Effects of hypromellose acetate succinate on recrystallization inhibition, miscibility, and dissolution enhancement of baloxavir marboxil solid dispersions.

Solid dispersions (SDs) have emerged as a promising strategy to enhance the solubility and bioavailability of poorly soluble active pharmaceutical ingredients. However, SDs tend to recrystallize unless suitable excipients are utilized. This study aimed to facilitate the rational selection of polymers and formulation design by evaluating the impact of various polymers on the miscibility, and phase behavior of SDs using baloxavir marboxil (BXM) with a high crystallization tendency as a model drug. Meanwhile, the effects of these polymers on the solubility enhancement and recrystallization inhibition were also assessed. The results indicated that the miscibility limit of BXM for HPMCAS was around 40 % drug loading (DL), whereas for PVP, PVPVA, and HPMC approximately 20 % DL. The BXM-HPC system exhibited limited miscibility with DL of 10 % or higher. BXM SDs based on various polymers exhibited varying degrees of spontaneous phase separation once DL exceeded the miscibility limit. Interestingly, a correlation was discovered between the phase separation behavior and the ability of the polymer to inhibit recrystallization. BXM-HPMCAS SDs exhibited optimal dissolution performance, compared with other systems. In conclusion, the physicochemical properties of polymers significantly influence BXM SDs performance and the BXM-HPMCAS SDs might promote an efficient and stable drug delivery system.

Corrigendum: A rapid VEGF-gene-sequence photoluminescence detector for osteoarthritis.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1338901.].

Advances in MXene-based luminescence sensing strategies.

MXenes have attracted the attention of many researchers as one of the latest two-dimensional (2D) materials over the last decade. Their great potential for biosensing has also been fully exploited after the discovery of their unique properties such as superior optical properties, excellent hydrophilicity, good thermal stability, excellent mechanical property, high electrical conductivity, biocompatibility, large surface area, and ease of surface functionalization. In the MXene-based luminescence sensing strategy, MXenes typically appear in the form of nanosheets, quantum dots and modified MXene nanocomposites, and they are utilized as different sensing platforms or as a luminescence source. In this review, we focused on the MXene-based luminescence sensing strategies, including fluorescence, electrochemiluminescence and chemiluminescence sensors and the comparison of their performance. Finally, the perspectives of the MXene-based luminescence sensors are discussed.

A rapid VEGF-gene-sequence photoluminescence detector for osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) has become a serious problem to the human society for years due to its high economic burden, disability, pain, and severe impact on the patient's lifestyle. The importance of current clinical imaging modalities in the assessment of the onset and progression of OA is well recognized by clinicians, but these modalities can only detect OA in the II stage with significant structural deterioration and clinical symptoms. Blood vessel formation induced by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) occurs in the early stage and throughout the entire course of OA, enables VEGF relating gene sequence to act as a biomarker in the field of early diagnosis and monitoring of the disease. Here in, a facile rapid detection of VEGF relating ssDNA sequence was developed, in which manganese-based zeolitic imidazolate framework nanoparticles (Mn-ZIF-NPs) were synthesized by a simple coprecipitation strategy, followed by the introduction and surficial absorption of probe ssDNAs and the CRISPR/Cas12a system components. Furthermore, fluorescence experiments demonstrated that the biosensor displayed a low detection limit of 2.49 nM, a good linear response to the target ssDNA ranging from 10 nM to 500 nM, and the ability of distinguishing single nucleotide polymorphism. This finding opens a new window for the feasible and rapid detection of ssDNA molecules for the early diagnose of OA.

The Development of an Oral Solution Containing Nirmatrelvir and Ritonavir and Assessment of Its Pharmacokinetics and Stability.

