Efficient and sustainable preparation of fine particles by a bubble-assisted freeze-dissolving method.

The development of fine particles has enabled innovative solutions across energy, environmental, and biomedical applications, driving the demand for cleaner, more efficient, and environmentally friendly synthesis methods. In this study, we present a freeze-dissolving approach as a sustainable and energy-efficient alternative to conventional freeze-drying for the preparation of KHCO and NHHPO fine particles. By dripping aqueous solutions of KHCO or NHHPO into liquid nitrogen, ice-templated particles were rapidly formed and these ice particles were subsequently dissolved in ethanol below 273.

Vimentin Fragmentation and Its Role in Amyloid-Beta Plaque Deposition in Alzheimer's Disease.

Intermediate filament protein vimentin (Vim) is a well-established marker for reactive astrocytes and has been closely associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). RNA sequencing data reveal elevated expression of Vim in AD brains, with its aggregation frequently observed around amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques. However, the precise mechanisms by which Vim influences the aggregation or propagation of Aβ plaques remain unclear.

Investigating the Effect of Microwave Induction on the Polymerization Rate of Polycarboxylate Superplasticizers.

As a transmission medium and heating energy, microwave is widely favored due to its high efficiency, strong selectivity, and easy control. Here, the effects of different heating methods (conventional thermal induction (CI) and microwave induction (MI)) on the polymerization rate of polycarboxylate superplasticizer (PCE) were investigated. Compared with CI, MI significantly boosted the polymerization rate (by approximately 51 times) and markedly decreased the activation energy (), from 46.

Recent Progress in Protein-Polyphenol Assemblies for Biomedical Applications.

Nowadays, natural materials as smart building blocks for assembling functional materials have aroused extensive interest in the scientific community. Proteins and polyphenols are typical natural building blocks that are widely used. On the one hand, proteins are one of the most versatile classes of biomolecules, serving as catalysts, signaling molecules, transporters, receptors, scaffolds that maintain the integrity of cell and tissue, and more.

Injectable and Self-Adaptive Gel Scaffold Based on Heparin Microspheres for Adipogenesis of Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells.

An injectable and self-adaptive heparin microsphere-based cell scaffold was developed to achieve adipose regeneration. Simultaneously, the cell scaffold exhibited a dynamic architecture, self-regulated glucose levels, sustained insulin delivery, and steady viscoelastic properties for adipogenesis. The dynamic cell scaffold is cross-linked by the boronate-diol interaction among heparin-based microspheres, which have boronate and maltose groups.

Gelatin-based Targeted Delivery Systems for Tissue Engineering.

Gelatin is an attractive material for drug delivery and tissue engineering applications due to its excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability, which has been utilized as cell, drug, and gene carriers. Gelatin is less immunogenic compared to collagen and its precursor and retains informational signals, such as RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp) sequence, thus promoting cell adhesion and proliferation. To tune the mechanical strength and bioactivity, gelatin can be easily modified via chemical reactions and physical methods to obtain various derivatives.

Safety Messaging Boosts Parental Vaccination Intention for Children Ages 5-11.

The COVID-19 vaccination rate among children ages 5-11 is low in the U.S., with parental vaccine hesitancy being the primary cause.