Continuum theory of swelling material surfaces with applications to thermo-responsive gel membranes and surface mass transport

Soft membranes are commonly employed in shape-morphing applications, where the material is programmed to achieve a target shape upon activation by an external trigger, and as coating layers that alter the surface characteristics of bulk materials, such as the properties of spreading and absorption of liquids. In particular, polymer gel membranes experience swelling or shrinking when their solvent content change, and the non-homogeneous swelling field may be exploited to control their shape. Here, we develop a theory of swelling material surfaces to model polymer gel membranes and demonstrate its features by numerically studying applications in the contexts of biomedicine, micro-motility, and coating technology. We also specialize the theory to thermo-responsive gels, which are made of polymers that change their affinity with a solvent when temperature varies.     

人钠/碘转运体基因转染结肠癌SW480细胞及相关蛋白表达的检测

目的以重组人钠/碘转运体（hNIS）基因转染结肠癌SW480细胞并检测hNIS mRNA及蛋白的表达，为放射性碘治疗非甲状腺肿瘤提供新思路。方法将构建好的重组质粒（pcDNA3.1+-hNIS）进行酶切、测序鉴定并扩增、提取。SW480细胞分为重组质粒（pcDNA3.1+-hNIS）转染组、空白质粒（pcDNA3.1+）转染组、空白对照组，转染后以RT-PCR和Western blot检测各组细胞hNIS mRNA和蛋白的表达。结果酶切和测序结果显示插入的hNIS基因大小和方向均正确。RT-PCR和Western blot显示重组质粒转染组SW480细胞可见hNIS mRNA和蛋白的表达，而空白对照组和空白质粒转染组均未检测到hNIS mRNA和蛋白的表达。结论脂质体法可有效地将hNIS基因转染至SW480细胞并成功表达hNIS蛋白。     

Random frog: An efficient reversible jump Markov Chain Monte Carlo-like approach for variable selection with applications to gene selection and disease classification

The identification of disease-relevant genes represents a challenge in microarray-based disease diagnosis where the sample size is often limited. Among established methods, reversible jump Markov Chain Monte Carlo (RJMCMC) methods have proven to be quite promising for variable selection. However, the design and application of an RJMCMC algorithm requires, for example, special criteria for prior distributions. Also, the simulation from joint posterior distributions of models is computationally extensive, and may even be mathematically intractable. These disadvantages may limit the applications of RJMCMC algorithms. Therefore, the development of algorithms that possess the advantages of RJMCMC methods and are also efficient and easy to follow for selecting disease-associated genes is required. Here we report a RJMCMC-like method, called random frog that possesses the advantages of RJMCMC methods and is much easier to implement. Using the colon and the estrogen gene expression datasets, we show that random frog is effective in identifying discriminating genes. The top 2 ranked genes for colon and estrogen are Z50753, U00968, and Y10871_at, Z22536_at, respectively. (The source codes with GNU General Public License Version 2.0 are freely available to non-commercial users at: http://code.google.com/p/randomfrog/.)     

Dual‐responsive supramolecular self‐assembly of inclusion complex of an azobenzene‐ended poly(ε‐caprolactone) with a water‐soluble pillar[6]arene and its application in controlled drug release

Dual photo‐ and pH‐responsive polymeric vesicles are constructed from a host–guest complex between a water‐soluble pillar[6]arene and an azobenzene ended functionalized poly(ε‐caprolactone). Reversible morphological transitions between vesicles and solid aggregates are achieved upon repeated UV stimulus and pH stimulus. Moreover, the polymeric vesicles present excellent cytocompatibility toward HepG2 cells and can be further applied for controlled release of a hydrophilic model drug, DOX?HCl. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55 , 2477–2482     

Podophyllotoxin extraction from Linum usitatissimum plant and its anticancer activity against HT‐29, A‐549 and MDA‐MB‐231 cell lines with and without the presence of gold nanoparticles

In recent years, gold nanoparticles (Au‐NPs) have been taken into consideration in nanomedicine due to their excellent biocompatibility, chemical stability and promising optical properties. In this research, podophyllotoxin conjugated with gold nanoparticles (Au‐NPs‐POT) was synthesized and the conjugation of POT with Au‐NPs was confirmed using scanning electron microscopy, mass spectrometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The anticancer effects of the product on preclinical models of lung, colon and breast cancers were investigated using MTT test. The analyses showed a direct dose–response relationship. It was found that higher concentrations of POT have more positive effects on the inhibition of cancer cell growth. At POT concentrations of 1, 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 15 and 20 ng ml^?1, approximately 50% of the growth of colorectal, lung and breast cancer cell lines was inhibited, while similar results were obtained in the presence of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 μg ml^?1 Au‐NPs‐POT. Au‐NPs‐POT exhibited the lowest cytotoxicity due to the presence of POT. The anticancer feature of Au‐NPs‐POT proved the potential to develop better anticancer therapeutics and to open new avenues for treatment of cancers.     

Camptothecin@HMSNs/thermosensitive hydrogel composite for applications in preventing local breast cancer recurrence

The CPT was loaded into the HMSNs with the high loading capacity. Then the CPT@HMSNs were loaded into the PLEL thermosensitive hydrogels for local therapy to prevent the recurrence of breast cancer after the tumor was resected.