Wound Dressing Based on Cassava Silk-Chitosan.

The application prospects of composite sponges with antibacterial and drug-carrying functions in the field of medical tissue engineering are extensive. A solution of cassava silk fibroin (CSF) was prepared with Ca(NO3)2 as a solvent, which was then combined with chitosan (CS) to create a sponge-porous material by freeze-drying. The CSF-CS composite sponge with a mesh structure was successfully fabricated through hydrogen bonding. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared absorption (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were employed to investigate the appearance and structure of the cassava silk's fibroin materials, specifically examining the impact of different mass percentages of CS on the sponge's structure. The swelling rate and mechanical properties of the CSF-CS sponge were analyzed, along with its antibacterial properties. Furthermore, by incorporating ibuprofen as a model drug into these loaded sponges, their potential efficacy as efficient drug delivery systems was demonstrated. The results indicate that the CSF-CS sponge possesses a three-dimensional porous structure with over 70% porosity and an expansion rate exceeding 400% while also exhibiting good resistance against pressure. Moreover, it exhibits excellent drug-carrying ability and exerts significant bacteriostatic effects on Escherichia coli. Overall, these findings support considering the CSF-CS composite sponge as a viable candidate for use in drug delivery systems or wound dressings.

Three-Dimensional Graphene-Based Composite Hydrogel Materials for Flexible Supercapacitor Electrodes.

Three-dimensional (3D) graphene-based hydrogels have attracted great interest for applying in supercapcacitors electrodes, owing to their intriguing properties that combine the structural interconnectivities and the outstanding properties of graphene. However, the pristine graphene hydrogel can not satisfy the high-performance demands, especial in high specific capacitance. Consequently, novel graphene-based composite hydrogels with increased electrochemical properties have been developed. In this mini review, a brief summary of recent progress in the research of the three-dimensional graphene-based composite hydrogel for flexible supercapacitors electrodes materials is presented. The latest progress in the graphene-based composite hydrogel consisting of graphene/metal, graphene/polymer, and atoms doped graphene is discussed. Furthermore, future perspectives and challenges in graphene-based composite hydrogel for supercapacitor electrodes are also expressed.

miR-449c inhibits migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells by targeting PFKFB3.

microRNAs (miRNAs) are important regulators in the development and progression of human gastric cancer (GC). However, the expression and biological function of miR-449c in GC remains unknown. In the present study, miR-449c was demonstrated to be downregulated in GC tissues and cell lines compared with normal. Decreased miR-449c levels were associated with poor prognosis in GC patients. Overexpression of miR-449c inhibited migration and invasion in SGC-7901 cells, while inhibition of miR-449c enhanced migration and invasion in MGC-803 cells. Furthermore, 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase (PFKFB3) was identified to be a downstream target of miR-449c in GC cells. miR-449c directly regulated the expression of PFKFB3 in GC cells. Overexpression of PFKFB3 abrogated the inhibitory effect of miR-449c on the migration and invasion of GC cells. In conclusion, the present study suggests that miR-449c may be a novel biomarker and potential therapeutic target in GC.