Paxlovid®, a co-packaged medication comprised of separate tablets containing two active ingredients, nirmatrelvir (NRV) and ritonavir (RTV), exhibits good effectiveness against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the size of the NRV/RTV tablets makes them difficult for some patients to swallow, especially the elderly and those with dysphagia. Therefore, an oral liquid formulation that can overcome this shortcoming and improve patient compliance is required. In this study, we developed a liquid formulation containing NRV and RTV by adopting strategies that used co-solvents and surfactants to enhance the solubility and inhibit possible recrystallization. The in vitro release results showed that NRV and RTV could be maintained at high concentrations in solution for a certain period in the investigated media. In vivo studies in rats showed that the oral bioavailability of NRV/RTV solution was significantly enhanced. Compared to Paxlovid® tablets, the AUC(0-t) of NRV and RTV increased by 6.1 and 3.8 times, respectively, while the Cmax increased by 5.5 times for both. Furthermore, the promoting effect of the absorption of RTV on the bioavailability of NRV was confirmed. Experiments with a beagle showed a similar trend. Stability studies were also conducted at 4 °C, 25 °C, and 40 °C for 90 days, indicating that the oral liquid formulation was physically and chemically stable. This study can be used as a valuable resource for developing and applying oral liquid NRV/RTV formulations in a clinical context.

Application of 3D printing technology in tumor diagnosis and treatment.

3D printing technology is an increasing approach consisting of material manufacturing through the selective incremental delamination of materials to form a 3D structure to produce products. This technology has different advantages, including low cost, short time, diversification, and high precision. Widely adopted additive manufacturing technologies enable the creation of diagnostic tools and expand treatment options. Coupled with its rapid deployment, 3D printing is endowed with high customizability that enables users to build prototypes in shorts amounts of time which translates into faster adoption in the medical field. This review mainly summarizes the application of 3D printing technology in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, including the challenges and the prospects combined with other technologies applied to the medical field.

An amorphous Ni-Fe catalyst for electrocatalytic dehydrogenation of alcohols to value-added chemicals.

As for the hydrogen production process via electrocatalytic water splitting, the green and sustainable electro-oxidation of organic molecules at the anode is thermodynamically more favourable than the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Here, we proposed for the first time to replace the OER process by the oxidation of N-Boc-4-piperidine methanol (BPM), via a parallel reaction, which finally leads to the green production of N-Boc-4-piperidine carboxaldehyde (BPC). The amorphous NiFeO(OH) nanospheres with rich valence states were adopted as the anode catalyst, with creation of more active sites. The gas chromatography results showed that nearly all the BPM converted to BPC after 15 h reaction. The electrochemical tests showed that the Faraday efficiency (FE) approaches nearly 100% when the charge transfer is approximately equal to the theoretical charge. This work reports a new process for the alcohol oxidation, providing a valuable green organic synthesis process.

Direct Observation of Photon Induced Giant Band Renormalization in 2D PdSe2 Dichalcogenide by Transient Absorption Spectroscopy.

Insight into fundamental light-matter interaction as well as underlying photo-physical processes is crucial for the development of novel optoelectronic devices. Palladium diselenide (PdSe2 ), an important representative of emerging 2D noble metal dichalcogenides, has gain considerable attention owing to its unique optical, physical, and chemical properties. In this study, 2D PdSe2 nanosheets (NSs) are prepared using the liquid-phase exfoliation method. A broadband carrier relaxation dynamics from visible to near-infrared bands are revealed using a time-resolved transient absorption spectrometer, giving results that indicate band filling and bandgap renormalization (BGR) effects in the 2D PdSe2 NSs. The observed blue-shift of the transient absorption spectra at the primary stage and the subsequent red-shift can be ascribed to this BGR effect. These findings reveal the many-body character of the 2D TMDs material and may hold keys for applications in the field of optoelectronics and ultrafast photonics.

Associations between the serum triglyceride-glucose index and pericoronary adipose tissue attenuation and plaque features using dual-layer spectral detector computed tomography: a cross-sectional study.

