Topical application of zein-silk sericin nanoparticles loaded with curcumin for improved therapy of dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis is characterized by leukocyte migration into the skin dermis and typically driven by excessive chemokine production at the site of inflammation. Conventional topical formulations such as gels, creams, and ointments are insufficient for this treatment because of low penetration of drug molecules into the targeted skin tissues. Herein, using a simple, green, sustainable strategy, we have developed novel primary zein nanoparticles embedded in curcumin (Cur) and coated with silk sericin (ZHSCs) for the topical delivery of Cur to penetrate into the dermis and exercise anti-dermatitis effects on the lesion with minimal side-effects. Transdermal delivery experiments and porcine skin fluorescence imaging indicated that ZHSCs facilitate the penetration of Cur across the epidermis layer of skin to reach deep-seated sites. Notably, ZHSCs = 1:0.25 (zein-to-silk sericin mass ratios of 1:0.25) markedly elevated the skin permeability and cumulative turnover of Cur transferred, which were provided a greater than a 3.8-fold increase relative to free Cur. The special nanoparticles of ZHS = 1:0.25 possessed the deepest localization depth and experience a transition of the particle structure and core-shell separation after penetrating into the dermis of skin. In a cell model of dermatitis induced by tumor necrosis factor α/interferon γ co-stimulation, compared with free Cur, Cur-loaded ZHS nanoparticles down-regulated the generation of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in keratinocytes through suppression of the nuclear translocation of NF-κBp65 and hence exerted an anti-dermatitis effect. This strategy may provide new avenues and direction for the demanding issues of valid topical delivery systems.     

Terahertz generation in quantum cascade structures by two-color deriving fields: An approach to reach inversion population via optical pumping

In this paper, a quantum cascade laser (QCL) design is proposed based on GaAs/AlGaAs material system, which simultaneously operates at three widely separated wavelengths (${\lambda }_1=11.1\mu m,{\lambda }_2=14.1\mu m$ and ${\lambda }_{THz}=60\mu m$). In the design, all the wavelength radiations are achieved by the engineering of the electronic spectrum via the quantum-well widths and the applied electric field in a single active region within a same waveguide. The mid-infrared (mid-IR) wavelengths are obtained by adoption a dual-upper-state active region, and the proposed design aims to use both the mid-IR radiations as the coherent deriving fields to populate the upper THz lasing state to aid the THz-laser population inversion via optical pumping instead of direct electrical injection. A detailed analysis of electronic transport in the structure is carried out using a multi-level rate-equation model. The results show that the proposed structure offers an alternative approach to room temperature THz generation in QCLs.     

On Hr(curl,Ω) estimates for a Maxwell type system in convex domains

In bounded convex domains, the regularity of a vector field u with its $\mathrm{div}\mathbf{u}$, $\mathrm{curl}\mathbf{u}$ in $L^r$ space and the tangential component or the normal component of u over the boundary in $L^r$ space, is established for $1<r<\infty$. As an application, we derive an $H^r(\mathrm{curl},\mathrm{\Omega })$ estimate for solutions to a Maxwell type system with an inhomogeneous boundary condition in convex domains. In contrast to the well-posed region of r in the space $H^r(\mathrm{curl},\mathrm{\Omega })$ for the Maxwell type system in Lipschitz domains given by Kar and Sini (2016) [16], we extend the well-posed region to be optimal.     

A nonlinear model for marble sulphation including surface rugosity and mechanical damage

Here we propose and analyze a mathematical model that aims to describe the marble sulphation process occurring in a given material. The model accounts for rugosity as well as for damaging effects. This model is characterized by some technical difficulties that seem hard to overcome from a theoretical viewpoint. Therefore, we introduce some physically reasonable modifications in order to establish the existence of a suitable notion of solution on a given time interval. Numerical simulations are presented and discussed, also in view of further research.     

Characterizations of modalities and lex modalities

A reflective subuniverse in homotopy type theory is an internal version of the notion of a localization in topology or in the theory of ∞-categories. Working in homotopy type theory, we give new characterizations of the following conditions on a reflective subuniverse L: (1) the associated subuniverse $L^{\prime }$ of L-separated types is a modality; (2) L is a modality; (3) L is a lex modality; and (4) L is a cotopological modality. In each case, we give several necessary and sufficient conditions. Our characterizations involve various families of maps associated to L, such as the L-étale maps, the L-equivalences, the L-local maps, the L-connected maps, the unit maps ${\eta }_X$, and their left and/or right orthogonal complements. More generally, our main theorem gives an overview of how all of these classes related to each other. We also give examples that show that all of the inclusions we describe between these classes of maps can be strict.     

