Transitioning energy-intensive and environmentally intensive processes toward sustainable conditions is necessary in light of the current global condition. To this end, photocatalytic processes represent new approaches for H2 generation; however, their application toward tandem catalytic reactivity remains challenging. Here, we demonstrate that metal oxide materials decorated with noble metal nanoparticles advance visible light photocatalytic activity toward new reactions not typically driven by light. For this, Pd nanoparticles were deposited onto Cu2O cubes to generate a composite structure. Once characterized, their hydrodehalogenation activity was studied via the reductive dechlorination of polychlorinated biphenyls. To this end, tandem catalytic reactivity was observed with H2 generation via H2O reduction at the Cu2O surface, followed by dehalogenation at the Pd using the in situ generated H2. Such results present methods to achieve sustainable catalytic technologies by advancing photocatalytic approaches toward new reaction systems.

Engineering three-dimensional (3D) tissues in clinically relevant sizes have demonstrated to be an effective solution to bridge the gap between organ demand and the dearth of compatible organ donors. A major challenge to the clinical translation of tissue-engineered constructs is the lack of vasculature to support an adequate supply of oxygen and nutrients post-implantation. Previous efforts to improve the vascularization of engineered tissues have not been commensurate to meeting the oxygen demands of implanted constructs during the process of homogeneous integration with the host. Maintaining cell viability and metabolic activity during this period is imperative to the survival and functionality of the engineered tissues. As a corollary, there has been a shift in the scientific impetus beyond improving vascularization. Strategies to engineer biomaterials that encapsulate cells and provide the sustained release of oxygen over time are now being explored. This review summarizes different types of oxygen-releasing biomaterials, strategies for their fabrication, and approaches to meet the oxygen requirements in various tissue engineering applications, including cardiac, skin, bone, cartilage, pancreas, and muscle regeneration.

Peptide-mediated synthesis and assembly of nanostructures opens new routes to functional inorganic/organic hybrid materials. However, understanding of the many factors that influence the interaction of biomolecules, specifically peptides, with metal surfaces remains limited. Understanding of the relationship between peptide sequence and resulting binding affinity and configurations would allow predictive design of peptides to achieve desired peptide/metal interface characteristics. Here, we measured the kinetics and thermodynamics of binding on a Au surface for a series of peptide sequences designed to probe specific sequence and context effects. For example, context effects were explored by making the same mutation at different positions in the peptide and by rearranging the peptide sequence without changing the amino acid content. The degree of peptide-surface contact, predicted from advanced molecular simulations of the surface-adsorbed structures, was consistent with the measured binding constants. In simulations, the ensemble of peptide backbone conformations showed little change with point mutations of the anchor residues that dominate interaction with the surface. Peptide-capped Au nanoparticles were produced using each sequence. Comparison of simulations with nanoparticle synthesis results revealed a correlation between the colloidal stability of the Au nanoparticles and the degree of structural disorder in the surface-adsorbed peptide structures for this family of sequences. These findings suggest new directions in the optimization and design of biomolecules for in situ peptide-based nanoparticle growth, binding, and dispersion in aqueous media.

The use of intracortical microelectrode arrays has gained significant attention in being able to help restore function in paralysis patients and study the brain in various neurological disorders. Electrode implantation in the cortex causes vasculature or blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption and thus elicits a foreign body response (FBR) that results in chronic inflammation and may lead to poor electrode performance. In this study, a comprehensive insight into the acute molecular mechanisms occurring at the Utah electrode array-tissue interface is provided to understand the oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and neurovascular unit (astrocytes, pericytes, and endothelial cells) disruption that occurs following microelectrode implantation. Quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to quantify the gene expression at acute time-points of 48-hr, 72-hr, and 7-days for factors mediating oxidative stress, inflammation, and BBB disruption in rats implanted with a non-functional 4×4 Utah array in the somatosensory cortex. During vascular disruption, free iron released into the brain parenchyma can exacerbate the FBR, leading to oxidative stress and thus further contributing to BBB degradation. To reduce the free iron released into the brain tissue, the effects of an iron chelator, deferoxamine mesylate (DFX), was also evaluated.

The studies are based upon 60 dissections of the recurrent laryngeal n. (inferior laryngeal n.). The authors describe in detail the branches destined for the intrinsic musculature of the larynx. This study is a working approach for interventions of selective laryngeal reinnervation in man. The conclusion is that, it is necessary to resect the inferior cornu of the thyroid cartilage, to reach the abductor and adductor branches of the vocal cord.