Mammalian cells cultured on 2D surfaces in microfluidic channels are increasingly used in drug development and biological research applications. These systems would have more biological or clinical relevance if the cells exhibit 3D phenotypes similar to the cells in vivo. We have developed a microfluidic channel based system that allows cells to be perfusion-cultured in 3D by supporting them with adequate 3D cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. The maximal cell-cell interaction was achieved by perfusion-seeding cells through an array of micropillars; and 3D cell-matrix interactions were achieved by a polyelectrolyte complex coacervation process to form a thin layer of matrix conforming to the 3D cell shapes. Carcinoma cell lines (HepG2, MCF7), primary differentiated (hepatocytes) and primary progenitor cells (bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells) were perfusion-cultured for 72 hours to 1 week in the microfluidic channel, which preserved their 3D cyto-architecture and cell-specific functions or differentiation competence. This transparent 3D microfluidic channel-based cell culture system also allows direct optical monitoring of cellular events for a wide range of applications.

With the growing air transport demand and concerns about its environmental impacts, alternative jet fuels derived from non-conventional sources have become an important strategy for achieving a sustainable and green aviation. In the past ten years, governments around the world along with aviation industry have invested significant efforts into exploring all sorts of alternative jet fuels that can be used to power aircraft engines. Among all the alternative jet fuels explored, the aviation sector has agreed that hydrocarbon-based ‗drop-in' replacement fuels, which are fully interchangeable and compatible with current conventional jet fuels, would be the best choice in the near future, as they can be used without any modifications to today's aircraft or fuel infrastructure. This paper reviews the current state of development of ‗drop-in' alternative jet fuels including various Fisher-Tropsch synthetic jet fuels and bio-jet fuels. Recent advances in research activities on alternative jet fuels, including fuel property evaluations, combustor component tests, engine tests, and flight tests, are highlighted. Furthermore, basic research needs for understanding the combustion characteristics of alternative jet fuels are underlined and discussed by reviewing recent fundamental combustion studies on ignition, extinction, flame

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) have been used in various medical and industrial areas. However, the impacts of these nanoparticles on neuroinflammation in the brain are poorly understood. In this study, mice were exposed to 2.5, 5, or 10 mg/kg body weight TiO2 NPs for 90 consecutive days, and the TLRs/TNF-α/NF-κB signaling pathway associated with the hippocampal neuroinflammation was investigated. Our findings showed titanium accumulation in the hippocampus, neuroinflammation and impairment of spatial memory in mice following exposure to TiO2 NPs. Furthermore, TiO2 NPs significantly activated the expression of Toll-like receptors (TLR2, TLR4), tumor necrosis factor-α, nucleic IκB kinase, NF-κB-inducible kinase, nucleic factor–κB, NF-κB2(p52), RelA(p65), and significantly suppressed the expression of IκB and interleukin-2. These findings suggest that neuroinflammation may be involved in TiO2 NP-induced alterations of cytokine expression in mouse hippocampus. Therefore, more attention should be focused on the application of TiO2 NPs in the food industry and their long-term exposure effects, especially in the human central nervous system.

Atherosclerosis is currently the leading factor of death in developed countries. It is now recognized as a chronic immune-inflammatory disease, whose initial stages involve the interaction of leukocytes with the endothelial monolayer. The initial stage of atherosclerosis requires the interplay of various cell adhesion molecules and immune cells to trigger leukocyte and lymphocyte migration from the circulating blood into the arterial intima. Studies have unveiled the role of inflammatory mediators in the initiation, onset and progression of the disease. During the last few years we have gained a greater understanding of the mechanism that modulates monocyte, macrophage and T cell infiltration, the role these cells play in the atherosclerotic lesion, in the formation of the fibrous plaque formation with the consequent narrowing of the arteries and the mechanisms that lead to plaque rupture and the formation of thrombi and emboli. This review talks about the leukocyte recruitment in early atherosclerosis, the formation of the plaque, and the mechanisms that lead to thrombosis in advanced atherosclerosis. Finally, we discuss the potential for novel therapies to treat this disease.