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With the purpose of designing the extreme ultraviolet polarizer with many objectives, a combined application of multi-objective genetic algorithms is theoretically proposed. Owing to the multi-objective genetic algorithm, the relationships between different designing objectives of extreme ultraviolet polarizer have been obtained by analyzing the distribution of nondominated solutions in the four-dimensional objective space, and the optimized multilayer design can be obtained by guiding the searching in the desired region based on the multi-objective genetic algorithm with reference direction. Compared with the conventional method of multilayer design, our method has a higher probability of achieving the optimal multilayer design. Our work should be the first research in optimizing the optical multilayer designs in the high-dimensional objective space, and our results demonstrate a potential application of our method in the designs of optical thin films.

Bacterial infections caused by antibiotic-resistant pathogens have become intractable problems to public health. Therefore, there is an imperious demand for developing new approaches to effectively kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In this work, we report a kind of bacteria-targeted polydopamine nanoparticle exhibiting great photothermal killing ability toward methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) by nano-localized hyperpyrexia under low-power near-infrared (NIR) light irradiation. These bacteria-targeted nanoparticles (PDA-PEG-Van) are prepared by modifying polydopamine nanoparticles with thiol-poly(ethylene glycol) (mPEG-SH) and vancomycin (Van) molecules. The PEG shell endows the nanoparticles with excellent long-term circulation stability. Due to the multivalent hydrogen-bond interactions between vancomycin and the MRSA cell wall, the vancomycin-modified polydopamine nanoparticles can specifically target MRSA rather than mammalian cells. These bacteria-targeted nanoparticles are employed as a nano-localized heat source to kill MRSA via disrupting the bacterial cell wall and membrane under irradiation of low-power NIR light. More importantly, the surrounding healthy tissues suffer bare damage, owing to the absence of any targeting effect of PDA-PEG-Van toward mammalian cells and the low power of NIR light used in the therapeutic process. Given the above advantages, the bacteria-targeted polydopamine nanoparticles proposed in this work show tremendous potential to treat MRSA infections, because they can effectively limit localized heating in the infection sites to kill bacteria and cut down damage to healthy tissues.

Cellular behavior is crucially dependent on the biophysical and biochemical properties of the extracellular matrix (ECM), in which the properties of biochemistry, topography, and mechanics are critically important and dominantly studied. Since its introduction by Decher and Lvov in the early 1990s, layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly technology has received considerable interest for constructing polymeric thin films in both academic and industrial studies. The technology has been especially important in applications involving biomedical materials, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine. In recent years, because of outstanding flexibility and multipotency, polymeric LbL thin films have been extensively studied to create a biomimetic cellular microenvironment with one or more biophysical and biochemical properties. The field has moved from simple mimicking to active control of various cellular behaviors. This review first introduces the basic background of the natural cellular microenvironment, the LbL assembly, and progress in polymeric LbL thin films. Next, biomimetic films constructed using the LbL technique are introduced. The biochemical components, topographical features, and mechanical properties of the films are detailed. Furthermore, progress in thin LbL films for controlling cell behavior, such as cell adhesion, stem cell differentiation, and cell-cell interactions, are highlighted. Finally, the review closes with a summary and a brief outlook of the opportunities and challenges associated with polymeric LbL thin films for advancing promising future developments.

Achievement of an endothelial cell (EC) monolayer (re-endothelialization) on the vascular implant surface with competent and functioning features is critical for long-term safety after implantation. Oriented EC monolayer is beneficial to improve endothelial function such as enhanced athero-resistant property. However, the information about antithrombotic property of oriented EC monolayer is limited. Here, we used the microgrooved polydimethylsiloxane substrates to guide EC orientation and obtain oriented EC monolayer. The effects of anisotropic topography on EC behaviors and antithrombotic function of the EC monolayer were then evaluated. Our data demonstrated that ECs responded to grooves in a size-dependent way as shown in oriented cell cytoskeleton and nuclei, enhanced directed migration, and overall velocity. Furthermore, compared to the EC monolayer on the flat surface, the oriented EC monolayer formed on the grooved substrates exhibited improved antithrombotic capability as indicated by higher expression of functional related genes, production of prostacyclin and tissue plasminogen activator, and prolonged activated coagulation time. The improvement of antithrombotic function was especially notable on the smaller-size groove. These findings reveal the responses of ECs to varisized topography and antithrombotic function of the oriented EC monolayer, providing insights into optimal design of vascular implants.

