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Colon cancer is a common human cancer worldwide. The survival rate of late staged or metastatic colon cancer patients remains low even though the effectiveness of treatment in colon cancer has greatly improved. Research on tumorigenesis mechanisms and discovery of novel molecular target for treating colon cancer is critical. The promotion roles of WHSC1 in multiple myeloma have been demonstrated previously, yet, the regulation of WHSC1 in other cancers is largely unknown, especially in colon cancer. Here, in this study, we analyzed and identified WHSC1 while studying the genetic regulations of HMGA2 in colon cancer cells by microarray analysis, and investigated the HMGA2-WHSC1 interaction. We then applied CRISPR technology to establish stable WHSC1 knockout cells, to address the functional regulation of WHSC1 in colon cancer. In summary, our results for the first time identified the HMGA2-WHSC1 interaction in colon cancer. Moreover, we discovered that WHSC1 promotes cancer proliferation, facilitates resistance of chemotherapy agent, and promotes metastatic capacity of colon cancer.

In this article, Ag nanoparticle decorated graphene-based film heaters are fabricated using a CO2 infrared laser writing technology. In this process, we use the commercial polyimide (PI) as carbon sources which can be directly converted into graphene during the laser irradiation. To prepare the Ag decorated graphene, the PI films are modified with KOH into potassium polyamate and incorporation of Ag+ ions through subsequent ion exchange prior to the laser irradiation. While the laser is irradiating on silvered PI, the temperature of the irradiated silvered PI increases in a flash leading to the reduction of Ag+ ions on the PI derived graphene (PDG) surface. The resultant Ag-decorated PDG (Ag-PDG) composites reveal an enhanced electric conductivity (16.2 Ω/sq.) with excellent mechanical properties. The flexible heaters constructed from the Ag-PDG film also show remarkable electrothermal performance in terms of saturated temperature (Ts, 248.3 °C), heating efficiency (142.8 °C cm2/W), response time (2.14 s) and durability with a small temperature deviation (1.3 °C) after 2000 bending cycles.

In this study, the Ni(OH)

Scientists have studied intensively the gene delivery carriers for treating genetic diseases. However, there are challenges that impede the application of naked gene-based therapy at the clinical level, such as quick elimination of the circulation, lack of membrane penetrability, and poor endosome trapping. Herein, we develop graphene quantum dots (GQDs)-derivative nanocarriers and introduce polyethylenimine (PEI) to equip the system with enhanced biocompatibility and abundant functional groups for modification. In addition to carrying green fluorescent protein (GFP) as an example of gene delivery, this system covalently binds colon cancer cells targeted antibody and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) to enhance cell membrane penetrability and cell uptake of nanocarriers. To achieve multistrategy cancer therapy, the anticancer drug doxorubicin (Dox) is noncovalently encapsulated to achieve pH-induced drug release at tumor sites and leaves space for further functional gene modification. This nanoparticle serves as a multifunctional gene delivery system, which facilitates improved cytotoxicity and longer-sustained inhibition capacity compared to free Dox treatments in colon cancer cells. Moreover, our GQD composites display compatible tumor suppression ability compared with the free Dox treatment group in xenograft mice experiment with significantly less toxicity. This GQD nanoplatform was demonstrated as a multifunctional gene delivery system that could contribute to treating other genetic diseases in the future.

In this study, we developed a facile chemical precipitation approach for the synthesis of heterogeneous Co3O4 nanosphere/Co(OH)2 nanosheet hybrids in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a phase-controlling reagent. The crystalline phase and morphology of the product varied upon changing the chain length of PVP (from 8k to 120k), with short-chain PVP favoring the formation of Co3O4 nanospheres and long-chain PVP favoring the synthesis of Co(OH)2 nanosheets. Accordingly, heterogeneous Co3O4/Co(OH)2 hybrids of various blending ratios were readily prepared in the presence of PVP of different molecular weights. The molecular weight of PVP also affected the electrochemical properties of the Co3O4 nanosphere/Co(OH)2 nanosheet composites. When using PVP of moderate chain length (58k), the resultant Co3O4/Co(OH)2 composite exhibited the optimal supercapacitive performance, characterized by an excellent specific capacitance of 771.2 F g−1 at 1 A g−1, and retained approximately 68.5% of this capacitance when operated at a high current density of 10 A g−1. Furthermore, this composite displayed an excellent charge/discharge cycling life at a current density of 4 A g−1, with a capacitance retention of 93.3% after 3000 repeated cycles.

In this study we used a spray-drying process and in situ polymerization to construct ternary composites of Li4Ti5O12 (LTO) embedded with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and interfacially modified with polyaniline (PANI). In these composites, the introduced MWCNTs served as conductive backbones within the spray-dried LTO microspheres, thereby lowering the internal resistance of the microcomposites. The polymerized PANI acted as a conductive adhesive to strengthen the interactions between the MWCNTs and the LTO, leading to a sturdier interface and enhanced ionic transport properties. With the combined effects of the embedded MWCNTs and the interfacially polymerized PANI, we observed significant enhancements in both the conductivity and the ionic diffusion kinetics of the LTO composites. As a result, the ternary composites displayed outstanding electrochemical performance, including enhanced rate capability and remarkable cycling stability. The ternary system delivered a discharge capacitance (134.98 mA h/g) at 20 C that was higher than those of bare LTO (38.6 mA h/g) and MWCNT/LTO (114.88 mA h/g). Furthermore, the composites also exhibited 92.7% retention of their specific capacitance after 200 repeated charge/discharge tests, indicating their excellent cycling life.