Background and aims: The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is a reliable alternative marker for insulin resistance (IR). Pericoronary adipose tissue (PCAT) can indirectly reflect coronary inflammation. IR and coronary inflammation play a key role in the development and progression of coronary atherosclerosis. Therefore, this study investigated the relationships between the TyG index, PCAT and atherosclerotic plaque characteristics to explore whether IR might lead to coronary artery atherosclerosis progression by inducing coronary inflammation. Methods: We retrospectively collected data on patients with chest pain who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography using spectral detector computed tomography at our institution from June to December 2021. The patients were grouped based on their TyG index levels: T1 (low), T2 (medium), and T3 (high). Each patient was assessed for total plaque volume, plaque load, maximum stenosis, the plaque component volume proportion, high-risk plaques(HRPs), and plaque characteristics (including low attenuation plaques, positive remodeling, a napkin ring sign, and spot calcification). PCAT quantification was performed on the proximal right coronary artery using the fat attenuation index (FAI) measured from a conventional multicolor computed tomography image (FAI120kVp), a spectral virtual single-energy image (FAI40keV), and the slope of the spectral HU curve (λHU). Results: We enrolled 201 patients. The proportion of patients with maximum plaque stenosis, positive remodeling, low-density plaques, and HRPs increased as the TyG index level increased. Moreover, the FAI40keV and λHU significantly differed among the three groups, and we identified good positive correlations between FAI40keV and λHU and the TyG index (r = 0.319, P <0.01 and r = 0.325, P <0.01, respectively). FAI120kVp did not significantly differ among the groups. FAI40keV had the highest area under the curve, with an optimal cutoff value of -130.5 HU for predicting a TyG index value of ≥9.13. The multivariate linear regression analysis demonstrated that FAI40keV and λHU were independently positively related to a high TyG index level (standardized regression coefficients: 0.117 [P <0.001] and 0.134 [P <0.001], respectively). Conclusions: Patients with chest pain and a higher TyG index level were more likely to have severe stenosis and HRPs. Moreover, FAI40keV and λHU had good correlations with the serum TyG index, which may noninvasively reflect PCAT inflammation under insulin resistance. These results could help explain the mechanism of plaque progression and instability in patients with insulin resistance might be related to IR-induced coronary inflammation.

Constructing interface engineering and tailoring a nanoflower-like FeP/CoP heterostructure for enhanced oxygen evolution reaction.

The inexpensive and highly efficient electrocatalysts toward oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in water splitting electrolysis have displayed promising practical applications to relieve energy crisis. Herein, we prepared a high-yield and structurally regulated bimetallic cobalt-iron phosphide electrocatalyst by a facile one-pot hydrothermal reaction and subsequent low-temperature phosphating treatment. The tailoring of nanoscale morphology was achieved by varying the input ratio and phosphating temperature. Thus, an optimized FeP/CoP-1-350 sample with the ultra-thin nanosheets assembled into a nanoflower-like structure was obtained. FeP/CoP-1-350 heterostructure displayed remarkable activity toward the OER with a low overpotential of 276 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm-2, and a low Tafel slope of only 37.71 mV dec-1. Long-lasting durability and stability were maintained with the current with almost no obvious fluctuation. The enhanced OER activity was attributed to the presence of copious active sites from the ultra-thin nanosheets, the interface between CoP and FeP components, and the synergistic effect of Fe-Co elements in the FeP/CoP heterostructure. This study provides a feasible strategy to fabricate highly efficient and cost-effective bimetallic phosphide electrocatalysts.

Psychometric validation of the Chinese version of the desire thinking questionnaire in adolescent mobile phone users.

