Nontraditional Deterministic Remote State Preparation Using a Non-Maximally Entangled Channel without Additional Quantum Resources.

In this paper, we have reinvestigated probabilistic quantum communication protocols and developed a nontraditional remote state preparation protocol that allows for deterministically transferring information encoded in quantum states using a non-maximally entangled channel. With an auxiliary particle and a simple measurement method, the success probability of preparing a d-dimensional quantum state is increased to 1 without spending additional quantum resources in advance to improve quantum channels, such as entanglement purification. Furthermore, we have designed a feasible experimental scheme to demonstrate the deterministic paradigm of transporting a polarization-encoded photon from one location to another using a generalized entangled state. This approach provides a practical method to address decoherence and environmental noises in actual quantum communication.

Stepwise immobilization of keratin-dopamine conjugates and gold nanoparticles on PET sheets for potential vascular graft with the catalytic generation of nitric oxide.

Gold nanoparticles(AuNPs) are capable to catalyze the nitric oxide (NO) generation from endogenous and exogenous donors, thereby promoting re-endothelialization and inhibiting intimal hyperplasia and thrombosis. Herein, keratin-dopamine conjugates were synthesized and then immobilized on the surface of the pre-aminolyzed poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) via self-polymerization of dopamine residue, following by the formation of AuNPs in situ without extra reductant. The modified PET sheets(PET-AuNPs) could promote the growth of HUVECs while inhibit the proliferation of HUASMCs due to their catalytic generation of NO from GSNO. In addition, these sheets exhibited antibacterial properties and good blood compatibility without hemolysis. Taken together, this strategy for designing prosthetic vascular grafts to treat cardiovascular diseases has great potential.

Mussel-Inspired Surface Functionalization of PET with Zwitterions and Silver Nanoparticles for the Dual-Enhanced Antifouling and Antibacterial Properties.

Herein, we designed and constructed a dual functional surface with antimicrobial and antifouling abilities to prevent protein and bacterial attachment that are significant challenges in biomedical devices. Primary amino-group-capped sulfobetaine of DMMSA was synthesized and then grafted onto polydopamine pretreated PET sheets via click chemistry. The sheets were subsequently immersed into silver ion solution, in which the absorbed silver ions were reduced to silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in situ by a polydopamine layer. The antifouling assays demonstrated that the resultant PET/DMMSA/AgNPs sheets exhibited great antifouling performances against bovine serum albumin (BSA), bovine fibrinogen (BFG), platelets, and bacteria, the critical proteins/microorganisms leading to implant failure. The antibacterial data suggested that the sheets had dual functions as inhibitors of bacterial growth and bactericide and could efficiently delay the biofilm formation. This repelling and killing approach is green and simple, with potential biomedical applications.

Electrospun PCL/keratin/AuNPs mats with the catalytic generation of nitric oxide for potential of vascular tissue engineering.

Nitric oxide (NO)-generating materials are beneficial for vascular tissue engineering (VTE) scaffold because the produced NO would enhance endothelial cells viability while inhibit smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation and reduce platelet adhesion, resulting in ideal hemocompatibility and endothelialization. Herein, poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)/keratin biocomposite mats were first fabricated, followed by in situ gold (Au) nanoparticles loading to afford PCL/keratin/AuNPs mats. These mats were characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The PCL/keratin/AuNPs mats were demonstrated to be capable of catalyzing NO release in the mimicked blood microenvironments. The generated NO could enhance human umbilical vein endothelial cell growth and inhibit human umbilical arterial SMC viability. In addition, these mats maintained the antibacterial activity of Au nanoparticles with good blood compatibility. Taken together, these keratin-based composite mats have potential usage in the VTE. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 106A: 3239-3247, 2018.