Dendritic polyurethane-based prodrug as unimolecular micelles for precise ultrasound-activated localized drug delivery

Ultrasound has been recognized as an exciting tool to enhance the therapeutic efficacy in tumor chemotherapy owing to the triggered drug release, facilitated intracellular drug delivery, and improved spatial precision. Aiming for a precise localized drug delivery, novel dendritic polyurethane-based prodrug (DOX-DPU-PEG) was fabricated with a drug content of 18.9% here by conjugating DOX onto the end groups of the functionalized dendritic polyurethane via acid-labile imine bonds. It could easily form unimolecular micelles around 38 nm. Compared with the non-covalently drug-loaded unimolecular micelles (DOX@Ph-DPU-PEG), they showed excellent pH/ultrasound dual-triggered drug release performance, with drug leakage of only 4% at pH 7.4, but cumulative release of 14% and 88% at pH 5.0 without and with ultrasound, respectively. The ultrasound responsiveness was attributed to the unique strawberry-shaped topological structure of the DOX-DPU-PEG, in which DOX was embedded in the skin layer of the hydrophobic DPU cores. With ultrasound, the DOX-DPU-PEG unimolecular micelles possessed enhanced tumor growth inhibition than free DOX but showed no obvious cytotoxicity on the tumor cells without ultrasound. Such feature makes them promising potential for precise localized drug delivery.     

光纤基底TiNi形状记忆合金薄膜制备工艺

将TiNi基记忆合金薄膜与光纤相结合可制成智能化、集成化且成本经济的微机电系统和微传感器件.本文采用磁控溅射法在二氧化硅光纤基底上制备TiNi记忆合金薄膜,系统讨论了溅射工艺参数以及后续退火处理对薄膜质量的影响.采用自研制光纤镀膜掩膜装置在直径为125μm的光纤圆周表面上形成均匀薄膜.实验表明:在靶基距、背底真空度、Ar气流量和溅射时间一定的条件下,溅射功率存在最佳值;溅射压强较大时,薄膜沉积速率较低,但薄膜表面粗糙度较小.进行退火处理后,薄膜形成较良好的晶体结构,Ti_49.09Ni_50.91薄膜中马氏体B19′相和奥氏体B2相共存,但以B19′为主.根据本文研究结果,在玻璃光纤基底上制备高质量的TiNi基记忆合金薄膜是可实现的,本工作为下一步研制微机电系统和微型传感器做了基础准备.     

Synthesis of flower-like WS2 by chemical vapor deposition

Flower-like tungsten disulfide (WS₂) with a diameter of 5-10 μm is prepared by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), Raman spectroscopy, and ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy are used to characterize its morphological and optical properties, and its growth mechanism is discussed. The key factors for the formation of flower-like WS₂ are determined. Firstly, the cooling process causes the generation of nucleation dislocations, and then the "leaf" growth of flower-like WS₂ is achieved by increasing the temperature.     

Full cross-diffusion limit in the stationary Shigesada-Kawasaki-Teramoto model

This paper studies the asymptotic behavior of coexistence steady-states of the Shigesada-Kawasaki-Teramoto model as both cross-diffusion coefficients tend to infinity at the same rate. In the case when either one of two cross-diffusion coefficients tends to infinity, Lou and Ni [18] derived a couple of limiting systems, which characterize the asymptotic behavior of coexistence steady-states. Recently, a formal observation by Kan-on [10] implied the existence of a limiting system including the nonstationary problem as both cross-diffusion coefficients tend to infinity at the same rate. This paper gives a rigorous proof of his observation as far as the stationary problem. As a key ingredient of the proof, we establish a uniform $L^{\infty }$ estimate for all steady-states. Thanks to this a priori estimate, we show that the asymptotic profile of coexistence steady-states can be characterized by a solution of the limiting system.     

不同退火条件对PEALD制备的Ga2O3薄膜特性的影响

利用等离子增强原子层沉积技术(PEALD)在c面蓝宝石衬底上制备了氧化镓(Ga₂O₃)薄膜,研究了退火气氛(v(N₂)∶v(O₂)=1∶1(体积比)、空气和N₂)及退火时间对Ga₂O₃薄膜晶体结构、表面形貌和光学性质的影响。研究结果表明,退火前的氧化镓处于亚稳态,不同退火气氛下退火后晶体结构发生明显改变,而且退火气氛中N₂比例增加有利于Ga₂O₃重结晶。在N₂气氛下退火达到30 min,薄膜结构已由亚稳态转变成择优取向的β-Ga₂O₃。而且表面形貌分析表明,退火30 min后表面形貌开始趋于稳定,表面晶粒密度不再增加。另外实验样品在 400~800 nm的平均透射率几乎是100%,且光吸收边陡峭。采用N₂气氛退火,对于富氧环境下沉积的Ga₂O₃更利于薄膜表面原子迁移,以及择优取向Ga₂O₃重结晶。