Colon cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths and its five-year survival rate remains low in locally advanced or metastatic stages of colon cancer. Overexpression of high mobility group protein AT-hook2 (HMGA2) is associated with cancer progression, metastasis, and poor prognosis in many malignancies. Oxidative stress regulates cellular mechanisms and provides an environment that favors the cancer cells to survive and progress, yet, at the same time, oxidative stress can also be utilized as a cancer-damaging strategy. The molecular regulatory roles of HMGA2 in oxidative stress and their involvement in cancer progression are largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the involvement of HMGA2 in regulation of oxidative stress responses by luciferase reporter assays. Moreover, we utilized dicoumarol (DIC), a derivative of coumarin which has been suggested to be involved in oxidation regulation with anticancer effects, and demonstrated that DIC could induce apoptosis and inhibit cell migration of HMGA2 overexpressing colon cancer cells. Further investigation also evidenced that DIC can enhance the cancer inhibition effect of 5-FU in colony formation assays. Taken together, our data revealed novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying HMGA2 and highlighted the possibility of targeting the cellular antioxidant system for treating patients and preventing from cancer progression in HMGA2 overexpressing colon cancer cells.

In this work, we demonstrated that building different linking groups between nanodiamond (ND) and TiO2 (P25) could provide more effective protection under oxidative stress and ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation compared with the use of TiO2 alone. The establishment of ester (-C-O-O-R), amide (-CONH-), and epoxide-amine adduct (-NHCCO-) groups between ND-TiO2 composites was found to be critical in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by controlling their charge transfer behaviors. We hypothesized that linking groups between the composites dictate the performance of ROS generation from nano-TiO2 under UV-light irradiation due to the differences in linking groups. The results showed that hydroxyl radicals were attenuated by the incorporation of ND. An MTT cell proliferation assay was performed in human cells under the treatment of ND-TiO2 composites to investigate the impacts of composites on cell viability. The results from the luciferase reporter assay suggested they have anti-inflammatory activity and can reduce cellular DNA damage under ROS stimulation. A zebrafish model was also applied with the ND-TiO2 composite treatment to demonstrate the safety aspects of the composites in vivo and their biomedical application potential. Studies exploring ROS generation behaviors in different linking groups suggested that interactive functionalization between nanoparticles might be an ideal antioxidant and anti-inflammatory strategy.

Owing to the chemical resistance, facile production and high electrochemical activity, layered Ni(OH)2 is a useful electrode material for supercapacitors and electrochromic (EC) devices. Nevertheless, the poor electrical conductivity of Ni(OH)2 and its strong tendency to restack during processing have restricted its applications. In this study, we have modified Ni(OH)2 surfaces with a layer of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrenesulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) using (3-glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane (GOPS) as a linker. A nanospace can be created by the conductive layer of PEDOT:PSS wrapped on the Ni(OH)2 nanosheet, which can avoid the reaggregation. Therefore, the Ni(OH)2/PEDOT (P–Ni(OH)2) composites display greater electrochemical activity and kinetics due to the favorable conductivity and interfacial area, suitable for supercapacitor and EC applications. The flexible electrochromic device (ECD) and an asymmetric supercapacitor (AS) incorporating P–Ni(OH)2 are also evaluated in this article. The P–Ni(OH)2 based ECD exhibits superior mechanical stability and the AS also shows excellent cycling stability.

Spray-drying technique has been widely used for synthesis of energy storage materials due to its low cost and easy scale up. However, in mass production, this method usually suffers from the incomplete solid-state reaction owing to the aggregation or poor reactivity of precursors caused by their large particle size and unfavorable morphology. In this study, spinel Li4Ti5O12 (LTO) has been synthesized by using TiO2 nanosheets as precursor through spray-drying for large-scale production. The TiO2 nanosheets are prepared via a facile and scalable wet grinding method. The high aspect ratio TiO2 nanosheets can efficiently reduce the diffusion length of Li element during the solid-state reaction leading to higher reactivity. It has been found that the temperature required for the formation of LTO phase can be significantly reduced by using the two-dimensional (2D) TiO2 nanosheets as starting materials. As a result, through a pilot-scale spray drying process, the LTO reacted from the TiO2 nanosheets shows a pure spinel structure due to the better morphology of TiO2 nanosheets. In contrast, using the unprocessed TiO2 as precursor, the resulting LTO still reveals other impure phases leading to a poor electrochemical performance. The pure LTO shows a higher discharge capacity of ∼160.8 mAh/g at 0.1 C, with an excellent rate performance and superior cycling life in comparison with the LTO containing impurity phases.

