Effects of Virtual Reality Simulation Program Regarding High-risk Neonatal Infection Control on Nursing Students.

PURPOSE: Virtual reality simulation can give nursing students a safe clinical experience involving high-risk infants where access to neonatal intensive care units is limited. This study aimed to examine the effects of a virtual reality simulation program on Korean nursing students' knowledge, performance self-efficacy and learner satisfaction. METHODS: A nonequivalent control group design was applied. Senior nursing students were divided into an experimental group (n = 25) experiencing virtual reality simulation and routine neonatal intensive care unit practice and a control group (n = 25) having routine neonatal intensive care unit practice. The program consisted of three scenarios: basic care, feeding management and skin care and environmental management for prevention of neonatal infection. The total execution time for the three scenarios was 40 minutes. The simulation created immersive virtual reality experiences using a head-mounted display with hand-tracking technology. Data were collected from December 9, 2019, to January 17, 2020, and were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the t-test, paired t-tests, Mann-Whitney test and Wilcoxon signed-ranks test. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, the experimental group showed significantly greater improvements in high-risk neonatal infection control performance self-efficacy (t = -2.16, p = .018) and learner satisfaction (t = -5.59, p < .001). CONCLUSION: The virtual reality simulation program can expand the nursing students' practice experience in safe virtual spaces and enhance their performance self-efficacy and learning satisfaction.

Retinoic acid-polyethyleneimine complex nanoparticles for embryonic stem cell-derived neuronal differentiation.

We synthesized functional retinoic acid (RA)-polyethyleneimine (PEI) complex nanoparticles. NH groups of branched PEI chains were electrostatically interacted with carboxyl groups of RA surfaces to form cationic RA-PEI complex nanoparticles. We observed that the average diameter of RA-PEI complex nanoparticles was approximately 70 nm and the morphology of complex nanoparticles was homogeneous circular shape. To confirm the synthesis of RA-PEI complex nanoparticles, we characterized complex nanoparticles using (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), indicating that hydrophilic branched PEI chains were covered on hydrophobic RA surfaces. Furthermore, we demonstrated that pH enabled the control of amounts of RA released from RA-PEI complex nanoparticles, showing that RA exposed to acidic pH 5 was steadily released (∼76%) from complex nanoparticles, whereas RA was rapidly released (∼97%) at pH 7.4 on day 11. We also observed that RA-PEI complex nanoparticles induced embryonic stem (ES) cell-derived neuronal differentiation. Therefore, this RA-PEI complex nanoparticle is a potentially powerful tool for directing murine ES cell fate.

Anticancer drug-loaded gliadin nanoparticles induce apoptosis in breast cancer cells.

Nanoscale drug carriers play an important role in regulating the delivery, permeability, and retention of the drugs. Although various carriers have been used to encapsulate anticancer drugs, natural biomaterials are of great benefit for delivery and controlled release of drugs. We used the electrospray deposition system to synthesize gliadin and gliadin-gelatin composite nanoparticles for delivery and controlled release of an anticancer drug (e.g., cyclophosphamide). The size profile and synthesis of nanoparticles was characterized by dynamic light scattering and X-ray diffractometry. Cyclophosphamide was gradually released from the gliadin nanoparticles for 48 h. In contrast, the gliadin-gelatin composite nanoparticles released cyclophosphamide in a rapid manner. Furthermore, we demonstrated that breast cancer cells cultured with cyclophosphamide-loaded 7% gliadin nanoparticles for 24 h became apoptotic, confirmed by Western blotting analysis. Therefore, the gliadin-based nanoparticle could be a powerful tool for delivery and controlled release of anticancer drugs.