This article reports facile fabrication of a multifunctional smart surface having superhydrophobic self-cleaning property, superoleophilicity, and antimicrobial property. These smart surfaces have been synthesized using the stereolithography (SLA) method of the additive manufacturing technique. SLA is a fast additive manufacturing technique used to create complex parts with intricate geometries. A wide variety of materials and high-resolution techniques can be utilized to create functional parts such as superhydrophobic surfaces. Various materials have been studied to improve the functionality of 3D printing. However, the fabrication of such materials is not easy, as it is quite expensive. In this work, we used a commercially available SLA printer and its photopolymer resin to create various micropatterned surfaces. Additionally, we applied a low surface energy coating with ZnO nanoparticles and tetraethyl orthosilicate to create hierarchical roughness. The wettability studies of created superhydrophobic surfaces were evaluated by means of static contact angle using the sessile drop method and rolling angle measurements. The effects of various factors, including different concentrations of coating mixture, drying temperatures, patterns (pyramids, pillars, and eggbeater structures), and pillar spacing, were studied in relation to contact angles. Subsequently, all the functional properties (i.e., self-cleaning, oleophilicity, and antibacterial properties) of the as-obtained surfaces were demonstrated using data, images, and supporting videos. This inexpensive and scalable process can be easily replicated with an SLA 3D printer and photopolymer resin for many applications such as self-cleaning, oil–water separation, channel-less microfluidics, antibacterial coating, etc

Gold nanoclusters (Au NCs) have found wide range of applications in environmental, chemical and health sectors as sensors, catalytic agents and theranostic molecules, respectively, due to their ultrasmall size and excellent optical properties. However, a comprehensive battery of bioassays of Au NCs were lacking on a well-established biological model system, which would enhance its potential to be used as an optical probe with application in theranostics. The current investigation aims to address the in vivo compatibility of Au NCs to improve their design, evaluate their biological impact, and validate their potential for bioimaging applications. We have used the Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism in our present study due to their short life cycle facilitating evaluation of drug effects in reasonable time frame and transparent body framework suitable for in vivo imaging. These features facilitate accurate information regarding the uptake and biodistribution of Au NCs inside the tissues and body parts. Additionally, different nanotoxicological studies such as biodistribution of NCs and its subsequent impact on the health span, brood size, pharyngeal pumping and tail thrashing of C. elegans were observed as a measure of the Au NCs biocompatibility. Our results strongly demonstrate that the human serum albumin (HSA)-bound Au NCs are non-toxic, biocompatible and do not exhibit any adverse effect on the physiology and survival of the C. elegans. This study, employing a comprehensive battery of bioassays, is the first to systematically evaluate the long-term biocompatibility and non-toxicity of Au NCs across the entire lifespan of an organism, measured through multiple physiological parameters. These findings underscore the potential of Au NCs as safe and effective diagnostic and therapeutic agents for medical and clinical applications

Tiny sized (?2 nm) copper nanoclusters (Cu NCs) were synthesized with strong optical response, where red/green emitting features were observed using protein/amino acid as surfactant molecules. The photocatalytic water splitting reactions for both ligand-mediated Cu NCs were carried out in a photochemical reactor under solar simulator for 12 h. Interestingly, protein mediated red colour emitting Cu NCs produced stable H2 ? 256 mmol g?1 and the solar to hydrogen efficiency (STH) is approximately ? 0.5% while comparing with green emitting Cu NCs with 86 mmol g?1 and STH of 0.08%. These interesting results were achieved due to their longer lifetime, strong colloidal stability, high quantum yield and rich surface functionalization features. These were further confirmed through absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, time-resolved photoluminescence, zeta potential, high resolution transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analytical techniques. Thus, these inexpensive Cu NCs could be used as alternate photocatalysts for H2 production than obviating the usage of precious noble metal platinum-based ones