BACKGROUND: Desire thinking is a conscious and voluntary cognitive process that is closely linked to levels of craving and addictive behaviors. The Desire Thinking Questionnaire (DTQ) can be used to measure desire thinking in all age groups as well as in addicts. This measurement has also been translated into several languages. This study aimed to test the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the DTQ (DTQ-C) among adolescent mobile phone users. METHODS: One thousand and ninety-seven adolescents who own a mobile phone and are younger than 18 years old completed the DTQ-C and a battery of questionnaires assessing the big five personality traits, negative affect, brooding, self-control, craving, and problematic mobile phone use (PMPU). The psychometric analyses of the DTQ-C were conducted, including exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), reliability, and validity analysis. RESULTS: The EFA revealed a 10-item two-factor structure (i.e., verbal perseveration and imaginal prefiguration) that was confirmed by the CFA. The results of CFA showed fit indexes of χ2/df = 4.83, CFI = 0.967, TLI = 0.954, RMSEA = 0.059, SRMR = 0.032. The total scale had internal consistency reliabilities of 0.93, which demonstrated that DTQ-C presented good reliability. The two dimensions were correlated with PMPU (rverbal perseveration = 0.54; rimaginal prefiguration = 0.45), neuroticism (rverbal perseveration = 0.18; rimaginal prefiguration = 0.14), conscientiousness (rverbal perseveration = -0.19; rimaginal prefiguration = -0.18), depression (rverbal perseveration = 0.22; rimaginal prefiguration = 0.16), anxiety (rverbal perseveration = 0.26; rimaginal prefiguration = 0.22), stress (rverbal perseveration = 0.15; rimaginal prefiguration = 0.10) and self-control (rverbal perseveration = -0.29; rimaginal prefiguration = -0.26), which demonstrated that DTQ-C presented good concurrent validity. The two factors of DTQ-C correlated weakly with brooding (ranging from 0.08 to 0.10). The principal component factor analysis of the two dimensions of desire thinking and craving showed that craving and desire thinking belonged to different dimensions. Both of which showed good divergent validity of desire thinking. Additionally, an examination of incremental validity revealed that two factors were both positively associated with PMPU beyond demographic characteristics, big five personality traits, negative affect, and self-control (Bverbal perseveration = 0.49 and Bimaginal prefiguration = 0.13). CONCLUSIONS: It has been found that the 10-item DTQ-C is a reliable and valid measure of desire thinking in Chinese adolescent mobile phone users.

Crystallization-driven Nanoparticle Crystalsomes.

Nanoparticle (NP) assembly has been extensively studied, and a library of NP superstructures has been synthesized. These intricate structures show unique collective optical, electronic, and magnetic properties. In this work, we report a bottom-up approach for fabricating spherical gold nanoparticle (AuNP) assemblies that mimic colloidosomes. Co-crystallization of lipoic acid-end-functionalized poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and AuNPs in solution via a self-seeding method led to the formation of hollow spherical NP assemblies named nanoparticle crystalsomes (NPCs). Due to the spherical shape, the translational symmetry of PEO crystals is broken in NPCs, which can be attributed to the competition between NP close packing and polymer crystallization. This was confirmed by tuning the NPC morphology via varying the self-seeding temperature, crystallization temperature, and PEO molecular weight. We envisage that this strategy paves the way to attaining exquisite morphological control of NP assemblies with broken translational symmetry.

How the Dark Triad associated with internet gaming disorder? The serial mediation of basic psychological needs satisfaction and negative coping styles.

According to the I-PACE model, this study focused on the role of need satisfaction and negative coping styles in the relationship between the Dark Triad (i.e., Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism) and internet gaming disorder (IGD). In a sample of 749 emerging adult gamers, a multiple mediation model with Dark Triad as the distal variable, psychological need satisfaction and negative coping style as mediating variables, and IGD as the outcome variable was tested. Results indicated that Machiavellianism and psychopathy were found to be significant predictors of IGD when mediated by psychological need satisfaction and negative coping styles. Narcissism predicts IGD only through the indirect effect of negative coping styles. The findings enhanced our understanding that Machiavellianism and psychopathy are characterized by compensatory use of internet games, as well as added new perspectives to the understanding of addiction mechanisms in narcissists.