The stiffness of the substrates has been found to have a strong effect on cell behaviors, especially on cell adhesion, which is the first cellular event when cells contact materials. Much effort has been made to develop the materials with controlled stiffness for regulating cell adhesion. However, most available strategies for controlling the stiffness of material surfaces are generally limited to be static, which means that the stiffness is fixed during cell adhesion. Herein, we developed polyelectrolyte multilayer films (PEMs), and their stiffness can be dynamically modulated by mild stimuli. The PEMs were made by alternative deposition of poly-L-lysine (PLL) and thiol group modified hyaluronan (HA-SH) using the layer-by-layer assembly technique. The (PLL/HA-SH) multilayers can be cross-linked via oxidation of thiol groups. After crosslinking, the stiffness was increased and the adhesion of fibroblast cells was promoted. The stiffness of the multilayer films can be down-regulated dynamically by adding glutathione (GSH) in the medium, leading to in situ reduction of cell adhesion. Our study provides a promising strategy for the development of material surfaces with dynamically changeable stiffness, which is of great potential in the field of cell-based biomaterials.

The Yandong porphyry Cu deposit (372 Mt at 0.58% Cu) is located in the center of the eastern Tianshan, Xinjiang, NW China. Multiple-stage hydrothermal activities have resulted in potassic, chlorite-sericite, phyllic, and propylitic alteration in this deposit. The Yandong deposit formed in four stages, i.e., an early quartz ± magnetite ± pyrite stage (I), a quartz + pyrite ± chalcopyrite stage (II), a quartz + chalcopyrite ± pyrite ± molybdenite stage (III), and a late quartz + carbonate stage (IV). Three evolutionary episodes were observed by a detailed fluid inclusion study: (1) Early ore stage (I) fluids were trapped under two-phase conditions, as evidenced by the coexistence of vapor-rich (V-type) inclusions (homogenization temperatures = 410–494 °C, average salinity = 2.2 wt% NaCl equiv), liquid-rich (L-type) inclusions (homogenization temperatures = 311–430 °C, average salinity = 9.5 wt% NaCl equiv) and hypersaline (H-type) inclusions (trapped at ∼300 bars, or a depth of approximately 1 km assuming lithostatic pressure conditions). (2) Main ore stage (II and III) fluid inclusions in quartz were also trapped under two-phase conditions (boiling), as identified by the coexistence of V- and L-type fluid inclusions; L-type inclusions homogenized between 161 and 390 °C (average = 270 °C), with salinities of 1.6–9.9 wt% NaCl equiv (average = 4.9 wt% NaCl equiv) and a depth of ∼1 km (∼100 bars, hydrostatic pressure conditions). (3) Late ore stage (IV) fluids are represented by inclusions in barren quartz–carbonate veinlets, characterized by homogenization temperatures ranging from 123 to 261 °C (average = 179 °C) and salinities between 0.7 and 4.7 wt% NaCl equiv (average = 2.0 wt% NaCl equiv). The initial hydrothermal fluids are characterized by high temperature, high salinity and high oxygen fugacity, belonging to a H 2 O–NaCl system. Hydrogen and oxygen isotope data indicate that the hydrothermal fluids have a dominantly magmatic signature and mixed with abundant meteoric waters in the quartz-carbonate stage. Sulfur stable isotope suggests that the ore-forming metals came primarily from the tonalite magma that sourced from the subducted oceanic slab involving some mantle peridotites during ascent. The Cu mineralization of the Yandong porphyry deposit occurred at a shallow crustal level (approximately 1 km), and the fluid boiling or phase separation, decrease of temperature, as well as fluid-rock interaction were likely important factors responsible for metal accumulation and deposition in the magmatic-hydrothermal system.

