Long-Term In Situ Treatment of Arthritis with Injectable Biocompatible Organogel Activation.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an autoimmune disease, severely impairs joint function and mobility, causing pain, stiffness, and joint deformity. As an active ingredient of ancient herbs and a widely studied polyphenol flavonoid glycoside, quercetin has a historical use in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. However, its low oral bioavailability and potential carcinogenic effects limit its systemic use.

GLM7 - A Novel Composite Glycolipid Index Derived from Routine Health Indicators for Enhanced Diagnosis and Prediction of Multimorbidity.

Routine health examinations for healthy adults typically involve measurements such as height, weight, blood biochemistry, complete blood count, and urinalysis. However, the current scope of physical examinations has expanded to include numerous tests, some of which have questionable insight into underlying pathology. In this study, we analyzed 26,289 samples from the NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) database, along with 49 included indicators, to systematically explore the correlation between conventional indicators and various diseases.

Tumor-adipose assembloids reveal cell-fate-transition-triggered multistage collective invasions.

Tumor invasion constitutes a multifaceted process encompassing collective cellular migration and dynamic cell-fate transitions. Although these aspects have been studied separately by physicists and biologists, their spatiotemporal coupling remains unclear. To bridge this gap, we introduce a tumor-adipose assembloid model that facilitates live tracking and temporal analysis of cancer cells and adipocytes.

A biodegradable magnetic microrobot based on alginate/GelMA microcapsules for delivery of chondroitin sulfate for cartilage tissue repair.

Defects of articular cartilage can lead to osteoarthritis, but the effective repair of damaged cartilage is still a clinical challenge. Microrobots based on smart hydrogel can deliver drugs to cartilage defects in a minimally invasive manner. Herein, biodegradable microrobots were fabricated based on spherical microcapsules composed of sodium alginate (SA), gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) and iron oxide nanoparticles (FeO) using interficial shearing method with high mass production.

Invasion Dynamics and Migration Patterns of Fall Armyworm () in Shaanxi, China.

The fall armyworm () is a highly invasive agricultural pest that has caused significant damage to maize and other crops since its initial detection in China in 2019. Understanding its invasion dynamics, migration patterns, genetic diversity, and overwintering capacity is crucial for developing effective pest management strategies. This study investigates these aspects in Shaanxi Province, a critical transitional zone between northern and southern climates in China, from 2019 to 2023.

Music-Box: Controlling microfluidic flow with customized melodies for point-of-care testing.

The global prevalence of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) underscores an urgent need for solutions of accessible and rapid diagnostics. Although microfluidic chips have paved a promising pathway for achieving point-of-care-testing (POCT), the reliance on bulky and high-cost pumps has restricted their applicability in decentralized settings. Here, we present "Music-Box", a system leveraging a novel actuation mechanism based on the asymmetric motion of the speaker to achieve precise microfluidic control.

Ultrafast micromixer for on-line screening of antioxidants.

Background: The integration of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with rapid post-column biochemical detection techniques has gained widespread application in the pinpoint of antioxidant components in complex natural matrices. However, the use of PEEK reaction coils in on-line antioxidant analysis often encounters issues with poor mixing of the reaction solution, leading to peak broadening and a decrease in peak capacity. This may adversely affect the sensitivity and precision of the analysis.

Identification of a Biomarker Panel in Extracellular Vesicles Derived From Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Through Proteomic Analysis and Machine Learning.

Antigen fingerprint profiling of tumour-derived extracellular vesicles (TDEVs) in the body fluids is a promising strategy for identifying tumour biomarkers. In this study, proteomic and immunological assays reveal significantly higher CD155 levels in plasma extracellular vesicles (EVs) from patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) than from healthy individuals. Utilizing CD155 as a bait protein on the EV membrane, CD155+ TDEVs are enriched from NSCLC patient plasma EVs.

Programmable Manually Powered Microfluidics for Rapid Point-of-Care Diagnosis of Urinary Tract Infection.

Point-of-care testing (POCT) for urinary tract infection (UTI) holds significant importance in the field of disease prevention and control, as well as the advancement of personalized precision medicine. However, conventional methods for detecting UTIs continue to face challenges such as time-consuming and labor-intensive detection processes, and reliance on specialized equipment and personnel rendering them unsuitable for point-of-care applications, especially in resource-limited areas. Here, we propose a novel flexible programmable manually powered microfluidic (FPM) for rapid point-of-care diagnosis of UTIs.

Electrochemistry and Molecular Compositions Reflect Electron Shuttling of Dissolved Organic Matter in High Arsenic Groundwater.

Little is known about the electron shuttle ability of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and its effects on arsenic (As) mobilization, which makes the underlying mechanism of groundwater As enrichment elusive. In this study, both the electrochemical properties and molecular compositions of DOM in high As groundwater were quantified in the Hetao Basin, China. We found that, along the flow path, the average electron-transferring capacity (ETC) of DOM, including the capacities of electron-accepting and electron-donating, continuously increased from 2.

A natural small molecule isoginkgetin alleviates hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis by targeting ACLY.

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) represents the predominant cause of mortality and morbidity globally. Given the established role of hypercholesterolemia as a significant risk factor for ASCVD, the discovery of new lipid-lowering medications is of paramount importance. ATP citrate lyase (ACLY) is a crucial enzyme in cellular metabolism, providing acetyl-CoA as the building block for the biosynthesis of fatty acids and cholesterol.