Socializing with Smoker and Social Smoking Behavior among Chinese Male Smokers with Low Nicotine Dependence: The Mediating Roles of Belief of Smoking Rationalization and Smoker Identity.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that socializing with other smokers is an essential trigger for social smoking among smokers with a low nicotine dependence. This study further explored the mediating effects of the belief of smoking rationalization and smoker identity on the relationship between socializing with smokers and social smoking behavior. METHODS: A cross-sectional design was conducted. A total of 696 low-nicotine-dependent smokers in China completed questionnaires that assessed socializing with smokers, social smoking behavior, smoker identity, and the belief of smoking rationalization. The mediating roles of the belief of smoking rationalization and smoker identity on the relationship between socializing with smokers and social smoking behavior were assessed by using SPSS 23 and AMOS 23. RESULTS: The belief of smoking rationalization, smoker identity, socializing with smokers, and social smoking behavior were significantly and positively correlated with each other. In addition, this study found an independently mediated role for smoker identity in the relationship with smoker socialization and social smoking behavior, and a sequentially mediated role for smoking rationalization and smoker identity in this relationship. CONCLUSION: Reducing the belief of smoking rationalization and smoker identity may be conducive to reducing social smoking behavior for low-nicotine-dependent smokers when socializing with other smokers.

The Relationship Between Smoker Identity and Smoking Cessation Among Young Smokers: The Role of Smoking Rationalization Beliefs and Cultural Value of Guanxi.

Although the relationship between smoker identity and smoking cessation behavior has been confirmed, the role of smoking-related beliefs and cultural values in this relationship for young smokers is little known. The present study aimed to examine whether the relationship between smoker identity and smoking cessation behavior would be mediated by smoking rationalization beliefs and/or intention to quit smoking and whether the effect of smoker identity on smoking cessation behavior was moderated by cultural value of guanxi. A total of 708 young smokers participated in the study and completed questionnaires that measured smoker identity, smoking rationalization beliefs, intention to quit smoking, smoking cessation behavior and cultural value of guanxi. The results showed: (1) the relationship between smoker identity and smoking cessation behavior was negative and significant. (2) The mediating effect of intention to quit smoking and the serial mediating effect of "smoking rationalization beliefs → intention to quit smoking" on the relationship between smoker identity and smoking cessation behavior was significant. (3) Both the serial mediating effect of "smoking rationalization beliefs → intention to quit smoking" and the direct effect of smoker identity on smoking cessation behavior were moderated by cultural value of guanxi. The current findings increased understanding of psychosocial mechanisms underlying the hindering effect of smoker identity on smoking cessation and suggested the role of smoking rationalization beliefs and cultural value of guanxi should be considered in smoking cessation interventions for young smokers.

A Network Analysis of the Relationships Between Behavioral Inhibition/Activation Systems and Problematic Mobile Phone Use.

Background: It is of great concern to society that individuals can be vulnerable to problematic mobile phone use (PMPU). However, there are a few studies in the field evaluating associations between behavioral inhibition/activation systems (BIS/BAS) and PMPU, and the results have been inconsistent. This study aimed to explore the relationships between BIS/BAS and PMPU by network analysis. Methods: A total of 891 young adults participated in the study. BIS/BAS and PMPU were assessed by using the behavioral inhibition and activation systems scale and smartphone application-based addiction scale, respectively. The structure of the BIS/BAS-PMPU network was characterized using "strength," "closeness" and "betweenness" as centrality indices. Edge-weight accuracy and centrality stability were tested using a bootstrap procedure. Results: The network analysis showed that "mood modification," "tolerance" and "withdrawal symptoms" had high centrality. In addition, the positive connection between BIS and "mood modification" or "tolerance" and between BAS-fun seeking and "mood modification" or "conflict" were also shown in the BIS/BAS-PMPU network. Conclusion: These findings shed light on the central and bridge components between the BIS/BAS and PMPU communities, providing new evidence relevant to potential mechanisms that account for how high-BIS or high-BAS individuals develop PMPU, and inspiring component-based PMPU prevention or interventions.

Optical Properties of Few-Layer Ti3CN MXene: From Experimental Observations to Theoretical Calculations.