Titanium dioxide nanomaterials have good capability to prevent human cells from damage under UV irradiation. However, some studies indicated that the nanoscale of titanium dioxide could potentially cause harmful effects such as free radical generation under UV irradiation and thereby accelerate the progress of cell aging. Fullerenes can scavenge large amounts of free radicals due to the fact that fullerenes contain enormous amount of π electrons with low lying lowest unoccupied molecular orbital, but its adverse properties, such as the poor solubility in water, restricted the applicability. In this study, we employed water-soluble carboxylic acid fullerenes (C60-COOH and C70-COOH) as the free radical scavenger and modify onto the surface of titanium dioxide by refluxed esterification (P25/C60-COOH or C70-COOH) technique. The conformation and properties of these nanomaterials were characterized by techniques and equipment such as X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive spectroscopy analysis, scanning electron microscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. We also introduced methylene blue and rhodamine B as indicators to evaluate and demonstrate the scavenging capacity of these nanomaterials. Moreover, we examined the biocompatibility and UV protection capacity of our P25/fullerene composites in human 293T cells, and applied luciferase activity assay to investigate the possible underlying cell protection mechanisms exhibited by these nanomaterials. Our data indicate that both P25/C60-COOH and P25/C70-COOH could protect human cells against UV exposure. P25/C70-COOH exhibits great anti-inflammation capacity, whereas P25/C60-COOH exhibits great anti-oxidative stress and anti-DNA damage capacity. Our results suggest that most of our P25/fullerene composite materials have the ability to reduce free radicals and exhibit high biomedical potential in anti-inflammation, anti-oxidant, and anti-aging applications.

In this study, visible light-responsive photocatalysts based on TiO2/WS2 were prepared through a microwave-assisted hydrothermal process. These TiO2/WS2 composites featured a larger surface area and a wider range of optical absorption when compared with those of pure TiO2. Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that the energy band levels of the heterojunction between the TiO2 and WS2 components were compatible for charge transfer. Compared with pristine TiO2, the photocatalytic activity of the TiO2/WS2 composites was enhanced significantly—the result of expanding the optical absorption spectrum into the visible region as well as decreasing the rate of recombination of the photogenerated electron/hole pairs. The visible photocatalytic activity of the as-prepared photocatalysts was evaluated through the degradation of methylene blue, using a white light emitting diode (LED) as the irradiation source. For the degradation under LED irradiation, the optimal content of WS2 was 3.0 wt%. An examination of the TiO2/WS2 composites in human cells indicated that they were highly biocompatible; they did not affect the cellular proliferation or morphology, suggesting future applications in a biomedical capacity.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of death around the world, and synthetic chemicals targeting specific proteins or various molecular pathways for tumor suppression, such as histone deacetylases (HADC) inhibitors, are under intensively studied. The target of HDAC involves in regulating critical cellular mechanisms and underpins the progression of anticancer therapy. However, little is known about the antitumor mechanisms of class I specific HDAC inhibitors in CRC. We structurally designed and synthesized benzamide-based compounds, examined their anticancer activity in several solid tumors, and identified compound 9 with high potential. Results from the in vitro enzyme and cell-based studies demonstrated that compound 9 as a selective HDAC1/2 inhibitor that possessed short-term and long-term suppression capacities against colorectal cancer cells. Investigation of molecular regulatory mechanisms of 9 in colorectal cancer cells by biological functional assays evidenced that treatment of compound 9 could activate apoptosis, induce cell cycle arrest, facilitate DNA damage process, and suppress cancer migration. A non-cancerous cell line and the in vivo zebrafish model were applied for safety evaluation. In summary, our results demonstrate that compound 9 is a promising lead drug worth further investigation for development of future cancer therapeutic agents.

There has been great improvement in nanomaterial fields, and the biomedical potential of nanomaterials as drug delivery system is under intensive studies. Among them, graphene quantum dots (GQDs) are considered to be the next generation of carbon-based nanomaterial for biomedical applications. In this study, we utilized green fluorescent protein (GFP) nucleic acid, DNA-targeting chemoreagent doxorubicin (DOX), and branched polyethyleneimine (PEI) conjugated GQDs, to form pH-responsive nanostar drug carrier for colon cancer suppression investigation. GFP expression plasmid was applied to examine the delivery capacity of our drug carrier. DOX was encapsulated by intrinsic π-π interaction to form GQDs-polymer-DOX conjugates (GECD) as drug carrier. We proposed that once GECD enters the tumor lesion, the acidic tumor microenvironment protonated the tertiary amine of GECD from neutral to mild positive, possessed higher affinity to negatively charged cell membrane, triggered the drug release, and then cancer cells would be inhibited. The anti-cancer ability of our drug carrier system, GECD, was demonstrated in cancer cells by cell proliferation assay. Moreover, GECD exhibited its powerful anti-tumor capacity in the mice xenograft model. The in vivo and in vitro results indicate that our GECD with high cancer suppression capacity could be adopted for future cancer therapy.

