We prepared hybrid nanoparticles with a brightly fluorescent silica core and a biocompatible thermoresponsive polymer shell containing tumor‐targeting folic acid (FA) groups. The silica core has a perylenediimide fluorescent dye anchored covalently to the structure for traceability and bioimaging applications. The polymeric shell was synthesized by reversible addition–fragmentation chain‐transfer (RAFT) polymerization to guarantee the homogeneous size of the particle shell. The shell is composed of copolymer chains with one block of oligo(ethylene glycol)methacrylate and 2‐(2′‐methoxyethoxy)ethylmethacrylate with another block of the reactive monomer N‐acryloxysuccinimide (NAS). The NAS groups were used to covalently attach a large amount of amino‐functionalized FA to the particle shells to provide active targeting properties towards cancer cells and tissues. The targeting capability of the folate‐containing nanoparticles was evaluated against NCI‐H460 tumor cells, which overexpress folate receptors. The nanoparticles with FA show a higher uptake efficiency compared to that of the equivalent nanoparticles without FA. This result validates the imaging capabilities and active targeting efficiency of our nanoparticles, an important step towards the goal of developing vehicles for precision drug delivery systems that combine therapeutic and diagnostic (theranostic) functionalities with large drug payloads, active targeting, and stimuli‐activated drug release.

Candida parapsilosis is nowadays an emerging opportunistic pathogen and its increasing incidence is part related to the capacity to produce biofilm. In addition, one of the most important C. parapsilosis pathogenic risk factors includes the organisms' selective growth capabilities in hyperalimentation solutions. Thus, in this study, we investigated the role of glucose in C. parapsilosis biofilm modulation, by studying biofilm formation, matrix composition, and structure. Moreover, the expression of biofilm-related genes (BCR1, FKS1 and OLE1) was analysed in the presence of different glucose percentages. The results demonstrated the importance of glucose in the modulation of C. parapsilosis biofilm. The concentration of glucose had direct implications on the C. parapsilosis transition of yeast cells to pseudohyphae. Additionally, it was demonstrated that biofilm-related genes BCR1, FKS1, and OLE1 are involved in biofilm modulation as a result of glucose. The mechanism by which glucose enhances biofilm formation is not fully understood; however, with this study we were able to demonstrate that C. parapsilosis responds to stress conditions caused by elevated levels of glucose by upregulating genes related to biofilm formation (BCR1, FKS1 and OLE1).

Different studies demonstrated the possibility to produce TiO2 nanotubes (TNTs) on Ti6Al4V alloy by electrochemical anodization. However, the anodizing behavior of α and β-phases in organic electrolytes is not yet clarified. This study reports on the anodizing behavior of the two phases in an ethylene glycol electrolyte using different applied potentials and anodizing times. Atomic force and scanning electron microscopies were used to highlight the anodic oxides differences in morphology. It was demonstrated that the initial compact oxide grew faster over the β-phase as the higher Al content of the α-phase caused its re-passivation, and the higher solubility of the V-rich oxide led to earlier pores formation over the β-phase. The trend was inverted once the pores formed over the compact oxide of the α-phase. The growth rate of the α-phase TNTs was higher than that of the β-phase ones, leading to the formation of long and well defined nanotubes with thin walls and a honeycomb tubular structure, while the ones grown over the β-phase were individual, shorter, and with thicker walls.