Lipid-like Carbon-Dot Liposomes for Enhanced Drug Delivery and Membrane Fluidity Modulation in the Treatment of Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

Cancer metastasis remains a major clinical challenge, leading to discouraging treatment outcomes and over 90% of cancer-related mortality. In this study, lipid-like carbon dots (LCDs) are designed to self-assemble into liposome-like structures, namely carbon-dot liposomes (CDsomes), serving as a multifunctional drug carrier for anticancer and anti-metastasis therapy in highly invasive triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). The amphiphilic nature of CDsomes enables efficient fusion with TNBC cell membranes, facilitating drug delivery while reducing membrane fluidity.

Oral Administration of Heat-Killed Multi-Strain Probiotics Confers Durable Protection Against Antibiotic-Resistant Primary and Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections in a Murine Model.

Unlabelled: Background/Objectives Alternative therapies for urinary tract infections (UTIs) have been explored, but their efficacy remains inconsistent. With rising antibiotic resistance, this study aimed to evaluate simplified postbiotic formulations derived from heat-killed probiotics for long-term protection against primary and recurrent UTIs in a murine model.

Methods: We compared a multi-strain (seven-strain) versus a single-strain postbiotic in preventing -induced UTIs and recurrent polymicrobial UTIs, assessed protection persistence after treatment discontinuation, and established a novel sustained UTI model via intravesical co-inoculation of three uropathogens.

Desmethylclomipramine triggers mitochondrial damage and death in TGF-β-induced mesenchymal type of A549 cells.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths, where the metastasis often causes chemodrug resistance and leads to recurrence after treatment. Desmethylclomipramine (DCMI), a bioactive metabolite of clomipramine, shows the therapeutic efficacy with antidepressive agency as well as potential cytostatic effects on lung cancer cells. Here, we demonstrated that DCMI effectively caused transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1-mediated mesenchymal type of A549 cells to undergo mitochondrial death via myeloid cell leukemia-1 (Mcl-1) suppression and activation of truncated Bid (tBid).

Dual-emissive carbonized polymer dots for the ratiometric fluorescence imaging of singlet oxygen in living cells.

Singlet oxygen (O) is a type of reactive oxygen species (ROS), playing a vital role in the physiological and pathophysiological processes. Specific probes for monitoring intracellular O still remain challenging. In this study, we develop a ratiometric fluorescent probe for the real-time intracellular detection of O using o-phenylenediamine-derived carbonized polymer dots (o-PD CPDs).

Photoswitchable carbon-dot liposomes mediate catalytic cascade reactions for amplified dynamic treatment of tumor cells.

Most biochemical reactions that occur in living organisms are catalyzed by a series of enzymes and proceed in a tightly controlled manner. The development of artificial enzyme cascades that resemble multienzyme complexes in nature is of current interest due to their potential in various applications. In this study, a nanozyme based on photoswitchable carbon-dot liposomes (CDsomes) was developed for use in programmable catalytic cascade reactions.

Evaluation of chemotherapeutic response in living cells using subcellular Organelle‒Selective amphipathic carbon dots.

Monitoring of structural changes in subcellular organelles is critical to evaluate the chemotherapeutic response of cells. However, commercial organelle selective fluorophores are easily photobleached, and thus are unsuitable for real-time and long-term observation. We have developed photostable carbon-dot liposomes (CDsomes)-based fluorophores for organellar and suborganellar imaging to circumvent these issues.

Carbon dots with polarity-tunable characteristics for the selective detection of sodium copper chlorophyllin and copper ions.

Compared to water-soluble carbon dots (CDs) the properties and applications of hydrophobic CDs are rarely addressed. In this study, a one-pot, simple chemical oxidation approach has been applied to synthesize hydrophobic carbon dots (TO-CDs) at room temperature from triolein (TO) in concentrated sulfuric acid solution. Sodium copper chlorophyllin (SCC) quenches the fluorescence of TO-CDs by a photoinduced electron transfer process.

Electrocatalytic CuBr@CuO nanoparticles based salivary glucose probes.

Highly electrocatalytic cuprous halide/copper oxide nanoparticles (CuX@CunO NPs; X = Cl, Br or I; n = 1 or 2) have been fabricated on copper foils for sensitive detection of glucose. Formation of CuX@CuO NPs involves two steps- in situ electrochemical deposition of CuX on the foil and then conversion of CuX to CuO. The deposited CuX converts to CuO, leading to the generation of abundant oxygen vacancies in the CuO lattice, enhancing the number of catalytically active sites, and improving the charge transfer efficiency.

Role of tumor endothelial marker 1 (Endosialin/CD248) lectin-like domain in lipopolysaccharide-induced macrophage activation and sepsis in mice.