As a two-dimensional nanomaterial, bismuth oxybromide (BiOBr) have attracted tremendous interest in the area of visible-light photocatalysis since it can provide the internal electric field (IEF) through z-axis through its unique electronic band structure. However, the insufficient active sites and rapid recombination rate of charged carriers hamper the efficiency of the photocatalysis. To address these two major obstacles, an enticing strategy of constructing heterojunction was established by introducing Bi

Giving patients right dosage is an essential concept of precision medicine. Most of nanocarriers lack of flexible drug capacity and structural stability to be customized for specific treatment, resulting in low therapeutic efficacy and unexpected side effects. Thus, a growing need emerges for fast and rigorous approaches to develop nanoparticles with properties of adjustable dosage and controllable particle size. Poly- l -Lysine is known for its enhanced bioadhesivity and pH-triggered structural swelling effect, which is utilized as the main agent to activate the multistage drug releasing. Inspired by natural bio-assembly system, we report a simple method to self-assemble Poly- l -Lysine-based nanoparticles via supramolecular recognitions of cross-linked pyrenes, which provides noncovalent force to flexibly encapsulate Doxorubincin and to construct robust nanostructures. Pyrene-modified polypeptide self-assemblies are able to adjust drug payload from 1: 10 to 2:1 (drug: polypeptide) without changing its uniform nano-spherical morphology. This nanostructure remained the as-made morphology even after experiencing the long-term (~ 10 weeks) storage at room temperature. Also, the nanoparticles displayed multi-step drug release behaviours and exhibited great in vitro and in vivo cytotoxicity towards colon cancer cells. The as-mentioned nanoparticles provide a novel perspective to compensate the clinical needs of specific drug feedings and scalable synthesis with advantages of simple-synthesis, size-adaptivity, and morphology reversibility.

Although several types of stabilizers have been investigated recently to disperse carbon nanotubes (CNTs), the most common of them are thermal insulators that increase the thermal resistance and hinder the heat conduction across the CNT junctions. In this study, we dispersed multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) using the conducting polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) as a functional surfactant. Upon sonication, PEDOT:PSS covered the surfaces of the MWCNTs, thereby preventing their π-stacking and increasing their dispersion. Moreover, PEDOT:PSS acted as a thermally conductive bridge that connected the MWCNTs and decreased their thermal resistance. We employed a freeze-drying method to prepare MWCNT/PEDOT:PSS composites with hierarchical microstructures. After introducing polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) into the MWCNT/PEDOT:PSS foam, the thermal conductivity of the MWCNT/PEDOT:PSS and PDMS composite reached 1.16 W/mK—over 550% higher than that of pure PDMS. These results suggest that such PDMS composites might be useful as thermal interface materials for thermal management in electronic and photonic applications.

In this study, a ternary composite consisting of Ag nanoparticles (NPs) embedded reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and Ni(OH)2 have been synthesized through microwave-assisted reaction. In this system, the rGO serves as conductive substrate to support the Ni(OH)2 and prevent the Ni(OH)2 from restacking. Moreover, the Ag NPs anchored on rGO can create a nanoscale spacers between the rGO/Ni(OH)2 sheets which avoids the π-π interaction between rGO substrates leading to further increase in surface area. In addition, the decoration of Ag NPs also can improve the electrical conductivity of the composites leading to better contact between rGO and Ni(OH)2. As a result of the unique nanoarchitecture, the Ag-rGO/Ni(OH)2 composite exhibits high specific capacitance of 1220 F/g at 1 A/g, which is much higher than that of pristine Ni(OH)2 (588 F/g). Moreover, the ternary composite also shows superior capacitance retention and cycling stability up to 2000 cycles. Asymmetric supercapacitors based on Ag-rGO/Ni(OH)2 electrode and the activated carbon are also assembled. The asymmetric supercapacitors have a maximum energy density of 41.2 Wh/kg at a power density of 375 W/kg with excellent cycling stability. The results indicate the importance of rational design and synthesis of Ag-rGO/Ni(OH)2 for high-performance energy storages.

In this study, we have prepared an electrochromic (EC) ink composed of WO 3 nanoparticles and poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly (styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS). The ink formulation can be processed through inkjet-printing or spray coating to deposit high-quality EC layers. The PEDOT:PSS acts as an conductive binder to connect the WO 3 nanoparticles leading to reduced impedance and better electrochemical properties. The WO 3 /PEDOT:PSS (PH1000) exhibits an optical modulation of 54.1%, a response time of 1.1 s, and a coloration efficiency of 83.87 cm 2 /C. A hybrid type electrochromic device (ECD) incorporated with WO 3 /PEDOT:PSS with excellent durability has been fabricated. The performance of WO 3 /PEDOT:PSS based ECD for sun shielding property is also evaluated. The ECD can efficiently block the sunlight and reduce solar heat gain. As a result, the indoor temperature can be modulated from 32.7 °C (bleached state) to 29.4 °C (darken state) under illumination.

We have prepared three poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) derivatives including PEDOT, hydroxymethyl PEDOT (PEDOT-OH) and perfluoro-substituted PEDOT (PEDOT-F), along with its electrochemical and electrochromic (EC) characterization. The three PEDOT derivatives have variable degree of wettability; which have been compared systematically to investigate the effect of moisture on EC property. The bulky substituents lead to large inter-chain separation and facilitate the movement of counter ions leading to better ionic transport. Furthermore, with perfluoro-functionalized side groups, the PEDOT-F exhibits a water contact angle of 134.7°, significantly higher than that of PEDOT (57.8°), clearly indicating its hydrophobic property. This hydrophobic property of PEDOT-F can prevent it from damage by water within the electrolyte during redox reaction. Combining the advantages of better ionic transport and moisture resistance, the PEDOT-F reveals a better EC lifetime.

