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Global crop-specific energy demand for irrigation
Identification and validation of a novel ferroptosis-related gene signature associated with inherited retinal degeneration in Rd10 mice
Asymmetric Pt1C3-Pt1O1C3 catalytic pairs for efficient transfer hydrogenation of azobenzene
Query-efficient decision-based adversarial attack with low query budget
Genome contamination may lead to an overestimation of horizontal gene transfer inferences
Deep residual network enhanced with multilevel residual-of-residual for automatic classification of radio signals for 5G and beyond systems
A novel ecological approach to assess theory of Mind and social norm understanding for social cognition phenotyping in multiple sclerosis
Investigation of magnetic orientation effects on interior rotor BLDC motor performance for EVs: a response surface methodology approach
Comparative antibacterial and anti-virulence effects of silver ions from electrolysis, silver nanoparticles, and silver nitrate against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus
Abstract The biological activity of silver-based antimicrobial agents is strongly influenced by the source and generation method of silver ions (Ag⁺); however, a direct comparison of their efficacy from different sources has not been previously reported. In this study, we systematically compared the antibacterial and anti-virulence effects of Ag⁺ derived from three sources: direct current (DC) electrolysis, silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs), and silver nitrate (AgNO₃), standardized to 400 ppm. Electrolyzed Ag⁺ exhibited the strongest antibacterial effect, reducing viable counts of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus by 91.06% and 71.10%, respectively. It also caused substantial membrane disruption, reduced motility, and increased cellular leakage, as confirmed by SEM imaging, DNA and K⁺ ion leakage, and extracellular protein release. Furthermore, electrolyzed Ag⁺ most effectively suppressed key virulence factors, including biofilm formation, pigment production (pyocyanin, staphyloxanthin), and the activities of protease, esterase, and hemolysin. Despite identical Ag⁺ concentrations, the biological activity varied significantly with ion source, underscoring the importance of the delivery mechanism. These findings highlight the superior efficacy of electrolyzed Ag⁺ and support its potential application in clinical, environmental, and industrial antimicrobial strategies.
A field polymerizing hydrogel enables simultaneous antimicrobial, hemostatic, and analgesic delivery in traumatic wounds
Abstract Traumatic injuries in resource-limited settings, such as remote, rural, or disaster-affected environments, require wound care solutions that can effectively address hemorrhage, infection, and pain outside of traditional clinical infrastructure. We developed a field-polymerizable hydrogel wound dressing capable of delivering tranexamic acid (hemostatic), vancomycin and tobramycin (broad-spectrum antibiotics), and lidocaine (analgesic) directly to the site of injury. Using computational modeling, we designed a lightweight, rugged hydrogel that polymerizes rapidly with potable water and conforms to irregular wound beds. The system demonstrated burst release of hemostatic and analgesic agents and sustained antibiotic release over four days. In vitro and in vivo testing confirmed the hydrogel’s ability to stabilize clots, prevent fibrinolysis, and eradicate polymicrobial gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial infections in a murine model of open fracture. Large animal studies further validated its translational potential in a large, complex wound. This modular, multifunctional platform provides a field-ready solution for wound management in austere environments, with the potential to reduce infection, control bleeding, and improve wound stabilization when access to definitive care is delayed.
Imaging intercellular biomolecules by using fluorescent protein indicators with lipid-PEG anchors
Abstract Extracellular molecules such as ions, amino acids, nucleotides, and proteins are essential mediators of intercellular communication in multicellular organisms. These diffusible factors contribute to development and homeostasis of organisms by coordinating signaling among distant cells. Despite the widespread use of fluorescent indicators for studying intracellular signaling, introducing genetically encoded indicators often complicates the control of their subcellular localization, making it difficult to distinguish intracellular from extracellular signals. Consequently, monitoring the spatiotemporal dynamics of diffusible molecules in the extracellular space has remained technically challenging. Here we report a versatile chemical anchoring method using lipid–polyethylene glycol (PEG) conjugates that immobilizes fluorescent protein (FP)–based indicators on the extracellular surface of living cells. This approach enables stable localization of FP-based indicators on hippocampal neurons in both primary cultures and in acute brain slices. Lipid–PEG–anchored indicator for potassium ion and that for glutamate allowed real-time optical monitoring of ion and neurotransmitter release from neurons during spontaneous and electrically evoked neuronal activity. This non-genetic labeling strategy provides localized, rapidly applicable, high sensitivity, stability, and reproducibility, offering a versatile platform for quantitative monitoring of extracellular signaling events near membranes of living cells in a low invasive manner.