stimulating collagen deposition, angiogenesis, and reducing inflammation. In summary, the XK/CuS NPs composite hydrogel presents a promising alternative for the clinical management of infected wounds, offering a new approach to promote infected wound healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Two novel ID-based water-soluble conjugated polymers (+)-PIDPV and (−)-PIDPV were synthesized by Heck coupling reaction. These two polyelectrolytes are both consisted of isoindigo units and phenylenevinylene units. In the UV-vis absorption spectra, both (+)-PIDPV and (−)-PIDPV exhibit broad absorption bands that almost cover the whole visible region. Photophysical investigations reveal that the fluorescence of water-soluble PPV can be efficiently quenched by oppositely charged PIDPV at a very low concentration. Cationic PPV shows an efficient quenching effect with ΚSV = 1.01 × 106 M−1 in the presence of (−)-PIDPV while the anionic PPV gives a lager quenching constant with ΚSV = 1.71 × 106 M−1 in the presence of (+)-PIDPV. Furthermore, the blend films of water-soluble PPVs and oppositely charged PIDPV also exhibit excellent quenching effect. These properties suggest that (+)-PIDPV and (−)-PIDPV are promising materials in the application of ionic photoactive layer in the organic solar cells. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015, 53, 2223-2237 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the hot deformation behavior of the GH99 alloy for hypersonic missile airfoils at 1020–1170 °C and 0.001–1 s−1 by single-pass hot compression experiments. Based on the establishment of the constitutive equation, thermal processing map, and dynamic recrystallization kinetic model, it elucidates the influence of the second phase strengthening on dynamic recrystallization (DRX). It determines the optimal hot deformation parameters of the GH99 alloy. Moreover, through designing different multi-pass hot compression experiments, we investigated the relaxation characteristics of the organization properties during the water quenching-cooling-holding process in the interpass and the influence of the interpass retention-relaxation behavior on the DRX mechanism. The results show that the water quenching process increases the rheological stress of the second pass compression, and the nucleation of discontinuously dominates the organization dynamically recrystallized (DDRX), supplemented by continuously dynamically recrystallized (CDRX); the static recrystallization (SRX) occurring in the high-temperature retention stage of the interpass can effectively reduce the rheological stress. The organization is characterized by the growth of recrystallized grains during the subsequent deformation process. With the prolongation of the high-temperature retention time, the number of recrystallized grains and the dislocation density increase. • A single-pass compression experiment was designed near the solid solution temperature line on the GH99 alloy for hypersonic missile airfoils, and we analyzed the effects of the reinforcing phases and the deformation conditions on the softening mechanism of the alloy during hot deformation by means of the constitutive model, hot processing map, dynamic recrystallization kinetic model, as well as EBSD and TEM characterizations. • The effect of interpass retention-relaxation behavior on the dynamic recrystallization mechanism of the alloy during hot deformation was investigated from the aspects of the first pass-induced recrystallization behavior, the competitive mechanism of hardening and softening during recrystallization, and the relaxation characteristics of the organization properties during the interpass water quenching-cooling-holding process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, adhesive hydrogels have shown promising effect in chronic diabetic wound repair. However, there are issues and challenges in treating diabetic wounds due to inadequate wet adhesion, unable to fill irregular and deep wounds, and oxidative stress. Herein, a mussel-inspired naturally hydrogel dressing with rapid shape adaptability, wet adhesion and antioxidant abilities for irregular, deep and frequently movement diabetic wounds repair was constructed by comprising catechol modified carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC-DA) and tannic acid. Benefiting from the reversible hydrogen bonding, the resulting hydrogels exhibited injectability, remarkable self-healing ability, rapid shape adaptability and strong tissue adhesion (45.9 kPa), thereby contributing to self-adaptive irregular-shaped wounds or moving joint parts. Especially, the adhesion strength of the hydrogel on wet tissue still remained at 14.9 kPa. Besides, the hydrogels could be easily detached from the skin by ice-cooling that avoided secondary damage caused by dressing change. Remarkably, the hydrogels possessed excellent