Nano-topographic surfaces have been used as an effective tool to control cell behavior such as adhesion and proliferation. In this study, multilayer films with nano-topographic features were fabricated by alternatively assembling poly(l-lysine) (PLL) and poly(dopamine)-coated carbon nanotubes (CNTs@PDA) layers. The growth of PLL/CNTs@PDA film presented a perfect linear relationship with the number of bilayers. A nanostructured morphology with interpenetrating CNT networks was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Adhesion and proliferation of endothelial cells (ECs) and smooth muscle cells (SMCs) on the PLL/CNTs@PDA multilayer films have been evaluated. The films support initial adhesion of both ECs and SMCs. Interestingly, the PLL/CNTs@PDA multilayer films were found to promote proliferation of SMCs and inhibited proliferation of ECs. Further, pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells were employed to evaluate the influence of PLL/CNTs@PDA multilayer films on the outgrowth of synapses. We found that the nanostructured surface significantly promoted the synapses of PC12 cell growth and formation. Our findings suggest that cytophilic surfaces with the nanostructured morphology have diverse effects on different cells, which sheds light on new design of biomaterial surfaces in cell-based applications.

The Cihai Fe deposit (100 Mt @ 48% Fe) represents an economically important iron deposit in Beishan Terrane, on the southern margin of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt, Xinjiang, northwest China. Many Late Carboniferous to Permian Fe(-Cu) deposits (e.g., Yamansu, Shaquanzi, and Weiya) are also present in adjacent Eastern Tianshan orogenic belt. The Cihai deposit is hosted in mafic dykes (i.e., diabase) and in the contact zone between the mafic intrusion and Mesoproterozoic schist. New zircon U–Pb isotope dating in this study gives a crystallization age of 306.9 ± 3.2 Ma for the ore-bearing diabase, which is the first age-constrained Late Carboniferous mafic magmatic activity at Cihai district. In combination with previous Ar–Ar amphibole dating (281.9 ± 2.2 Ma) for the massive ores, it is suggested that the main iron mineralization and associated mafic magmatic activities occurred at ca. 306–282 Ma, coeval with the large-scale iron mineralization epoch (ca. 324–280 Ma) in Eastern Tianshan. The Cihai diabase samples are LILEs-rich (e.g., K, Rb, and Sr) and HFSEs-depleted (e.g., Nb, Ta, and Ti) calc-alkaline series, and exhibit high Mg# values (51–63), as well as low compatible element concentrations (Ni = 14–53 ppm; Co = 18–43 ppm; and Cr = 26–219 ppm), indicating a mantle wedge source. They have elevated Ba/La and Sr/Nd values with limited Th/Yb ratios (

Focusing on the defects in the lighting color of LED lamps and the chip heat exists in the traditional LED package which caused phosphor performance degradation, color temperature drift and the uneven light, the remote phosphor package which is emerging in recent years is used in this paper. With yellow-green YGG phosphor and nitrogen red phosphors mixing with silica gel, the remote phosphor is made and then encapsulated as the LED lamps. A lot of experiments were made to determine the best ratio of yellow green phosphor, red phosphor and silica gel, LED lamps with different color temperature was prepared. The lamps were also tested and analyzed with some parameters such as e color coordinates, luminous efficiency, color rendering index (CRI), R9, color quality scale (CQS), color temperature, and the gamut area index (GAI), which provide a more objective and comprehensive evaluation to the high quality LED lighting. Experimental results show that the optimum ratio of red and yellow-green phosphor is 1∶7.6, and total phosphor with silica gel is 1∶5，at this time the white LED lighting color temperature is 4 113 K, the color coordinate (x, y) is (0.375 4, 0.373 1), luminous efficiency is 52.33 lm·w-1, color gamut is 0.981, color rendering index is up to 96, R9 is 97, color quality scale Qa is up to 93, and the gamut area index is 79. Compared with the traditional packaging，the surface temperature ofthe remote phosphor encapsulated fluorescent plate is much lower than that of adhesive dispensing encapsulation, which can effectively avoid the harmful effect caused by high temperature on the LED.

