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Abstract As a prominent approach to treat intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration, disc transplantation still falls short to fully reconstruct and restore the function of native IVD. Here, we introduce an IVD scaffold consists of a cellulose‐alginate double network hydrogel‐based annulus fibrosus (AF) and a cellulose hydrogel‐based nucleus pulposus (NP). This scaffold mimics native IVD structure and controls the delivery of Growth Differentiation Factor‐5 (GDF‐5), which induces differentiation of endogenous mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). In addition, this IVD scaffold has modifications on MSC homing peptide and RGD peptide which facilitate the recruitment of MSCs to injured area and enhances their cell adhesion property. The benefits of this double network hydrogel are high compressibility, shape memory effect, and mechanical strength comparable to native IVD. In vivo animal study demonstrates successful reconstruction of injured IVD including both AF and NP. These findings suggest that this double network hydrogel can serve as a promising approach to IVD regeneration with other potential biomedical applications.

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a powerful and selective anti-cancer therapy utilizing 10B-enriched boron drugs. However, clinical advancement of BCNT is hampered by the insufficient loading of B-10 drugs throughout the solid tumor. Furthermore, the preparation of boron drugs for BNCT relies on the use of the costly B-10 enriched precursor. To overcome these challenges, polymer-coated boron carbon oxynitride (BCNO) nanoparticles, with ~30% of boron, were developed with enhanced biocompatibility, cell uptake, and tumoricidal effect via BNCT. Using the ALTS1C1 cancer cell line, the IC50 of the PEG@BCNO, bare, PEI@BCNO were determined to be 0.3 mg/mL, 0.1 mg/mL, and 0.05 mg/mL, respectively. As a proof-of-concept, the engineered non-10B enriched polymer-coated BCNO exhibited excellent anti-tumor effect via BNCT due to their high boron content per nanoparticle and due to the enhanced cellular internalization and retention compared to small molecular 10B-BPA drug. The astrocytoma ALTS1C1 cells treated with bare, polyethyleneimine-, and polyethylene glycol-coated BCNO exhibited an acute cell death of 24, 37, and 43%, respectively, upon 30 min of neutron irradiation compared to the negligible cell death in PBS-treated and non-irradiated cells. The radical approach proposed in this study addresses the expensive and complex issues of B-10 isotope enrichment process; thus, enabling the preparation of boron drugs at a significantly lower cost, which will facilitate the development of boron drugs for BNCT.

Bi-Tilt Isolator (BTI) is composed of bi-tilt beveled substrate and slider. The advantages of BTI are that the maximum upload seismic force of structure can be easily controlled and displacement of isolation layer will be reduced. Sliding force, friction force, and impulse force are caused in the slanting process of BTI, nonlinear behavior. A nonlinear mathematical model is derived based on the sliding upwards, sliding downwards, and transition stages. Then, BTI element of nonlinear analysis program, GENDYN, is developed by the fourth-order Runge-Kutta method, the discretized ordinary differential equation for three movement stages of BTI. Then, test set-up of superstructure installed with BTI is tested and recorded the real displacement and acceleration responses under conditions of full lubrication, mild lubrication, and without lubrication between interface of bi-tilt beveled substrate and slider with three various initial displacements. The comparison of simulation results and test results shows the following: (1) root mean square error is below 1.35% for WD40 sprayed, 0.47% for WD40 whipped, and 0.54% for without lubrication, respectively; (2) the maximum root mean square error for simulating with cubic polynomial function of friction is much less than those of constant friction except conditions of full lubrication, which are not affected by kinetic friction force; (3) application of cubic polynomial function for simulating friction of BTI with three different lubricated conditions can perform very fine simulation results, compared with the test results. This proposed mathematical model and BTI element of GENDYN program, using cubic polynomial function of friction, perform fine simulation capability to assess nonlinear isolation effect of structure installed with BTI.

Infection by Helicobacter pylori is associated with gastric and duodenal ulcers. Conventional treatments to eradicate it have side-effects such as diarrhea and dizziness. The excessive use of antibiotics could also lead to antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The use of plant phenolic phytochemicals can be an alternative because of their health benefits due to both antioxidant activity and antimicrobial activity. The pea (Pisum sativum ), the world's second most important pulse crop, produces phenolic phytochemicals with antimicrobial potential. Because the synthesis of phenolic compounds increases with stress, we investigated the anti-H. pylori effectiveness of extracts from pea sprouts, germinated in the dark condition following treatment with either distilled water or acetyl salicylic acid. The peas were germinated for 8 days and the sprouted samples were measured for total soluble phenolic content, antioxidant and guaiacol peroxidase activity. Subsequently, the sprout extracts were tested for anti-H. pylori activity using the agar diffusion method and the effective dose was determined based on phenolic content. The results showed that both acetyl salicylic acid-treated and untreated pea sprouts at days 5 and 8 had anti-H. pylori activity. The minimum volume for inhibition was 50 μL of extracts. The inhibitory effects were dose dependent. From this study, the potential to use natural phenolic phytochemicals from pea sprouts to control H. pylori was found to be promising. This provides a strategy and foundation to design legume phenolics as functional ingredients against H. pylori . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]