In this study, the graphene-modified Al foils are prepared to assemble lithium ion batteries (LIBs) through a three-step approach comprising: (1) deposition of the polyamic acid (PAA) on the Al substrate; (2) curing the PAA to form the polyimide (PI)-coated Al foils; (3) converting the PI into porous graphene by CO2 laser irradiation. With integration of the PI derived graphene (PDG) in the LIBs, the inserted PDG layer can enhance the adhesion and interface resistance between the active layer and Al electrode. The LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 (LNMO)//Li4Ti5O12 (LTO) full cells with PDG layer are also fabricated to evaluate the effect of the modified layer on the cell performance. Compared to the pristine Al electrode, the modified current collector can improve the rate performance and reduce the temperature rise during the charge/discharge process leading to better cycling stability.

In this study, superhydrophobic and transparent siloxane-based nanocomposites have been synthesized. The as-synthesized superhydrophobic nanoparticles reveal uniform particle size distribution and high dispersibility in alcohol solvents which can be easily integrated into solution-process. Further improvement of superhydrophobicity of this composite is achieved by the chemical modification with fluorosilane. The cast hybrid surface reveals superhydrophobic (water contact angle (WCA) = 168°), non-stick and transparent properties (90% at 550 nm) on a variety of substrates. As a result, the as-prepared superhydrophobic coating shows outstanding water/oil separation, self-cleaning, anti-corrosion and anti-adhesion of bacteria and algae. Moreover, the superhydrophobic coating can remain its extreme water repellency without obvious decay of WCA after weathering resistance test for 90 days. It is believed that the facile and low-cost method offers an effective strategy and promising industrial applications for fabricating superhydrophobic surfaces.

Multiple common variants identified by genome-wide association studies showed limited evidence of the risk of breast cancer in Taiwan. In this study, we analyzed the breast cancer risk in relation to 13 individual single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) identified by a GWAS in an Asian population. In total, 446 breast cancer patients and 514 healthy controls were recruited for this case–control study. In addition, we developed a polygenic risk score (PRS) including those variants significantly associated with breast cancer risk, and also evaluated the contribution of PRS and clinical risk factors to breast cancer using receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Logistic regression results showed that nine individual SNPs were significantly associated with breast cancer risk after multiple testing. Among all SNPs, six variants, namely FGFR2 (rs2981582), HCN1 (rs981782), MAP3K1 (rs889312), TOX3 (rs3803662), ZNF365 (rs10822013), and RAD51B (rs3784099), were selected to create PRS model. A dose–response association was observed between breast cancer risk and the PRS. Women in the highest quartile of PRS had a significantly increased risk compared to women in the lowest quartile (odds ratio 2.26; 95% confidence interval 1.51–3.38). The AUC for a model which contained the PRS in addition to clinical risk factors was 66.52%, whereas that for a model which with established risk factors only was 63.38%. Our data identified a genetic risk predictor of breast cancer in Taiwanese population and suggest that risk models including PRS and clinical risk factors are useful in discriminating women at high risk of breast cancer from those at low risk.

In this study, the porous multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) foams possessing three-dimensional (3D) scaffold structures have been introduced into polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) for enhancing the overall thermal conductivity (TC). This unique interconnected structure of freeze-dried MWCNT foams can provide thermally conductive pathways leading to higher TC. The TC of 3D MWCNT and PDMS composites can reach 0.82 W/m K, which is about 455% that of pure PDMS, and 300% higher than that of composites prepared from traditional blending process. The obtained polymer composites not only exhibit superior mechanical properties but also dimensional stability. To evaluate the performance of thermal management, the LED modulus incorporated with the 3D MWCNT/PDMS composite as heat sink is also fabricated. The composites display much faster and higher temperature rise than the pristine PDMS matrix, suggestive of its better thermal dissipation. These results imply that the as-developed 3D-MWCNT/PDMS composite can be a good candidate in thermal interface for thermal management of electronic devices.

In this study, the surface modified TiO 2 nanoparticles have been synthesized with oleic acid and trifluoroacetic acid (TFAA) as surfactants. The as-prepared TiO 2 nanoparticles reveal small particle size with narrow distribution, excellent dispersibility and high hydrophobicity. By interfacial modifying the melamine sponge with the hydrophobic TiO 2 nanoparticle, the wettability of the modified sponge can be tailored to be superhydrophobic to water while superoleophilic to oils. Combining with the porous structure of melamine sponge and the excellent hydrophobicity of the coated TiO 2 , the modified sponge exhibits large absorption capacity (up to 88.1 g/g for chloroform), good selectivity and high recyclability for a wide range of oils and organic solvents. The results indicate that the TiO 2 modified sponges may potentially be useful as next-generation oil adsorbent materials.

Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of death in the world. Despite the progress in therapeutic development, there are still challenges in clinical practice. Nanomedicine has emerged as a solution to enhance traditional therapy. Gold nanoparticles (AuNP) have been demonstrated as potential appliance in treating cancers, yet few studies investigated the capacity of biopolymer-conjugated AuNP in colon cancer as well as examined the system in both cancer cell line and animal models. In this study, we designed the AuNP/biopolymer composite therapeutic system with a chemotherapy agent, doxorubicin (DOX). Two composites with different drug load were applied (referred to as AuPPPyA and AuPPPyB). The composites were characterized by UV spectrum, transmission electron microscope (TEM), zeta potential measurement, and cell cycle analysis. Both therapeutic systems exhibited superior cytotoxic effects compared to DOX alone group. Compatible results were also demonstrated in vivo, as tumor inhibition rate were 46.2% in AuPPPyA and 66.4% in AuPPPyB, which were both higher than that of DOX alone (30%). Cell cycle regulation mediated by our composites was also examined in our study. In conclusion, our data demonstrated that AuNP/biopolymer composites are powerful in treating KRAS gene mutated colorectal cancer, and the system could potentially contribute to other clinical refractory diseases in the future.