Inspired by the adhesion strategy of marine mussels, self-polymerization of dopamine under alkaline condition has been proven to be a simple and effective method for surface modification of biomaterials. However, this method still has many drawbacks, such as the use of alkaline aqueous medium, low poly(dopamine) deposition rate, and inefficient utilization of dopamine, which greatly hinder its practical application. In the present study, we demonstrate that electropolymerization of dopamine is a facile and versatile approach to surface tailoring of metallic cardiovascular stents, such as small and complex-shaped coronary stent. Electropolymerization of dopamine leads to the formation of a continuous and smooth electropolymerized poly(dopamine) (ePDA) coating on the substrate surface. This electrochemical method exhibits a higher deposition rate and is more efficient in dopamine utilization compared with the typical self-polymerization method. The ePDA coating facilitates the immobilization of biomolecules onto substrates to engineer biomimetic microenvironments. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrate that ePDA coating functionalized with vascular endothelial growth factor can greatly enhance the desired cellular responses of endothelial cells and prevent the neointima formation after stent implantation. The proposed methodology may find applications in the area of metallic surface engineering, especially for the cardiovascular stents and potentially all biomedical devices with electroconductive surface as well.

Mussel-inspired poly(dopamine) (PDA) coating is proven to be a simple, versatile, and effective strategy to promote cell adhesion onto various substrates. In this study, the initial adhesive behavior of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) is evaluated on a PDA coating under serum-free conditions. It is found that HUVECs can attach directly to and spread with well-organized cytoskeleton and fibrillar adhesions on the PDA surface, whereas cells adhere poorly to and barely spread on the control polycaprolactone surface. Endogenous fibronectin and α5 β1 integrin are found to be involved in the cell adhesion process. These findings will lead to a better understanding of interactions between cells and PDA coating, paving the way for the further development of PDA.

Endothelialization has proved to be critical for maintaining long-term success of implantable vascular devices. The formation of monolayer of endothelial cells (ECs) on the implant surfaces is one of the most important factors for the endothelialization. However, endothelial function of regenerated EC monolayer, which plays a much more important role in preventing the complications of post-implantation, has not received enough attention. Here, a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-incorporated poly(l-lysine)/hyaluronan (PLL/HA) polyelectrolyte multilayer film was fabricated. Through varying the crosslinking degree, stiffness of the film was manipulated, offering either soft or stiff film. We demonstrated that ECs were able to adhere and proliferate on both soft and stiff films, subsequently forming an integrated EC monolayer. Furthermore, endothelial functions were evaluated by characterizing EC monolayer integrity, expression of genes correlated with the endothelial functions, and nitric oxide production. It demonstrated that EC monolayer on the soft film displayed higher endothelial function compared to that on the stiff film. Our study highlights the influence of substrate stiffness on endothelial function, which offers a new criterion for surface design of vascular implants.

Endothelialization on the vascular implants is of great importance for prevention of undesired postimplantation symptoms. However, endothelial dysfunction of regenerated endothelial cell (EC) monolayer has been frequently observed, leading to severe complications, such as neointimal hyperplasia, late thrombosis, and neoatherosclerosis. It has significantly impeded long-term success of the therapy. So far, very little attention has been paid on endothelial function of EC monolayer. Bioinspired by the microenvironment of the endothelium in a blood vessel, this study described a soft polyelectrolyte multilayer film (PEM) through layer-by-layer assembly of poly(l-lysine) (PLL) and hyaluronan (HA). The (PLL/HA) PEM was chemically cross-linked and further incorporated with vascular endothelial growth factor. It demonstrated that this approach could promote EC adhesion and proliferation, further inducing formation of EC monolayer. Further, improved endothelial function of the EC monolayer was achieved as shown with the tighter integrity, higher production of nitric oxide, and expression level of endothelial function related genes, compared to EC monolayers on traditional substrates with high stiffness (e.g., glass, tissue culture polystyrene, and stainless steel). Our findings highlighted the influence of substrate stiffness on endothelial function of EC monolayer, giving a new strategy in the surface design of vascular implants.