Fully Integrated Centrifugal Microfluidics for Rapid Exosome Isolation, Glycan Analysis, and Point-of-Care Diagnosis.

Exosomes present in the circulatory system demonstrate considerable promise for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Nevertheless, the complex nature of blood samples and the prevalence of highly abundant proteins pose a significant obstacle to prompt and effective isolation and functional evaluation of exosomes from blood. Here, we present a fully integrated lab-on-a-disc equipped with two nanofilters, also termed iExoDisc, which facilitates automated isolation of exosomes from 400 μL blood samples within 45 min.

Artificial intelligence enhanced microfluidic system for multiplexed point-of-care-testing of biological thiols.

Cysteamine (CA) serves as a cystine-depleting agent employed in the management of cystinosis and a range of other medical conditions. Monitoring blood CA levels at the point of care is imperative due to the risk of toxicity associated with elevated CA dosages. An additional significant challenge is presented by the intricate composition of human plasma and the presence of various interfering biological thiols, which possess similar structures or properties.

Preparation and Characterization of TKX-50/AP Cocrystals.

In order to achieve new energetic materials with high energy, low sensitivity, and moisture-proof properties, dihydroxylammonium 5,5'-bistetrazole-1,1'-diolate (TKX-50)/ammonium perchlorate (AP) cocrystal (molar ratio 1:1) was successfully prepared through a spray-assisted solvent-nonsolvent method. SEM shows that the morphology of the cocrystal is different from those of the two raw materials. XRD and FT-IR spectra indicate the formation of the cocrystal.

Unidirectional and sustainable release of NGF and BDNF from a chitosan gel-mediated multilayer ordered composite membrane in promoting both spinal cord and sciatic nerve injury repair.

To develop a scaffold suitable for simultaneous repair of both spinal cord injury (SCI) and sciatic nerve injury (SNI), we designed a multilayer composite membrane capable of unidirectional and sustained release of two factors: nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). The membrane's morphology, mechanical properties, cytocompatibility, drug release kinetics, swelling, and degradation behavior were thoroughly characterized. Additionally, its ability to promote the differentiation of PC-12 cells was assessed.

Freeze-Thaw-Induced Patterning of Extracellular Vesicles with Artificial Intelligence for Breast Cancers Identifications.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play a crucial role in the occurrence and progression of cancer. The efficient isolation and analysis of EVs for early cancer diagnosis and prognosis have gained significant attention. In this study, for the first time, a rapid and visually detectable method termed freeze-thaw-induced floating patterns of gold nanoparticles (FTFPA) is proposed, which surpasses current state-of-the-art technologies by achieving a 100 fold improvement in the limit of detection of EVs.

In-situ synthesis of 2D nanozymes-coated cellulose nanofibers on paper-based chips for portable detection of biothiols.

Background: Simple, fast and low-cost paper-based analytical devices (PADs) have a good application prospect for point-of-care detection of GSH. However, effective immobilization of functional nanomaterials onto cellulose, as a critical factor in the construction of PADs, presents numerous difficulties and challenges.

Results: In this study, we have developed an exceptionally straightforward and environmentally friendly synthetic approach by using ovalbumin (OVA) as a bio-mineralization template for the preparation of MnO nanosheets.

Rapid parallel blood typing on centrifugal microfluidic platform by microcolumn gel immunoassay.

Microcolumn gel immunoassay (MGIA) has the ability to meet the requirements of clinical diagnosis due to its reliable sensitivity and accuracy. However, traditional MGIA exhibits limitations including inadequate portability, low throughput, and extended analysis time. To address these challenges, we combined MGIA with microfluidic technology, demonstrating a centrifugal microfluidic-based microcolumn gel immunoassay (μMGIA) platform for blood typing of clinical samples.

Sensitive colorimetric detection of heparin using reverse modulation of peroxidase- and oxidase-mimetic activities in FeO@PDA@MnO nanocomposites.

Heparin, a widely studied glycosaminoglycan, plays crucial roles in the regulation of various physiological and pathological processes. Therefore, it's important to develop highly selective and sensitive methods for convenient monitoring of heparin levels in biological systems. We report the design and synthesis of FeO@PDA@MnO nanoparticles (FPM-NPs), which exhibit dual enzymatic activities, enabling quantitative detection of heparin.

The Application Progress of Nonthermal Plasma Technology in the Modification of Bone Implant Materials.

With the accelerating trend of global aging, bone damage caused by orthopedic diseases, such as osteoporosis and fractures, has become a shared international event. Traffic accidents, high-altitude falls, and other incidents are increasing daily, and the demand for bone implant treatment is also growing. Although extensive research has been conducted in the past decade to develop medical implants for bone regeneration and healing of body tissues, due to their low biocompatibility, weak bone integration ability, and high postoperative infection rates, pure titanium alloys, such as Ti-6A1-4V and Ti-6A1-7Nb, although widely used in clinical practice, have poor induction of phosphate deposition and wear resistance, and Ti-Zr alloy exhibits a lack of mechanical stability and processing complexity.

Fully Integrated and High-Throughput Microfluidic System for Multiplexed Point-Of-Care Testing.

For every epidemic outbreak, the prevention and treatments in resource-limited areas are always out of reach. Critical to this is that high accuracy, stability, and more comprehensive analytical techniques always rely on expensive and bulky instruments and large laboratories. Here, a fully integrated and high-throughput microfluidic system is proposed for ultra-multiple point-of-care immunoassay, termed Dac system.