Colon cancer is one of the most lethal cancers worldwide even with the significant progress made in screening techniques and therapeutic agents. Genetic mutations in tumors complicated the treatments, and the survival rate remains low for patients at late or metastatic stages. KRAS gene mutation which leads to failure of the EGFR targeted therapies stands for an example of the challenges in clinical sites. Therefore, development of novel agents for colon cancer treatment is in need. Natural and synthetic coumarin derivatives have been suggested with various biological activities with pharmacologic potential including anti-cancer capacity. Here in this study, five coumarin derivatives, include trifluoromethyl-, dimethoxy-, and/or nitro-substitutions at different positions, were synthesized. Their cancer inhibition potential was investigated in various cancer cell lines. Our data demonstrated that one nitro-coumarin derivate, 5,7-Dimethoxy-4-methyl-6-nitro-chromen-2-one, exhibits cytotoxicity specifically towards colon cancer cells under competitive EC

Osteoporosis is defined by low bone mineral density (BMD), which is mainly due to the imbalances in osteoclast and osteoblast activity. Previous studies indicated that early activation of osteoclasts relies on calcium entry through store-operated calcium (SOC) entry, and several genes, including STIM1, ORAI1, and ITPKC, are known as key regulators of SOC entry. However, the relationships between STIM1, ORAI1, ITPKC, and human BMD are still unclear. In order to investigate the plausible associations between these genes and BMD, we conducted a meta-analysis of genes expression and BMD using the publicly available GEO database. We further recruited 1044 subjects and tested associations between polymorphisms in these genes and BMD. Clinical information (including age, sex, and BMI) was collected and used for the analysis. Our results indicated that ITPKC gene expression was significantly associated with BMD. Furthermore, we found that one ITPKC SNP (rs2607420) was significantly associated with lumbar spine BMD. Through bioinformatics analysis, rs2607420 was found to be very likely to participate in the regulation of ITPKC expression. Our findings suggest that ITPKC is a susceptibility gene for BMD, and rs2607420 may play an important role in the regulation of this gene.

In this article, we have synthesized Co2+-doped BiOBrxCl1-x hierarchical nanostructured microspheres, featuring different degrees of Co2+ doping, displaying excellent photocatalytic performance. X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy indicated that the Co2+ ions were successfully doped into the BiOBrxCl1-x nanocrystals. The photodegradation rate of rhodamine B mediated by a doped BiOBrxCl1-x was 150 % greater than that of the non-doped BiOBr. We ascribe the improved photocatalytic capability of the Co2+-doped BiOBrxCl1-x to a combination of its superior degree of light absorption, more efficient carrier separation, and faster interfacial charge migration. The major active species involved in the photodegradation of RhB also has been investigated. Moreover, the doped BiOBrxCl1-x possessed excellent cellular biocompatibility and displayed remarkable performance in the photocatalytic bacterial inactivation.

As a two-dimensional nanomaterial, bismuth oxybromide (BiOBr) have attracted tremendous interest in the area of visible-light photocatalysis since it can provide the internal electric field (IEF) through z-axis through its unique electronic band structure. However, the insufficient active sites and rapid recombination rate of charged carriers hamper the efficiency of the photocatalysis. To address these two major obstacles, an enticing strategy of constructing heterojunction was established by introducing Bi2O2(OH)(NO3) (BiON) in BiOBr with the same precursor. Through a facile one-pot hydrothermal synthesis, two Sillen-type layered photocatalysts, with intimately constructed ultrathin heterostructure, was synthesized by the co-precipitation method. In this work, the formation of Bismuth-based heterojunction for charge separation is established by the excessive bismuth nitrate, which subsequently participates with the in situ growth of ultrathin hierarchical microspheres. By attenuating the thickness of BiOBr from 20 nm to 8 nm with the aid of BiON, the photogenerated charges could migrate to the active sites through shorter charge diffusion pathway. Also, the BiOBr and BiON act as an active bridge to promote the separation of electron-hole pairs, which also brings out more active sites due to its increased specific surface area. BiON/BiOBr ultrathin hierarchical microspheres exhibited enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity for decontaminating several types of pollutants. Besides, the activity of as-prepared BiON/BiOBr was further evaluated by inhibiting the growth of kanamycin-resistant bacteria strains. This study presents a novel strategy to incorporate the crystalline bismuth hydrate nitrate into BiOBr to form ultrathin hierarchical microspheres with high surface area for environmental remediation.

In this article, the polyamide (PA)/reduced graphene (rGO) nanocomposites used for thermally conductive materials have been synthesized through melting blending. A titanate coupling agent (TCA) is used to modify the rGO to enhance the chemical compatibility between rGO and PA. The results suggest that the covalent bonds can be formed by the chemical reaction between alkoxy group of titanate molecules and hydroxyl groups on the graphene oxide (GO). With the interfacial modification, the rGO can be dispersed well within the PA matrix. Moreover, the TCA molecule can replace of water of hydration at the rGO surface, which can eliminate the air voids within the composites resulting in better thermal conductivity. The LED lamp incorporated with the rGO based composite as heat sink also display better durability due to its excellent thermal dissipation.

