Surface Modifications of Titanium Dental Implants with Strontium Eucommia Ulmoides to Enhance Osseointegration and Suppress Inflammation

Avery Rui Sun,Qili Sun,Yansong Wang,Liqiu Hu,Yutong Wu,Fenbo Ma,Jiayi Liu,Xiangchao Pang,Bin Tang 한국생체재료학회 2023 생체재료학회지 Vol.27 No.00

Background Titanium (Ti) is now widely used as implant material due to its excellent mechanical properties and superior biocompatibilities, while its inert bioactivities might lead to insufficient osseointegration, and limit its performance in dental applications. Methods We introduced a robust and simple approach of modifying titanium surfaces with polysaccharide complexes. Titanium samples were subjected to hydrothermal treatment to create a uniform porous structure on the surface, followed by coating with a bioinspired and self-assembly polydopamine layer. Strontium Eucommia Ulmoides Polysaccharide (EUP-Sr) complexes are then introduced to the polydopamine-coated porous titanium. Multiple morphological and physiochemical characterizations are employed for material evaluation, while cell proliferation and gene expression tests using macrophages, primary alveolar bone osteoblasts, and vascular endothelial cells are used to provide an overall insight into the functions of the product. The significances of statistical differences were analyzed using student’s t-test. Results Microscopic and spectrometric characterizations confirmed that the Ti surface formed a porous structure with an adequate amount of EUP-Sr loading. The attachment was attributed to hydrogen bonding between the ubiquitous glycosidic linkage of the polysaccharide complex and the ring structure of polydopamine, yet the loaded EUP-Sr complex can be gradually released, consequently benefiting the neighboring microenvironment. Cell experiments showed no cytotoxicity of the material, and the product showed promising anti-inflammation, osseointegration, and angiogenesis properties, which were further confirmed by in vivo evaluations. Conclusion We believe the EUP-Sr modified titanium implant is a promising candidate to be used in dental applications with notable osteoimmunomodulation and angiogenesis functions. And the novel technique proposed in this study would benefit the modification of metal/inorganic surfaces with polysaccharides for future research.

The differentiation of cellular structure during encystment in the soil hypotrichous ciliate Australocirrus cf. australis (Protista, Ciliophora)

Qili Li,Xinpeng Fan,Qianqian Sun,Na Wu,Bing Ni,Fukang Gu 한국통합생물학회 2017 Animal cells and systems Vol.21 No.1

Ciliates are able to form resting cysts as a survival strategy in response to stressful environmental factors. Studies on the characteristics of cellular structure during encystment may provide useful information for further understanding of the regulatory mechanism of cellular patterns and supply new clues regarding the phylogeny of ciliates. Scanning and transmission electron microscopies were used to observe the ultrastructure of cells during encystment of the soil ciliate Australocirrus cf. australis. The dedifferentiation of ciliature was revealed for the first time. Ciliary shafts first shortened, and the remaining ciliature, including basal bodies and the fibrillar cirral basket, retracted into the cytoplasm and was surrounded by the autophagic vacuoles and then gradually digested. A large number of autophagic vacuoles were observed in mature resting cysts. Autophagy might not only be necessary for the differentiation of cellular structures during encystment but might also be important to sustain the basic life activities in the resting stage. Australocirrus cf. australis formed a kinetosome-resorbing cyst and contained four layers in the cyst wall: the ectocyst, mesocyst, endocyst and granular layer. The ciliature resorbing state and the number of layers in the cyst wall were consistent with those found in other oxytrichous ciliates. However, the phenomenon wherein the two macronuclear nodules are not fused during encystment is not commonly observed among oxytrichids. Additionally, the octahedral granules in the mesocyst of this species exhibit different morphology from the congeners.

Study on the lubrication film formation and characteristics of different graphite seal composites

Qili Wang,Jiarui Sun,Mingquan Yu,Yuehu Chen 대한기계학회 2022 JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Vol.36 No.8

In order to study the formation and characteristics of the lubricating film of graphite composites in solid lubrication, the mechanical properties, micro-structure, friction and wear properties of graphite and impregnated samples are compared and analysed. Results show that the graphite/antimony composites have compression strength of 300.2 MPa and hardness of 98.3 HS, which has excellent friction performance and exhibits the law of full film lubrication. The graphite/resin composites with compression strength of 244.9 MPa and hardness of 87.0 HS exhibit the law of residual film lubrication. Under the condition that the load is 24.1 MPa (heavy load) and the friction pair is 45# (small hardness), the lubrication state of the composite materials are close to full film lubrication. External environmental factors such as load, speed, and pair of grinding pairs have different effects on the friction coefficient and the formation of lubricating film.