antioxidant, satisfactory biocompatibility, efficient hemostasis and antibacterial properties. The in vivo evaluation further demonstrated that the hydrogel possessed considerable wound-healing promotion effect by regulating diabetic microenvironment, attributed to that the hydrogel could significantly reduce inflammatory response, alleviate oxidative stress and regulate neovascularization. Overall, this biosafe adhesive hydrogel had great potentials for diabetic wound management. This hydrogel dressing was fabricated via facile physical blending of catechol modified carboxymethyl cellulose and TA. The resulting hydrogels showed good injectability, rapid self-healing property, excellent shape adaptivity, antioxidant properties strong adhesion properties even in wet environment for deep and irregular wounds. Importantly, the hydrogels displayed antibacterial, antioxidant and hemostatic properties, and have great effects for diabetic wound repair. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aimed to evaluate the effects of freeze-drying (FD), hot air drying (HAD), hot air drying combined with baking (HADB) on the color, antioxidant activity, thermal and pasting properties, as well as volatile compounds of whole lotus root powders (WLRPs). The highest browning degree and antioxidant activity of WLRP was obtained by HAD at 80 °C for 6 h. The gelatinization temperatures of the FD sample were higher than those of the HAD and HADB samples. WLRP prepared by HADB at 120 °C for 5 min had the highest trough and final viscosities. Furthermore, headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS) analysis showed that 125 and 97 volatile compounds were identified from WLRPs in dried and hydrated states, respectively. The types of identified compounds were the most in dried HADB, followed by dried HAD and FD, which were also affected by the drying temperature and time. The hydration treatment led to an increase in the detected compounds from the FD sample and a decrease in those from the HAD and HADB samples. These observations indicated that the quality of WLRPs depended on the drying technique and conditions, which could be useful for selecting an appropriate drying method to prepare desirable WLRPs products. • Hot air drying at 80 °C for 6 h resulted in the highest antioxidant activity of product. • Sample obtained by hot air drying combined with baking had the most volatile compounds. • Hydration treatment increased the volatile compounds detected in freeze-drying sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Injectable chitin hydrogels were engineered via dynamic acylhydrazone crosslinkers. • The hydrogels had good injectability, tunable degradation and mechanical properties. • The hydrogels exhibited self-healing ability and enzyme-induced release behavior. • The hydrogels could support the proliferation and stemness maintenance of rMSCs. To meet the demands of various therapeutic tasks, injectable hydrogels with tunable mechanical properties and degradability are highly desired. Herein, we developed an injectable chitin hydrogel system with well-manipulated mechanical properties and degradability through dynamic acylhydrazone crosslinking catalyzed by 4-amino-DL-phenylalanine (Phe-NH 2). The mechanical properties and degradability of the hydrogels could be easily adjusted by varying the solid content, while their gelation time could be maintained at a constant level (∼130 s) by altering Phe-NH 2 content, thereby ensuring the good injectability of hydrogels. Moreover, the chitin hydrogels showed excellent self-healing capacity with a healing efficiency up to 95 %. Owing to their superior biocompatibility and biodegradability, the chitin hydrogels could support the proliferation and multi-potent differentiations of rat bone marrow-derived stem cells, serving as a beneficial 3D scaffold for stem cell encapsulation and delivery. This work provides a promising injectable delivery vehicle of therapeutic drugs or cells for tissue regenerative medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2-Phenylethanol (2-PE) with a pleasant rose-like odor is a valuable aroma compound used in many fields. 2-PE production by yeast is considered a promising alternative to chemical synthesis and extraction from natural materials. In this report, the strain YF1702 produced a significantly higher level of 2-PE when compared with other strains isolated from Baijiu-producing environments. According to morphological properties, physiological and biochemical characteristics, and 26S rDNA sequence analysis, strain YF1702 was identified as Pichia kudriavzevii. The optimal fermentation conditions of YF1702 for producing 2-PE were obtained by single-factor experiments, Plackett–Burman design, steepest ascent design, and response surface methodology. The optimal inoculation conditions for strain YF1702 were 50 g/L glucose, 6.0 g/L yeast extract, 