In this article, carbon- (PCPDTTBT) and silicon-bridged (PSiPDTTBT) cyclopentadithiophene (CPDT)-based polymers have been synthesized. We have systematically studied the effect of replacing a carbon atom with a silicon atom on the main chain of the conjugated polymer and the optoelectronic properties. With the simple substitution, the results indicate that the PSiPDTTBT reveals a higher crystallinity, improved thermal stability, charge transport properties, and lower resistance at the polymer-electrolyte interface. As a result, the PSiPDTTBT exhibits better electrochromic properties including higher contrast and coloration efficiency (CE) with respect to its carbon analogs. We attribute this better electrochromic performance to the presence of strong π–π stacking in the silicon-bridged CPDT-based polymer. The PSiPDTTBT shows a transmittance window of 55.5% at 560 nm and CE of 434 mC/cm 2 .

In this study, we have synthesized C 60 and C 70 -modified TiO 2 nanowire (NW) through interfacial chemical bonding. The results indicate that the fullerenes (C 60 and C 70 derivatives) can act as sinks for photogenerated electrons in TiO 2 , while the fullerene/TiO 2 is illuminated under ultraviolet (UV) light. Therefore, in comparison to the pure TiO 2 NWs, the modified TiO 2 NWs display a higher photocatalytic activity under UV irradiation. Moreover, the fullerenes also can function as a sensitizer to TiO 2 which expand the utilization of solar light from UV to visible light. The results reveal that the C 70 /TiO 2 NWs show a significant photocatalytic activity for degradation of methylene blue (MB) in visible light region. To better understand the mechanism responsible for the effect of fullerenes on the photocatalytic properties of TiO 2 , the electron only devices and photoelectrochemical cells based on fullerenes/TiO 2 are also fabricated and evaluated.

The rapid development of wearable electronic devices and energy storage devices has increased the demand for flexible, lightweight, and durable supercapacitors. Nevertheless, the cost-effective synthesis of suitable active materials and the facile fabrication of electrodes for energy storage systems remain a challenge for practical applications. In this study, we developed a scalable method for the fabrication of graphene-based supercapacitors, by using a CO2 infrared laser to transform polyimide (PI) films into porous graphene. Furthermore, when modified with oxidatively polymerized poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), the conductivity of the graphene films was enhanced significantly. The resultant films could be fabricated directly for use in supercapacitors without employing metallic current collectors. The current collector–free supercapacitors exhibited excellent electrochemical properties, rivaling those obtained from corresponding devices featuring metallic current electrodes. An assembled device having a large working area (4 × 4 cm2) displayed reversible capacities of 115.2, 97.0, and 78.4 F/g at rates of 0.5, 2, and 6 A/g, respectively. Moreover, only slight losses in capacitance occurred after 4000 charge/discharge cycles and 2000 bending cycles, indicative of remarkable cycling life and mechanical stability.

In 2016, a project was initiated in Taiwan to adopt molecular diagnosis of childhood medulloblastoma (MB). In this study, we aimed to identify a molecular-clinical correlation and somatic mutation for exploring risk-adapted treatment, drug targets, and potential genetic predisposition. In total, 52 frozen tumor tissues of childhood MBs were collected. RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) and DNA methylation array data were generated. Molecular subgrouping and clinical correlation analysis were performed. An adjusted Heidelberg risk stratification scheme was defined for updated clinical risk stratification. We selected 51 genes for somatic variant calling using RNA-Seq data. Relevant clinical findings were defined. Potential drug targets and genetic predispositions were explored. Four core molecular subgroups (WNT, SHH, Group 3, and Group 4) were identified. Genetic backgrounds of metastasis at diagnosis and extent of tumor resection were observed. The adjusted Heidelberg scheme showed its applicability. Potential drug targets were detected in the pathways of DNA damage response. Among the 10 patients with SHH MBs analyzed using whole exome sequencing studies, five patients exhibited potential genetic predispositions and four patients had relevant germline mutations. The findings of this study provide valuable information for updated risk adapted treatment and personalized care of childhood MBs in our cohort series and in Taiwan.

Carbon nanomaterials, include carbon nanotubes and graphene nanosheets, have drawn an increasing amount of attention because of their potential applications in daily life or in providing novel therapeutic possibilities for treating diseases. However, the overall biocompatibility, the potential toxic effects of carbon nanomaterials toward human cells, and their modulations in cellular mechanism, are not fully understood. Herein, four types of carbon nanomaterials, include long and short carbon nanotubes and graphene nanosheets, at low and high concentrations, were functionalized and dispersed in the biocompatible buffer for assessment. The surface structure, the morphology, and chemical composition of carbon nanomaterials were characterized. Also, biological assays investigating cellular viability, vitality, cell cycle, and apoptotic cell death were applied on cells co-incubated with nanomaterials, to evaluate the biocompatibility of these nanomaterials in human cells. Our data suggested that even though co-incubation of nanomaterials did not seem to affect the viability of cells notably, high concentrations (50 ug/ml) of SW could lead to unhealthy cells, and we observed dramatic G2 arrest effect mediated by p21 induction in high SW incubated cells. Other nanomaterials at high concentration may also alter cell cycle profile of the cells. In summary, our data demonstrated that these nanomaterials could regulate cell cycle and lead to apoptosis at high concentrations, and the underling molecular mechanisms have been addressed. Caution should be taken on their concentration when nanomaterials are in used in future medical applications.