Nutrigenomics reveals potential genetic underpinning of diverse taste preference of Chinese men

Zhouhai Zhu,Junpu Mei,Silong Sun,Sheming Lu,Meng Li,Ying Guan,Ying Chen,Yuqiong Xu,Tao Zhang,Fengxue Shi,Xuemei Li,Mingming Miao,Shancen Zhao,Qian Gao,Qili Mi,Ping Tang,Jianhua Yao 한국유전학회 2021 Genes & Genomics Vol.43 No.6

Background Taste preference varies geographically in China. However, studies on Chinese people’s taste preference in different regions of China are limited, and are lack of research on the mechanism of diferences in taste preference, especially in genetics. Objective This study aims to investigate the characteristics of taste preference of Chinese men, and estimate whether diverse taste preference in Chinese have genetic underpinning. Methods We conducted a questionnaire survey on taste preferences on 1076 males from 10 regions of China, and collected another 1427 males from the same regions which genotyped by microarray. We compared the correlation between diferent taste preference, and evaluated the correlation between the mutation frequency of inhouse database and diferent taste preference. The putative taste-preference-related genes were further utilized to estimate the candidate relationship on gene and gene network in diferent taste preference. Results There was a correlation between diferent taste preferences in Chinese men. We found 31 SNPs associated with 6 kind of taste preferences. These SNPs located within or nearby 36 genes, and the tastes associated with 4 of these genes (TRPV1, AGT, ASIC2 and GLP1R) are consistent with the previous studies. Moreover, in diferent tastes which were suggested to be associated with each other, some putative related genes were the same or in the same gene network, such as pathways related with blood pressure, response to stimulus and nervous system. Conclusions This study indicates that the diverse taste preference of Chinese men may have genetic underpinning.

Water Dispersible Graphene Sheets Produced from Unassembled Graphene–Polyaniline Nanohybrids

Qi Li,Denian Li,Lijie Dong,Fan Sun,Jing Huang,Haian Xie,Chuanxi Xiong 성균관대학교(자연과학캠퍼스) 성균나노과학기술원 2015 NANO Vol.10 No.1

We present an effcient process for producing water dispersible graphene sheets from unassembled graphene–polyaniline nanohybrids. The result of atomic force microscopy reveals that over 80% of thus-prepared graphitic sheets are single layers with typical thickness of approximately 0.8 nm. The proportion of modifying molecules in the product is found to be as low as 3.0 wt.%, as determined by elemental analysis. Along with its fascinating water dispersibility and remarkably high electrical conductivity, such material is anticipated to be very promising for use in graphene-based nanoelectronics and high-performance composites.

m6A-mediated lncRNA NEAT1 plays an oncogenic role in non-small cell lung cancer by upregulating the HMGA1 expression through binding miR-361-3p

Qi Li,Yin Yue,Sun Mengqi 한국유전학회 2023 Genes & Genomics Vol.45 No.12

Background Lung cancer is the most common primary malignant tumor of the lung, and 85% of lung cancer is non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The N6-methyladenosine (m6A) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been widely reported to participate in the development of non-small cell lung cancer. Objective However, the potential molecular mechanisms of m6A-regulated lncRNAs in NSCLC still need further investigation. Methods The expression levels and the role of lncRNA NEAT1 in NSCLC tissues or cells were measured by RT-qPCR, Western blot, cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8), flow cytometry assay. RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) was used to measure the levels of m6A modification of NEAT1. Bioinformatics analysis and dual-luciferase reporter gene assay were detected the relationship between miR-361-3p and NEAT1/HMGA1. Mouse xenograft tumor models were established to confirm the effects of lncRNA NEAT1 in vivo. Results In this study, we verified whether m6A-modified lncRNA nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1) is involved in NSCLC progression via miR-361-3p/HMGA1 axis. Firstly, we found that lncRNA NEAT1 was upregulated in NSCLC, and was associated with a poor survival in NSCLC patients. Methyltransferase like 3 (METTL3)-mediated m6A modification stabilized and upregulated NEAT1 expression. Next, function experiment indicated that depletion of METTL3 and NEAT1 induced cell apoptosis and inhibited cell proliferation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Likewise, in vivo experiments further supported the oncogenic role of NEAT1 in NSCLC. In addition, the molecular mechanism was uncovered in our study, and we found that lncRNA NEAT1 promoted the expression of high-mobility group AT-hook 1 (HMGA1) by sponging miR-361-3p and then promoted tumorigenesis of NSCLC. Conclusion In conclusion, our findings demonstrated that METTL3-mediated m6A modification accelerated NSCLC progression by regulating the NEAT1/miR-361-3p/HMGA1 axis, which provides important targets for the treatment of NSCLC.