Substrate-mediated delivery of functional plasmid DNA (pDNA) has been proven to be a promising strategy to promote competitiveness of endothelial cells (ECs) over smooth muscle cells (SMCs), which is beneficial to inducing fast endothelialization of implanted vascular devices. Thus, it is of great importance to develop universal approaches with simplicity and easiness to immobilize DNA complex nanoparticles on substrates. In this study, the bioinspired polydopamine (PDA) coating was employed in immobilization of DNA complex nanoparticles, which were composed of protamine (PrS) and plasmid DNA encoding with hepatocyte growth factor (HGF-pDNA) gene. We demonstrated that the DNA complex nanoparticles can be successfully immobilized onto the PDA surface. Consequently, the HGF expression of both ECs and SMCs were significantly improved when they cultured on the DNA complex nanoparticles-immobilized substrates. Furthermore, EC proliferation was specifically promoted due to bioactivity of HGF, leading to an enhancement of EC competitiveness over SMCs. Our findings demonstrated the substrate-mediated functional gene nanoparticle delivery through PDA coating as a simple and efficient approach. It may hold great potential in the field of interventional cardiovascular implants.

Endothelial cells (ECs) play a crucial role in regulating various physiological and pathological processes. The behavior of ECs is modulated by physical (e.g., substrate stiffness) and biochemical cues (e.g., growth factors). However, the synergistic influence of these cues on EC behavior has rarely been investigated. In this study, we constructed poly(l-lysine)/hyaluronan (PLL/HA) multilayer films with different stiffness and exposed ECs to these substrates with and without hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-supplemented culture medium. We demonstrated that EC adhesion, migration, and proliferation were positively correlated with substrate stiffness and that these behaviors were further promoted by HGF. Interestingly, ECs on the lower stiffness substrates showed stronger responses to HGF in terms of migration and proliferation, suggesting that HGF can profoundly influence stiffness-dependent EC behavior correlated with EC growth. After the formation of an EC monolayer, EC behaviors correlated with endothelial function were evaluated by characterizing monolayer integrity, nitric oxide production, and gene expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase. For the first time, we demonstrated that endothelial function displayed a negative correlation with substrate stiffness. Although HGF improved endothelial function, HGF was not able to change the stiffness-dependent manner of endothelial functions. Taken together, this study provides insights into the synergetic influence of physical and biochemical cues on EC behavior and offers great potential in the development of optimized biomaterials for EC-based regenerative medicine.

Extracellular matrix and cells are inherent in coordinating and adapting to each other during all physiological and pathological processes. Synthetic materials, however, show rarely reciprocal and spatiotemporal responses to cells, and lacking self-adapting properties as well. Here, a mechanical adaptability based on the matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs) sensitive polyelectrolyte film is reported. Poly-lysine (PLL) and methacrylated hyaluronic acid (HA-MA) nanolayers are employed to build the thin film through the layer-by-layer assembly, and it is further crosslinked using MMP sensitive peptides, which endows the films with changeable mechanical properties in response to MMPs. It is demonstrated that stiffness of the (PLL/HA-MA) films increases with the crosslinking, and then decreases in response to a treatment of enzyme. Consequently, the crosslinked (PLL/HA-MA) films reveal effective growth of endothelial cells (ECs), leading to fast formation of EC monolayer. Importantly, significantly improved endothelial function of the EC monolayer, which is characterized by integrity, biomolecules release, expression of function related gene, and antithrombotic properties, is achieved along with the decrosslinking of the film because of EC-secreted MMPs. These results suggest that mechanical adaptability of substrate in Young's modulus plays a significant role in endothelial progression, which shows great application potential in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and organ-on-a-chip.

Mussel-inspired poly(dopamine) (PDA) coating is proven to be a simple, versatile, and effective strategy to promote cell adhesion onto various substrates. In this study, the initial adhesive behavior of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) is evaluated on a PDA coating under serum-free conditions. It is found that HUVECs can attach directly to and spread with well-organized cytoskeleton and fibrillar adhesions on the PDA surface, whereas cells adhere poorly to and barely spread on the control polycaprolactone surface. Endogenous fibronectin and α5 β1 integrin are found to be involved in the cell adhesion process. These findings will lead to a better understanding of interactions between cells and PDA coating, paving the way for the further development of PDA.