Highly crystalline hematite (?-Fe2O3) nanostructures (NSs) with distinct morphology hold vital significance, not only for fundamental knowledge of magnetic properties but also offering potential applications from biomedical to data storage to semiconductor industry, etc. ?-Fe2O3 NSs with various shapes are examined to reveal the intrinsic relationship between the shape anisotropy and magnetic properties. Herein, different morphologies of ?-Fe2O3 NSs, such as spherical, cubic, plate-like, rhombohedral, and hexagonal bipyramid are synthesized, by controlled hydrothermal method. The impact of shape and size on the optical and structural characteristics through UV–vis absorption spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction is analyzed. Advanced nanomaterial techniques such as transmission electron microscopy are utilized to explore and confirm the morphology and size of NSs. Subsequently magnetic properties of the ?-Fe2O3 NSs, such as magnetic saturation (Ms), coercivity (Hc), and remanent magnetization (Mr), are measured. Careful analysis of magnetic data reveals Morin transition around 200K for cubic, plate-like, and rhombohedral samples, whereas the spherical and hexagonal bipyramid samples illustrate the superparamagnetic behavior in the temperature range of 150–300K. Finally, the antibacterial characteristics of NSs against Escherichia coli using a microplate reader for monitoring the bacterial growth are investigated

The authors regret the oversight in one of the author's (Manjunatha Thondamal) affiliation details occurred during the final proof reading. The affiliation detail for the author- Manjunatha Thondamal is: d Department of Biotechnology, School of Technology, Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management (GITAM), Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, 530045, India. The authors would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused.

One of the major constituents of mitochondrial membranes is the phospholipids, which play a key role in maintaining the structure and the functions of the mitochondria. However, mitochondria do not synthesize most of the phospholipids in situ, necessitating the presence of phospholipid import pathways. Even for the phospholipids, which are synthesized within the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM), the phospholipid precursors must be imported from outside the mitochondria. Therefore, the mitochondria heavily rely on the phospholipid transport pathways for its proper functioning. Since, mitochondria are not part of a vesicular trafficking network, the molecular mechanisms of how mitochondria receive its phospholipids remain a relevant question. One of the major ways that hydrophobic phospholipids can cross the aqueous barrier of inter or intraorganellar spaces is by apposing membranes, thereby decreasing the distance of transport, or by being sequestered by lipid transport proteins (LTPs). Therefore, with the discovery of LTPs and membrane contact sites (MCSs), we are beginning to understand the molecular mechanisms of phospholipid transport pathways in the mitochondria. In this review, we will present a brief overview of the recent findings on the molecular architecture and the importance of the MCSs, both the intraorganellar and interorganellar contact sites, in facilitating the mitochondrial phospholipid transport. In addition, we will also discuss the role of LTPs for trafficking phospholipids through the intermembrane space (IMS) of the mitochondria. Mechanistic insights into different phospholipid transport pathways of mitochondria could be exploited to vary the composition of membrane phospholipids and gain a better understanding of their precise role in membrane homeostasis and mitochondrial bioenergetics.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) contain at least one oxygen atom and one or more unpaired electrons and include singlet oxygen, superoxide anion radical, hydroxyl radical, hydroperoxyl radical, and free nitrogen radicals. Intracellular ROS can be formed as a consequence of several factors, including ultra-violet (UV) radiation, electron leakage during aerobic respiration, inflammatory responses mediated by macrophages, and other external stimuli or stress. The enhanced production of ROS is termed oxidative stress and this leads to cellular damage, such as protein carbonylation, lipid peroxidation, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage, and base modifications. This damage may manifest in various pathological states, including ageing, cancer, neurological diseases, and metabolic disorders like diabetes. On the other hand, the optimum levels of ROS have been implicated in the regulation of many important physiological processes. For example, the ROS generated in the mitochondria (mitochondrial ROS or mt-ROS), as a byproduct of the electron transport chain (ETC), participate in a plethora of physiological functions, which include ageing, cell growth, cell proliferation, and immune response and regulation. In this current review, we will focus on the mechanisms by which mt-ROS regulate different pathways of host immune responses in the context of infection by bacteria, protozoan parasites, viruses, and fungi. We will also discuss how these pathogens, in turn, modulate mt-ROS to evade host immunity. We will conclude by briefly giving an overview of the potential therapeutic approaches involving mt-ROS in infectious diseases.

