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BackgroundIntervertebral Disc Degeneration (IDD) is a major cause of lower back pain and a significant global health issue. However, the specific mechanisms of IDD remain unclear. This study aims to identify key genes and pathways associated with IDD using bioinformatics and machine learning algorithms.MethodsGene expression profiles, including those from 35 LDH patients and 43 healthy volunteers, were downloaded from the GEO database (GSE124272, GSE150408, GSE23130, GSE153761). After merging four microarray datasets, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were selected for GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) was then applied to the merged dataset to identify relevant modules and intersect with DEGs to discover candidate genes with diagnostic value. A LASSO model was established to select appropriate genes, and ROC curves were drawn to elucidate the diagnostic value of genetic markers. A Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) network was constructed and visualized to determine central genes, followed by external validation using qRT-PCR.ResultsDifferential analysis of the preprocessed dataset identified 244 genes, including 183 upregulated and 61 downregulated genes. WGCNA analysis revealed the most relevant module intersecting with DEGs, yielding 9 candidate genes. The lasso-cox method was used for regression analysis, ultimately identifying 6 genes: ASPH, CDC42EP3, FOSL2, IL1R1, NFKBIZ, TCF7L2. A Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) network created with GENEMANIA identified IL1R1 and TCF7L2 as central genes.ConclusionOur study shows that IL1R1 and TCF7L2 are the core genes of IDD, offering new insights into the pathogenesis and therapeutic development of IDD.

Graphene oxide aerogel (GOA) has wide application prospects due to its low density and high porosity. However, the poor mechanical properties and unstable structure of GOA have limited its practical applications. In this study, polyethyleneimide (PEI) was used to graft onto the surface of GO and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to improve compatibility with polymers. Composite GOA was prepared by adding styrene-butadiene latex (SBL) to the modified GO and CNTs. The synergistic effect of PEI and SBL, resulted in an aerogel with excellent mechanical properties, compressive resistance, and structural stability. When the ratio of SBL to GO and GO to CNTs was 2:1 and 7:3, respectively, the obtained aerogel performance was the best, and the maximum compressive stress was 784.35% higher than that of GOA. The graft of PEI on the surface of GO and CNT could improve the mechanical properties of the aerogel, with greater improvements observed with grafting onto the surface of GO. Compared with GO/CNT/SBL aerogel without PEI grafting, the maximum stress of GO/CNT–PEI/SBL aerogel increased by 5.57%, that of GO–PEI/CNT/SBL aerogel increased by 20.25%, and that of GO–PEI/CNT–PEI/SBL aerogel increased by 28.99%. This work not only provided a possibility for the practical application of aerogel, but also steered the research of GOA in a new direction.

Graphene oxide/carbon nanotube aerogel (GOCA) with honeycomb three-dimensional framework is an ideal reinforcement material which can significantly improve the dispersion in the polymer matrix, and enhance the mechanical properties, thermal and electrical conductivity of the composites. In this work, large-size GOCA and GOCA/polystyrene (GOCA/PS) composite sheet were prepared via critical drying and in-situ polymerization, respectively, and the standard splines of mechanical properties were tested. The results indicated that the tensile, flexural, compressive, and impact strengths of GOCA/PS composites increased with the increase of GOCA content. When the GOCA content was 1.1 wt %, the above mechanical properties increased to the maximum, increased by 103.29%, 60.30%, 177.03%, and 611.38%, respectively. However, as the content of GOCA increased, the electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity showed an increasing trend. In addition, the synergistic enhancement mechanism between GO and CNTs has also been studied. We believe that the present method may provide an effective route for the design and investigation of reinforced composites.

Three-dimensional (3D) graphene oxide aerogel (GOA) is one of the best fillers for composites for microwave absorption. However, its further development has been hindered by the poor mechanical properties. Methodology to improve the mechanical properties of the aerogel remains an urgent challenge. Herein, graphene oxide/carbon nanotube/epoxy resin composite aerogel (GCEA) was successfully prepared by a facile method. The results showed that the prepared GCEA with the hierarchical and 3D cross-linked structures exhibited excellent compression performance, structural and thermal stability, high hydrophilicity, and microwave absorption. The prepared GCEA recovered from multiple large strain cycles without significant permanent deformation. The minimum reflection loss (RL) was −39.60 dB and the maximum effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) was 2.48 GHz. The development of the enhanced GO aerogels will offer a new approach to the preparation of 3D microwave-absorbing skeletal materials with good mechanical properties.

Graphene oxide/carbon nanotubes reinforced high-performance polymer matrix composites featuring lightweight, electrical and thermal properties, are highly required, yet their development still remains a huge challenge. Here, a novel approach for a flexible and high strong (graphene oxide/carbon nanotube) aerogel/polystyrene (GOCA/PS) nanocomposite was developed by in-situ polymerization and hot-pressing method using prefabricated GO/CNT aerogel as the interconnected three-dimensional (3D) reinforcement skeleton. Aerogel plays the role of nano-rivets in composite to improve mechanical strength, and the enhancement mechanism was investigated. The results indicate that GO/CNT exhibits excellent dispersion in the polystyrene matrix. In compared with pure PS, the tensile, flexural, compressive, and impact strength of GOCA/PS composite with about 1.0 wt%, a 7:3 mass ratio of GO to CNT, were increased by shifted from 7.35 to 12.83 MPa (about 74.5%), 18.13–29.60 MPa (about 63.2%), 33.15 to 74.44 kJ/m2 (about 124.5%), and 2.09–6.53 MPa (about 211.94%), respectively. Moreover, the microhardness, elastic, flexural and compressive modulus also increased to maximum at a 7:3 mass ratio of GO to CNT. The approach may provide an effective approach to the design and investigation of reinforced composites.

The rational design of carbon nanomaterials-reinforced polymer matrix composites based on the excellent properties of three-dimensional porous materials still remains a significant challenge. Herein, a novel approach is developed for preparing large-scale 3D carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene oxide (GO) aerogel (GO-CNTA) by direct grafting of CNTs onto GO. Following this, styrene was backfilled into the prepared aerogel and polymerized in situ to form GO–CNTA/polystyrene (PS) nanocomposites. The results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman spectroscopy indicate the successful establishment of CNTs and GO-CNT and the excellent mechanical properties of the 3D frameworks using GO-CNT aerogel. The nanocomposite fabricated with around 1.0 wt% GO-CNT aerogel displayed excellent thermal conductivity of 0.127 W/m∙K and its mechanical properties were significantly enhanced compared with pristine PS, with its tensile, flexural, and compressive strengths increased by 9.01%, 46.8%, and 59.8%, respectively. This facile preparation method provides a new route for facilitating their large-scale production.