Preparation and Biosafety Evaluation of the Peptide Dendron Functionalized Mesoporous Silica Nanohybrid

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) have been extensively studied and proposed as promising candidates for numerous biomedical applications.In this study,we report the design,preparation,characterization and biosafety evaluation of peptide dendron functionalized mesoporous silica nanohybrid.This nanohybrid was prepared by surface modification of MSNs via click reaction of azido-MSNs with alkynyl peptide dendrons,and characterized by TEM,SEM,TGA,dynamic light scattering (DLS).In vitro cytotoxicity of the nanohybrid was evaluated against different cell lines by CCK-8 assay.The in vivo toxicity evaluation was measured by body weight shift,blood routine test and histological analysis,suggesting that the peptide functionalized nanohybrid possessed good biocompatibility due to the non-observed significant side effects to normal organs of healthy mice.Overall,considering our results we believe that the peptide dendron functionalized mesoporous silica nanohybrid is very promising in further biomedical applications.     

Green-synthesised nanoparticles from Melia azedarach seeds and the cyclopoid crustacean Cyclops vernalis: an eco-friendly route to control the malaria vector Anopheles stephensi?

The impact of green-synthesised mosquitocidal nanoparticles on non-target aquatic predators is poorly studied. In this research, we proposed a single-step method to synthesise silver nanoparticles (Ag NP) using the seed extract of Melia azedarach. Ag NP were characterised using a variety of biophysical methods, including UV–vis spectrophotometry, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. In laboratory assays on Anopheles stephensi, Ag NP showed LC₅₀ ranging from 2.897 (I instar larvae) to 14.548 ppm (pupae). In the field, the application of Ag NP (10 × LC₅₀) lead to complete elimination of larval populations after 72 h. The application of Ag NP in the aquatic environment did not show negative adverse effects on predatory efficiency of the mosquito natural enemy Cyclops vernalis. Overall, this study highlights the concrete possibility to employ M. azedarach-synthesised Ag NP on young instars of malaria vectors.     

发展生物安全材料学,筑牢中国国家安全城墙

生物安全问题已经成为全世界面临的重大生存和发展威胁之一。 在当前我国常态化抗击新型冠状病毒肺炎(COVID-19)疫情的背景下,生物安全的战略地位不断提升,它不仅是对国家安全体系组成元素的不断丰富,而且也将增强我国应对突发公共卫生事件的能力,更是保障国家生物安全的必然选择。 然而,骤然爆发的COVID-19疫情,揭示了世界各国生物安全还存在漏洞。 我国疫情初期,抗疫一线防护装备严重缺乏,检测、监控手段薄弱等,其部分原因是我国生物安全相关的材料研发有所欠缺。 利用新材料来防范生物安全威胁和应对生物安全风险因子,发展生物安全材料学,加强生物安全材料学科建设及人才培养,促进生物安全材料学的发展,具有重大意义。 生物安全材料学的发展,必将满足人民健康、国家战略和国防需求,为我国国家安全提供保障。     

防生物危害学:保障生物安全的新学科

生物安全作为我国12个安全领域之一,已经得到社会各界的重视,《中华人民共和国生物安全法》也于2020年10月颁布,为科学应对生物危害提供了法律基础。生物威胁来源及其危害对象(人、动物、植物和环境)都是多元的。目前,应对生物威胁仍是以"防生物危害医学"学科为基础,但在应对这种多元化生物安全问题上,显示出了该学科的局限性。该文在讨论生物安全概念演化和生物威胁类别的基础上,提出了防生物危害学新学科的发展及其涵盖范畴,以从学科发展角度为保障我国生物安全奠定基础。     

二维过渡金属硫族化合物在生物医学中的应用

二维过渡金属硫族化合物(TMDs)是继石墨烯纳米材料发展之后一类新型的二维纳米材料. 由于其特殊的物理化学性质, TMDs二维纳米材料在能源、光电器件、催化反应等多个领域引起了人们广泛的研究兴趣. 近年来这类材料在纳米生物医学方面也得到人们广泛的关注. 这篇综述简单介绍TMDs二维层状纳米材料的制备、表面修饰、生物成像、肿瘤治疗和毒理学研究, 并对二维TMDs纳米材料未来在生物医学领域的发展做出展望.