This paper presents a comprehensive overview of the potential applications for Photo-Acoustic (PA) imaging employing functional nanoparticles. The exploration begins with an introduction to nanotechnology and nanomaterials, highlighting the advancements in these fields and their crucial role in shaping the future. A detailed discussion of the various types of nanomaterials and their functional properties sets the stage for a thorough examination of the fundamentals of the PA effect. This includes a thorough chronological review of advancements, experimental methodologies, and the intricacies of the source and detection of PA signals. The utilization of amplitude and frequency modulation, design of PA cells, pressure sensor-based signal detection, and quantification methods are explored in-depth, along with additional mechanisms induced by PA signals. The paper then delves into the versatile applications of photoacoustic imaging facilitated by functional nanomaterials. It investigates the influence of nanomaterial shape, size variation, and the role of composition, alloys, and hybrid materials in harnessing the potential of PA imaging. The paper culminates with an insightful discussion on the future scope of this field, focusing specifically on the potential applications of photoacoustic (PA) effect in the domain of biomedical imaging and nanomedicine. Finally, by providing the comprehensive overview, the current work provides a valuable resource underscoring the transformative potential of PA imaging technique in biomedical research and clinical practice.

The substitution of semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) by a small number of transition-metal ions with magnetic properties gives rise to magnetic-doped semiconductors. With a balance of optical and magnetic properties, these magnetic semiconductors are widely used in spintronics, bioimaging and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) applications. To facilitate their usage in bio-applications, it is critical to synthesize water-soluble magnetic QDs with a stabilized structure while maintaining their optical and magnetic properties. Here in our work, we have developed a facile substituted synthetic route to achieve Cr-doped CdSe (Cr-CdSe) via hydrothermal method. The effects of doping on the structural, optical, and magnetic properties of Cr-CdSe were studied using X-ray diffraction, UV-visible spectroscopy, and photoluminescence lifetime. We then explored their chemical nature and change in morphology with an increase in doping concentration via X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Water-soluble QDs have been used as bioimaging probes for the past few decades due to their strong fluorescence, photostability and improved tissue or cellular penetration. However, incorporating magnetic material into a fluorescent entity harnesses the ability to control the strengths of both modalities, which enhances diagnostic accuracy and facilitates its application in bio-systems, especially in early accurate diagnosis. Finally, we demonstrate the competency of Cr-CdSe as a dual-imaging probe with fluorescent cellular imaging and MRI applications

Human MPV17, an evolutionarily conserved mitochondrial inner-membrane channel protein, accounts for the tissue-specific mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome. However, the precise molecular function of the MPV17 protein is still elusive. Previous studies showed that the mitochondrial morphology and cristae organization are severely disrupted in the MPV17 knockout cells from yeast, zebrafish, and mammalian tissues. As mitochondrial cristae morphology is strictly regulated by the membrane phospholipids composition, we measured mitochondrial membrane phospholipids (PLs) levels in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae MPV17 ortholog, SYM1 ( Stress-inducible Yeast MPV17 ) deleted cells. We found that Sym1 knockout decreases the mitochondrial membrane PL, phosphatidyl ethanolamine (PE), and inhibits respiratory growth at 37 ?C on rich media. Both the oxygen consumption rate and the steady state expressions of mitochondrial complex II and super-complexes are compromised. Apart from mitochondrial PE defect a significant depletion of mitochondrial phosphatidyl-choline (PC) was noticed in the sym1? cells grown on synthetic media at both 30 ?C and 37 ?C temperatures. Surprisingly, exogenous supplementation of methylglyoxal (MG), an intrinsic side product of glycolysis, rescues the respiratory growth of Sym1 deficient yeast cells. Using a combination of molecular biology and lipid biochemistry, we uncovered that MG simultaneously restores both the mitochondrial PE/PC levels and the respiration by enhancing cytosolic NAD-dependent glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase 1 (Gpd1) enzymatic activity. Further, MG is incapable to restore respiratory growth of the sym1?gpd1? double knockout cells. Thus, our work provides Gpd1 activation as a novel strategy for combating Sym1 deficiency and PC/PE defects.