Despite the emerging interest in research and development of Ti3CN MXene nanosheet (NS)-based optoelectronic devices, there is still a lack of in-depth studies of the underlying photophysical processes, like carrier relaxation dynamics and nonlinear photon absorption, operating in such devices, hindering their further and precise design. In this paper, we attempt to remedy the situation by fabricating few-layer Ti3CN NSs via combining selective etching and molecular intercalation and by investigating the carrier relaxation possesses and broadband nonlinear optical responses via transient absorption and Z-scan techniques. These results are complemented by first-principle theoretical analyses of the optical properties. Both saturable absorption and reverse saturable absorption phenomena are observed due to multiphoton absorption effects. The analysis of these results adds to the understanding of the basic photophysical processes, which is anticipated to be beneficial for the further design of MXene-based devices.

Unique insights into photocatalytic VOCs oxidation over WO3/carbon dots nanohybrids assisted by water activation and electron transfer at interfaces.

Internal electric field (IEF) at heterojunction interfaces can separate photoexcited charge carriers and promote photocatalytic performance. Here we have modified WO3 nanoplates with carbon dots (CDs) and constructed an interfacial IEF directing from CDs to WO3 with assistance of their remarkably different work functions. Such electric field drove photoexcited electrons to transport towards CDs and retained photoexcited holes to stay at WO3, achieving electron/hole spatial separation. H2O preferred chemisorption on the five-coordinated W atoms of WO3 with an elongated H-O bond and bent H-O-H angle, which allowed the activation of H2O and favorable production of ·OH radicals. The WO3/CDs (WC1) showed a superior photocatalytic activity for visible-light photooxidation of HCHO and CH3COCH3 with CO2 production rate of 411 and 188 µmol g-1 h-1, respectively, outperforming most of WO3-based photocatalysts. The enhanced photocatalytic performance correlated with the IEF-induced charge separation, favorable ·OH production and VOCs chemisorption. Our work confirms the role of CDs cocatalyst in the photocatalytic oxidation of VOCs, which will inspire enthusiasm to develop more advanced heterojunction photocatalysts involving carbon nanomaterials.

Ti3CN MXene-based ultra-sensitive optical fiber salinity sensor.

A Ti3CN MXene enabled ultra-sensitive optical fiber sensor is proposed, and a salinity measurement is conducted to evaluate its sensing performance in a low-concentration target molecule detection environment. Owing to the abundance of hydrophilic functional groups (-O, -F, and -OH), large specific surface, and broad-spectrum absorption characteristics of the MXene layers, the sensing performance of the MXene-incorporated sensor is greatly improved and an ultra-high salinity sensitivity of -5.34 nm/‰ is achieved (equivalent to a refractive index sensitivity of -33429 nm/RIU). Such an excellent sensing performance is 137.33% higher than that of the bare fiber sensor and is significantly enhanced over previously reported fiber sensors. Furthermore, the sensing performance of the sensor is improved without damaging the fiber structure, which is a huge advantage when compared with the traditional fiber post-processing techniques. Finally, because the refractive index is commonly used to characterize the detection ability of biosensors, our contribution suggests the integration of MXene as a potential approach to develop high-performance optical fiber biosensors.

A Facile Approach for Elemental-Doped Carbon Quantum Dots and Their Application for Efficient Photodetectors.

The present work demonstrates a facile hydrothermal approach to synthesize lanthanide-doped carbon quantum dots (CQDs) with europium and/or gadolinium elements. Taking the advantage of broadband adsorption in the ultraviolet-visible region, the doped QDs are directly used as building blocks for photo-electrochemical (PEC)-type photodetectors (PDs) and their performance is systematically investigated under various conditions. The europium (Eu) and gadolinium (Gd) co-doped (C:EuGd) QDs exhibit better photo-response than the single-elemental doped ones and also show outstanding long-term stability. According to the apparent response to light from 350 to 400 nm, the C:EuGd QDs are demonstrated to hold great potential for narrow-band PDs. This work highlights the practical applications of lanthanide-doped CQDs for PDs, and the results are beneficial for the development of elemental-doped CQDs in general.