10.7 g/L L-Phe, and 32 g/L Tween-60. The optimal fermentation conditions were pH 2.3, 26 °C, 210 rpm shaking, an inoculum size of 0.4% (v/v), and a loading volume of 25.5 mL/250 mL for 56 h. Under these optimal conditions 2-PE production by YF1702 was 5.09 g/L. This strain has the potential to increase the content of 2-PE in Baijiu production and enhance the aroma characteristics of Baijiu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the potential therapeutic effect in a rheumatoid arthritis model of stable human CD8+ regulatory T cells (hCD8+Tregs) induced by TGF-β1 and rapamycin (RAPA) in vitro.Methods: Human CD8+T cells were isolated from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and induced/expanded with TGF-β1 and RAPA along with anti-CD3/28 beads and IL-2 in vitro and harvested as hCD8+Tregs. The phenotypes, suppressive characteristics, and stability of the hCD8+Tregs in an inflammatory microenvironment were examined in vitro. Human CD8+Tregs were transfused into an acollagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mouse model, and their therapeutic effects and related mechanisms were investigated.Results: Human CD8+Tregs induced by TGF-β1/RAPA showed high expression of Foxp3 and CD103, exhibited vigorous suppression ability, and were stable in inflammatory microenvironments. In CIA mice, the clinical scores, levels of anti-collagen IgG antibody, and cartilage destruction were significantly reduced after adoptive transfusion with hCD8+Tregs. Moreover, hCD8+Treg treatment significantly reduced the number of Th17 cells, increased the number of CD4+IFN-γ+T cells, and produced self CD4+Foxp3+Tregs in vivo. In an in vitro cell coculture assay, hCD8+Tregs significantly inhibited mouse CD4+ effector T cell proliferation, induced mouse CD4+Foxp3+Treg and CD4+IFN-γ+Th1 cell production, reduced Th17 cell development, and downregulated CD80/86 expression on mature DCs (mDCs).Conclusion: TGF-β1/RAPA can induce hCD8+Tregs with stable suppressive characteristics, which could significantly alleviate the severity of CIA based on their stable suppressive ability in an inflammatory microenvironment and further influence the function of other downstream cell subtypes. Human CD8+Tregs might be a therapeutic strategy for rheumatoid arthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving the dispersed stability of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) is the key to its application. In this study, yeast glucan with different degrees of amination (BNs) were used as stabilizers and capping agent to prepare dispersed SeNPs. The size, storage stability, and morphology of BNs/SeNPs were characterized. Results show that BNs/SeNPs presented positive potential and spherical morphologies with average particle size about 100–300 nm and kept stable at room temperature for a long time. The CCK-8 assay showed that BNs/SeNPs had significantly lower toxicity to RAW264.7 cells than SeNPs. Moreover, BNs/SeNPs could inhibit the generation of NO, IL-1β and IL-6 effectively in RAW 264.7 macrophages induced by LPS, and down-regulate the mRNA transcription of iNOS, IL-1β, IL-6 and chemokines (CCL2 and CCL5), indicating that BNs/SeNPs had good anti-inflammatory activity. Therefore, aminated yeast glucan could improve the stability and bioactivity of SeNPs simultaneously, which is a promising stabilizer for SeNPs. • Aminated modification was conducted to improve the water solubility of yeast glucan. • BNs were used as stabilizers to prepare uniformly dispersed SeNPs. • SeNPs were capped by BNs through hydrogen bond and electrostatic interaction. • BNs could improve bioavailability and anti-inflammatory activity of SeNPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Red cell-derived microparticles (RMPs) are potential mediators of transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of microparticles present in red cell concentrates (RCC) on polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) respiratory burst and acute lung injury (ALI) in mice. Microparticles (MPs) in RCC supernatant were quantified using flow cytometry. The priming activity of either isolated MPs or RCC supernatant toward human PMN was measured in vitro. Mice were injected with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), followed by an infusion of either isolated MPs or heat-treated RCC supernatant. The lungs were harvested to assess myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, histology and pulmonary edema. Protein content in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was measured. The number of RMPs increased significantly during storage. Both isolated MPs and the supernatants from RCCs that had been stored for 28 and 35 days effectively primed the PMN respiratory burst. The infusion of isolated MPs or supernatants that had been stored for > 28 days into LPS-treated mice caused ALI. The filtered supernatant