This review article focuses on the role of nanotechnology (NT) in the development of advanced organic and inorganic photodetectors and their potential applications in the coming decades. We initiate the article with an overview of NT and potential applications of Nanotechnology in the twenty-first century ranging from Semiconductor manufacturing to Medical Imaging to Renewable energy to Quantum computing to Opto-electronics. The second part of the article delved into specific details on the role of nanotechnology and nanomaterials in developing advanced Photodetectors (PDs) and specifically discussing the internal functioning of near-infrared (NIR) photodetectors. Subsequently we focused on the performance metrics of PDs and types of PDs namely Organic Photodetectors (OPD) and Inorganic Photodetectors (IPD). We continued our in-depth discussion on OPDs and IPDs elaborating their structural features, operation mechanisms, types, performance optimization and role of functional nanomaterials. The final part of this review focuses on key applications of photodetectors e.g., retinal implant, biomedical imaging, personalized health monitoring, telecommunication, and military applications etc. Finally, we concluded the review paper discussing future opportunities and challenges regarding applications of NIR photodetectors in the twenty-first century. Graphical Abstract: [Figure : see fulltext.]

Infiltration of arterial intima by foamy macrophages is a hallmark of early atherosclerotic lesions. Here, we investigated the potential role of Ser/Thr phosphatase PHLPP1 in foam cell development. PHLPP1 levels were elevated in OxLDL-exposed macrophages and high-fat diet (HFD)-fed zebrafish larvae. Using overexpression and knockdown approaches, we show that PHLPP1 promotes the accumulation of neutral lipids, and augments cellular total cholesterol and free fatty acid (FFA) levels. RNA-Seq analysis uncovered PHLPP1 role in lipid metabolism pathways. PHLPP1 interacted with and modestly increased ChREBP recruitment to Fasn promoter. PHLPP1-mediated lipid accumulation was attenuated by AMPK activation. Pharmacological inhibition or CRISPR/Cas9-mediated disruption of PHLPP1 resulted in lower lipid accumulation in the intersegmental vessels of HFD-fed zebrafish larvae along with a reduction in total cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Deficiency of phlp-2, C. elegans PHLPP1/2 ortholog, abolished lipid accumulation in high cholesterol-fed worms. We conclude that PHLPP1 exerts a significant effect on lipid buildup.

Nanoclusters possess an ultrasmall size, amongst other favorable attributes, such as a high fluorescence and long-term colloidal stability, and consequently, they carry several advantages when applied in biological systems for use in diagnosis and therapy. Particularly, the early diagnosis of diseases may be facilitated by the right combination of bioimaging modalities and suitable probes. Amongst several metallic nanoclusters, copper nanoclusters (Cu NCs) present advantages over gold or silver NCs, owing to their several advantages, such as high yield, raw abundance, low cost, and presence as an important trace element in biological systems. Additionally, their usage in diagnostics and therapeutic modalities is emerging. As a result, the fluorescent properties of Cu NCs are exploited for use in optical imaging technology, which is the most commonly used research tool in the field of biomedicine. Optical imaging technology presents a myriad of advantages over other bioimaging technologies, which are discussed in this review, and has a promising future, particularly in early cancer diagnosis and imaging-guided treatment. Furthermore, we have consolidated, to the best of our knowledge, the recent trends and applications of copper nanoclusters (Cu NCs), a class of metal nanoclusters that have been gaining much traction as ideal bioimaging probes, in this review. The potential modes in which the Cu NCs are used for bioimaging purposes (e.g., as a fluorescence, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), two-photon imaging probe) are firstly delineated, followed by their applications as biosensors and bioimaging probes, with a focus on disease detection.