Deleterious hyper-inflammation resulting from macrophage activation may aggravate sepsis and lead to lethality. Tumor endothelial marker 1 (TEM1), a type I transmembrane glycoprotein containing six functional domains, has been implicated in cancer and chronic sterile inflammatory disorders. However, the role of TEM1 in acute sepsis remains to be determined.

High-performance FRET biosensors for single-cell and in vivo lead detection.

Forms of lead (Pb) have been insidiously invading human life for thousands of years without obvious signs of their considerable danger to human health. Blood lead level (BLL) is the routine measure used for diagnosing the degree of lead intoxication, although it is unclear whether there is any safe range of BLL. To develop a practical detection tool for living organisms, we engineered a genetically encoded fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based Pb biosensor, 'Met-lead 1.

Monitoring the Heavy Metal Lead Inside Living Drosophila with a FRET-Based Biosensor.

The harmful impact of the heavy metal lead on human health has been known for years. However, materials that contain lead remain in the environment. Measuring the blood lead level (BLL) is the only way to officially evaluate the degree of exposure to lead.

Carbon dots functionalized papers for high-throughput sensing of 4-chloroethcathinone and its analogues in crime sites.

Sensitive and selective assays are demanded for quantitation of new psychoactive substances such as 4-chloroethcathinone that is a π-conjugated keto compound. Carbon dots (C-dots) prepared from L-arginine through a hydrothermal route have been used for quantitation of 4-chloroethcathinone in aqueous solution and on C-dot-functionalized papers (CDFPs). To prepare CDFPs, chromatography papers, each with a pattern of 8 × 12 circles (wells), are first fabricated through a solid-ink printing method and then the C-dots are coated into the wells.

Parameters affecting the synthesis of carbon dots for quantitation of copper ions.

A simple, eco-friendly, and low-cost electrochemical approach has been applied to the synthesis of carbon dots (C dots) from histidine hydrochloride in the absence or presence of halides (Cl, Br, and I) at various potentials up to 10 V. The as-formed C dots refer to C dots, Cl-C, Br-C, and I-C dots. The time-evolution UV-vis absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectra provide more detailed information about the formation of C dots.

Fluorescence-tunable copper nanoclusters and their application in hexavalent chromium sensing.

Generally, metal nanoclusters are synthesized using only a single ligand. Thus, the properties and applications of these nanomaterials are limited by the nature of the ligand used. In this study, we have developed a new synthetic strategy to prepare bi-ligand copper nanoclusters (Cu NCs).

Highly sensitive sensing of hydroquinone and catechol based on β-cyclodextrin-modified carbon dots.

In the proposed study, an efficient method for a carbon dot@β-cyclodextrin (C-dot@β-CD)-based fluorescent probe was developed for the analyses of catechol (CC) and hydroquinone (HQ) at trace levels in water samples. The properties of C-dot@β-CD nanocomposites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The sensing behaviors of C-dot@β-CD toward CC and HQ were investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy.

Biological Mechanisms by Which Antiproliferative Actions of Resveratrol Are Minimized.

Preclinical and clinical studies have offered evidence for protective effects of various polyphenol-rich foods against cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancers. Resveratrol is among the most widely studied polyphenols. However, the preventive and treatment effectiveness of resveratrol in cancer remain controversial because of certain limitations in existing studies.

A highly selective and sensitive nanosensor for the detection of glyphosate.

A turn-off fluorescence sensor synthesized by combining copper (II) oxide and multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were used for measuring glyphosate based on the inhibiting the catalytic activity of the CuO/MWCNTs. This sensor was synthesized by precipitating copper ions onto the acidic MWCNTs under basic conditions; the resulting material was characterized by the transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to confirm its structure. The CuO/MWCNTs nanomaterial was found to exhibit high peroxidase-like catalytic activity toward the reduction of HO to HO and the oxidation of Amplex Red to resorufin, with a corresponding color change from pink to red and the fluorescence enhancement.

Improvement in non-specific immunity and disease resistance of barramundi, Lates calcarifer (Bloch), by diets containing Daphnia similis meal.

A 42-day study was conducted with barramundi, Lates calcarifer, to evaluate the effects of Daphnia meal derived from Daphnia similis on fish growth, immune response, and disease resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila. Three isonitrogenous (45%) and isolipid (10%) experimental diets were formulated to contain 0% (control), 5% (D5), and 10% (D10) Daphnia meal. Growth was depressed when fish were fed with the D10 diet for 42 days compared to control.

Using spectroscopic ellipsometry to characterize and apply the optical constants of hollow gold nanoparticles.

In this paper, we report the optical constants (refractive index, extinction coefficient) of self-assembled hollow gold nanoparticle (HGN) monolayers determined through spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE). We prepared a series of HGNs exhibiting various morphologies and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) properties. The extinction coefficient (k) curves of the HGN monolayers exhibited strong SPR peaks located at wavelengths that followed similar trends to those of the SPR positions of the HGNs in solution.