Osteoporosis is defined by low bone mineral density (BMD), which is mainly due to the imbalances in osteoclast and osteoblast activity. Previous studies indicated that early activation of osteoclasts relies on calcium entry through store-operated calcium (SOC) entry, and several genes, including STIM1, ORAI1, and ITPKC, are known as key regulators of SOC entry. However, the relationships between STIM1, ORAI1, ITPKC, and human BMD are still unclear. In order to investigate the plausible associations between these genes and BMD, we conducted a meta-analysis of genes expression and BMD using the publicly available GEO database. We further recruited 1044 subjects and tested associations between polymorphisms in these genes and BMD. Clinical information (including age, sex, and BMI) was collected and used for the analysis. Our results indicated that ITPKC gene expression was significantly associated with BMD. Furthermore, we found that one ITPKC SNP (rs2607420) was significantly associated with lumbar spine BMD. Through bioinformatics analysis, rs2607420 was found to be very likely to participate in the regulation of ITPKC expression. Our findings suggest that ITPKC is a susceptibility gene for BMD, and rs2607420 may play an important role in the regulation of this gene.

The stiffness index (SI) from quantitative ultrasound measurements is a good indicator of BMD and may be used to predict the risk of osteoporotic fracture. We conducted a genomewide association study (GWAS) for SI using 7742 individuals from the Taiwan Biobank, followed by a replication study in a Korean population (n = 2955). Approximately 6.1 million SNPs were subjected to association analysis, and SI-associated variants were identified. We further conducted a meta-analysis of Taiwan Biobank significant SNPs with a Korean population-based cohort. Candidate genes were prioritized according to epigenetic annotations, gene ontology, protein-protein interaction, GWAS catalog, and expression quantitative trait loci analyses. Our results revealed seven significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within three loci: 7q31.31, 17p13.3, and 11q14.2. Conditional analysis showed that three SNPs, rs2536195 (CPED1/WNT16), rs1231207 (SMG6), and rs4944661 (LOC10050636/TMEM135), were the most important signals within these regions. The associations for the three SNPs were confirmed in a UK Biobank estimated BMD GWAS; these three cytobands were replicated successfully after a meta-analysis with a Korean population cohort as well. However, two SNPs were not replicated. After prioritization, we identified two novel genes, RAB15 and FNTB, as strong candidates for association with SI. Our study identified three SI-associated SNPs and two novel SI-related genes. Overall, these results provide further insight into the genetic architecture of osteoporosis. Further studies in larger East Asian populations are needed. © 2019 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

In this study, we used a spray-drying method to synthesize a hierarchically structured binary nanocomposite comprising highly porous NiO nanosheets and polyaniline:poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PANI:PSS) materials. In this system, the porous NiO nanosheets—obtained through thermal decomposition of β-Ni(OH)2 derived from microwave-assisted hydrothermal treatment—dispersed well in the PANI:PSS solution. The homogeneous suspension was then processed through spray-drying and crosslinking of PANI:PSS and GOPS to form NiO/PANI:PSS microspheres. The PANI polymer served as a good conductor and thin spacer that prevented the NiO nanosheets from undergoing layer-to-layer stacking. Moreover, the crosslinked PANI:PSS acted as a binder that held all of the active materials together, leading to high mechanical integrity and excellent water-resistance. Through a synergistic effect in this unique nanoarchitecture, the NiO/PANI:PSS nanocomposite displayed a higher capacitance (834 F/g) at 1 A/g compared with that of NiO (380 F/g) and PANI:PSS (264.5 F/g) individually. Furthermore, the NiO/PANI:PSS composite displayed remarkable rate performance and outstanding cycling life—88.9% retention of specific capacitance after 3000 repeated charge/discharge tests—as a result of its low resistance and high (SSA). We fabricated asymmetric supercapacitors (ASCs) incorporating NiO/PANI:PSS and active carbon (AC) to further explore the capacitive performance of the composite. The as-fabricated devices also delivered remarkable performance, with an energy density of 32.84 Wh/kg, a power density of 375 W/kg, and excellent cycle life.

In this study, the surface modified TiO 2 nanoparticles have been prepared through microwave-assisted reaction with oleic acid as surfactant. The as-synthesized TiO 2 nanoparticles reveal uniform particle size distribution and high dispersibility in organic solvents which can be easily integrated into solution-process. The organic capped TiO 2 (OC-TiO 2 ) has been applied as filler for LED encapsulant and electron collection layer for organic solar cells. With 1.0 wt% loading of TiO 2 nanoparticles, the refractive index (RI) of TiO 2 /silicone composites increase from 1.51 for neat silicone to 1.575. As a result, a high-power LED encapsulated with this composite showed more than 9% increase in the light output. Moreover, the organic solar cell with the OC-TiO 2 as electron collection layer shows an enhanced long-term durability due to the hydrophobic property of OC-TiO 2 .