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We compared chromosomal mosaicism, detected by next-generation sequencing (NGS), during preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) with that detected by single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array-based PGT to assess the pregnancy outcomes associated with both platforms in a retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing in vitro fertilization in a single university-based assisted reproduction center. In total, 6427 blastocysts biopsied from 1513 patients who underwent 2833 oocyte retrievals from January 2017 to February 2019 were identified. The incidence of mosaicism was significantly higher in the NGS-based PGT group than in the SNP array-based PGT group. Furthermore, some aneuploid specimens were affected by mosaicism. The total mosaicism detection rate with NGS-based PGT (23.3%) was significantly higher than that with SNP array-based PGT (7.7%). Mosaicism rates were similar when stratified by maternal age or PGT type. The SNP array cohort showed a significantly higher spontaneous abortion rate than the NGS cohort (10.07% versus 6.33%; P = 0.0403). The ongoing pregnancy/live birth rate was higher in the NGS cohort (44.1%) than in the SNP array cohort (42.28%). Our results confirm that NGS-based PGT can detect mosaicism more frequently than SNP array-based PGT in trophectoderm specimens. Therefore, clinical application of NGS for PGT may improve pregnancy outcomes compared with that of SNP array-based PGT. More detailed blastocyst detection and classification is necessary to prioritize embryo transfers.

An Ir8Pd4-heteronuclear metal-organic cage (MOC-51) was assembled from bipodal metalloligand [Ir(ppy)2(qpy)(BF4)] (qpy = 4,4′:2′,2″:4″,4‴-quaterpyridine; ppy = 2-phenylpridine) with Pd(II) salt. The cubic barrel shaped MOC shows one-photon and two-photon excited deep-red emission, as well as large singlet oxygen quantum yields under visible light irradiation, therefore exhibiting great potentials in organelles-targeted cell imaging and photodynamic therapy (PDT). Compared with the Ir(III) metalloligand, the Ir8Pd4-MOC showed less dark toxicity and higher mitochondria-targeting efficiency. The localization in mitochondria overcomes the limitation of short lifetime and diffusion distance of ROS in cell, thus improved PDT effect can be obtained in low light dose usage of the MOC. This study presents the first case of Ir-based metal-organic cages for bio-applications in successful integration of imaging diagnosis and photodynamic therapy

Early detection is vital for the prevention and treatment of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). However, existent methods (such as enzyme immunoassay, chemiluminescent immunoassay and radioimmunoassay) for early detection of CRC are time consuming, costly and complicated multistage processes, limiting their further applications. Here, a novel label-free and ultrasensitive detection method is developed for CRC protein marker NDKA by Cr3+ ions aggregating Au@Ag NPs (ICNPs) via surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) spectra for the first time. The Au@Ag NPs with size-controlled Ag shell thickness (1 nm, 3 nm, 5 nm, 7 nm and 9 nm Ag shells) are prepared as the SERS substrates and its Raman signals are Ag shells thickness-dependent sensitivity to proteins. By using Cr3+ ions as aggregating agents, the aggregating effect between the SERS substrates of Au@Ag ICNPs and protein analyte results in significantly enhanced and reproducible Raman signals owing to formation of lots of hotspots. Using this novel method, several label-free proteins, myoglobin (3 fg/mL), human serum albumin (30 fg/mL), lysozyme (30 ng/mL) and cytochrome C (30 ng/mL) were also detected at ultralow concentrations with good reproducibility and high sensitivity, demonstrating the potential applications in the fields of medical therapy and clinical diagnosis.

The study explored titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) on aluminum gallium arsenide (AlGaAs) prepared by liquid phase deposition (LPD) at 40 °C. The leakage current density was about 8.4 × 10 −6 A/cm 2 at 1 MV/cm. The interface trap density ( D it ) and the flat-band voltage shift (Δ V FB ) were 2.3 × 10 12 cm −2 eV −1 and 1.2 V, respectively. After rapid thermal annealing (RTA) in the ambient N 2 at 350 °C for 1 min, the leakage current density, D it , and Δ V FB were improved to 2.4 × 10 −6 A/cm 2 at 1 MV/cm, 7.3 × 10 11 cm −2 eV −1 , and 1.0 V, respectively. Finally, the study demonstrates the application to the AlGaAs/InGaAs metal–oxide–semiconductor pseudomorphic high-electron-mobility transistor (MOS-PHEMT). The results indicate the potential of the proposed device with a LPD-TiO 2 gate oxide for power application.