Gloverchristie2919

Previously, high-aspect- ratio ribbon-like microconfetti (MC) composed of acetalated dextran (Ace-DEX) have been shown to form a subcutaneous depot for sustained drug release. In this study, MC were explored as an injectable vaccine platform. Production of MC by electrospinning followed by high-shear homogenization allowed for precise control over MC fabrication. Three distinct sizes of MC, small (0.67 × 10.2 μm2), medium (1.28 × 20.7 μm2), and large (5.67 × 90.2 μm2), were fabricated and loaded with the adjuvant, resiquimod. Steady release rates of resiquimod were observed from MC, indicating their ability to create an immunostimulatory depot in vivo. Resiquimod-loaded MC stimulated inflammatory cytokine production in bone marrow-derived dendritic cells without incurring additional cytotoxicity in vitro. Interestingly, even medium and large MC were able to be internalized by antigen-presenting cells and facilitate antigen presentation when ovalbumin was adsorbed onto their surface. After subcutaneous injection in vivo with adsorbed ovalbumin, blank MC of all sizes were found to stimulate a humoral response. Adjuvant activity of resiquimod was enhanced by loading it into MC and small- and medium-sized MC effectively induced a Th1-skewed immune response. Antigen co-delivered with adjuvant-loaded MC of various sizes illustrates a new potential vaccine platform.Typically, the optical applications of silicon (Si) are limited to wavelengths below ∼1100 nm. However, there is significant research on Si surface modification, which tries to extend the optical properties of Si further into the infrared (IR) region. In this work, we present an ultra-wideband complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS)-biocompatible Si-based optical absorber with a hydrophobic surface. It consists of patterned three-dimensional grid-like structures of optimized compounds of titanium (Ti) on n-type Si (n-Si). Here, the Ti-compounds on Si were formed by subsequent deposition of patterned Ti and annealing. Moreover, we have shown that there are two possible Ti-compounds formed on Si, depending on the thickness of Ti deposited and the annealing time. The composition and the corresponding absorbance spectra for the two possibilities of Ti-compounds on n-Si, that is, Ti-O/Ti-O-Si/Ti-Si/n-Si (type 1) and Ti-O/Ti-O-Si/n-Si (type 2), were confirmed using an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy depth profiler and ultraviolet-visible-near-infrared spectrometer. We also illustrate how type 1 improves the absorption of radiation in the IR region. Further, we experimentally demonstrate that our fabricated absorber has an average reflectance (R) of 100°, which makes the surface hydrophobic.The development of noncorrosive but highly efficient electrolytes has been a long-standing challenge in magnesium rechargeable battery (MRB) research fields. As fluorinated alkoxyborate-based electrolytes have overcome serious problems associated with conventional electrolytes, they are regarded as promising for practical MRB applications. An electrolyte containing representative magnesium fluorinated alkoxyborate Mg[B(HFIP)4]2 ([B(HFIP)4] tetrakis(hexafluoroisopropoxy) borate) was prepared through general synthetic routes using Mg(BH4)2; however, it shows poor electrochemical magnesium deposition/dissolution behavior. Herein, we report an alternative synthetic route of highly reactive Mg[B(HFIP)4]2 and several critical issues associated with the use of Mg[B(HFIP)4]2/glyme electrolytes in MRBs. The cycling performance of the electrolytes as well as the synthetic reproducibility of the salt was significantly improved upon adopting a transmetalation reaction between certain magnesium and boron compounds for theroach.Understanding the crosstalk between synoviocytes and macrophages is very important for the development of strategies to regulate inflammatory responses in an inflamed synovium. Simultaneous regulation of the pro- and anti-inflammatory responses of synoviocytes and macrophages (repolarization) is critical for the treatment of arthritis. Thus, the immune regulatory functions of an ideal nanodrug should not only decrease the pro-inflammatory response but also effectively increase the anti-inflammatory response. HC-7366 cost In this study, crosstalk between synoviocytes and macrophages was found to be significantly involved in the activation and deactivation of inflammatory responses in the synovium. Interestingly, a developed triamcinolone-gold nanoparticle (Triam-AuNP) complex both decreased the pro-inflammatory responses and increased the anti-inflammatory responses of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) and macrophages via repolarization of macrophages from the M1 to the M2 phenotype. In contrast, triamcinolone alone only decreased the pro-inflammatory responses of FLSs and macrophages without upregulating their anti-inflammatory responses. In vitro (human), ex vivo (human), and in vivo (mouse) analyses clearly indicated that Triam-AuNPs effectively regulated the expression of both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in FLSs and effectively repolarized activity of macrophages in the inflamed synovium. Furthermore, Triam-AuNPs significantly promoted cartilage regeneration, whereas triamcinolone alone did not induce either FLS anti-inflammatory activity or macrophage repolarization.Quasi-2D halide perovskites, especially the Ruddlesden-Popper perovskites (RPPs), have attracted great attention because of their promising properties for optoelectronics; however, there are still serious drawbacks, such as inefficient charge transport, poor stability, and unsatisfactory mechanical flexibility, restricting further utilization in advanced technologies. Herein, high-quality quasi-2D halide perovskite thin films are successfully synthesized with the introduction of the unique bication ethylenediammonium (EDA) via a one-step spin-coating method. This bication EDA, with short alkyl chain length, can not only substitute the typically bulky and weakly van der Waals-interacted organic bilayer spacer cations forming the novel Dion-Jacobson phase to enhance the mechanical flexibility of the quasi-2D perovskite (e.g., EDA(MA)n-1Pb n I3n+1; MA = CH3NH3+) but also serve as a normal cation to achieve the more intact films (e.g., (iBA)2(MA)3-2x(EDA) x Pb4I13). When fabricated into photodetectors, these optimized EDA-based perovskites deliver an excellent responsivity of 125 mA/W and a fast response time down to 380 μs under 532 nm irradiation.