resulted in significantly ameliorated mouse ALI. MPs that accumulate during RCC storage prime the PMN respiratory burst and cause ALI in a two-event mouse model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ideal wound dressing should have excellent antimicrobial properties and provide a suitable microenvironment for regenerating damaged skin tissue. In this study, we utilized sericin to biosynthesize silver nanoparticles in situ and introduced curcumin to obtain Sericin-AgNPs/Curcumin (Se-Ag/Cur) antimicrobial agent. The hybrid antimicrobial agent was then encapsulated in a physically double cross-linking 3D structure network (Sodium alginate-Chitosan, SC) to obtain the SC/Se-Ag/Cur composite sponge. The 3D structural networks were constructed through electrostatic interactions between sodium alginate and chitosan and ionic interactions between sodium alginate and calcium ions. The prepared composite sponges have excellent hygroscopicity (contact angle 51.3° ± 5.6°), moisture retention ability, porosity (67.32 % ± 3.37 %), and mechanical properties (>0.7 MPa) and exhibit good antibacterial ability against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). In addition, in vivo experiments have shown that the composite sponge promotes epithelial regeneration and collagen deposition in wounds infected with S. aureus or P. aeruginosa. Tissue immunofluorescence staining analysis confirmed that the SC/Se-Ag/Cur complex sponge stimulated upregulated expression of CD31 to promote angiogenesis while downregulating TNF-α expression to reduce inflammation. These advantages make it an ideal candidate for infectious wound repair materials, providing an effective repair strategy for clinical skin trauma infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of wound dressings with hemostatic and antibacterial properties has attracted great attention. In this study, we prepared a multi-functional natural substance sponge (CMC/Ser-Ag/HNT) composed of carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC), sericin-silver nanoparticle (Ser-Ag), and halloysite (HNT). CMC/Ser-Ag/HNT sponge was demonstrated to bear desired hygroscopicity, porosity, compressive strength and compressive stability, cytocompatibility, and hemocompatibility. The mechanical properties (compressive strength of 100 kPa) and hemostatic capacity (hemostasis time of 15 ± 3 s in the liver injury model and 12 ± 3 s in the caudal injury model) were enhanced by introducing HNT into the CMC sponge. Ser-Ag was synthesized in situ via the redox nature of tyrosine residues in sericin in a "one-step, green" way to enhance the antibacterial activity of the hybrid sponge against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). In addition, the rat full-thickness skin defect model experiments demonstrated that the CMC/Ser-Ag/HNT4 sponge significantly promoted epithelialization and collagen formation. Immunofluorescence staining assays revealed that the composite sponge reduced inflammation by downregulating the expression of IL-6 and enhanced angiogenesis by upregulating VEGF expression. All the findings demonstrated the great potential of CMC/Ser-Ag/HNT sponge as versatile clinical wound dressing, especially for hemorrhagic and infected wounds. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Tolerogenic dendritic cells (tDCs) can expand TGF-β-induced regulatory T cells (iTregs); however, the therapeutic utility of these expanded iTregs in autoimmune diseases remains unknown. We sought to determine the properties of iTregs expanded by mature tolerogenic dendritic cells (iTregmtDC) in vitro and explore their potential to ameliorate collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in a mouse model.Methods: After induction by TGF-β and expansion by mature tDCs (mtDCs), the phenotype and proliferation of iTregmtDC were assessed by flow cytometry. The ability of iTregs and iTregmtDC to inhibit CD4+ T cell proliferation and suppress Th17 cell differentiation was compared. Following adoptive transfer of iTregs and iTregmtDC to mice with CIA, the clinical and histopathologic scores, serum levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-17, IL-6, IL-10, TGF-β and anti-CII antibodies, and the distribution of the CD4+ Th subset were assessed.Results: Compared with iTregs, iTregmtDC expressed higher levels of Foxp3 and suppressed CD4+ T cell proliferation and Th17 cell differentiation to a greater extent. In vivo, iTregmtDC reduced the severity and progression of CIA more significantly than iTregs, which was associated with a modulated inflammatory cytokine profile, reduced anti-CII IgG levels, and polarized Treg/Th17 balance.Conclusion: This study highlights the potential therapeutic utility of iTregmtDC in autoimmune arthritis and should facilitate the future design of iTreg immunotherapeutic strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]