Site‐Selectively Coated,Densely‐Packed Microprojection Array Patches for Targeted Delivery of Vaccines to Skin

Densely packed dry‐coated microprojections are shown to deliver vaccines to targeted locations within the skin that are rich in immune cells, thus inducing protective immune responses against a lethal virus challenge. Selectively limiting the antigen coating to the tips of the projections, which penetrate the skin, would significantly reduce the amount of vaccine required in immunization. In this paper a simple technique, dip‐coating the microprojections, is introduced to meet this goal. By increasing the coating solution viscosity, an otherwise strong capillary action is mitigated and the desired controlled coating length on projections is achieved. Following application to the skin, most of the coated vaccine material is rapidly released from the projections (82.6% in mass within 2 min) to the target locations within the skin strata and a potent immune response is induced when a conventional influenza vaccine (Fluvax) is tested in a mouse model. The utility of this coating approach to a variety of molecules representative of vaccines (e.g., chicken egg ovalbumin (OVA) protein, DNA, and fluorescent dyes) is demonstrated. These collective attributes, together with the simplicity of the approach, position the dip‐coating method for practical utility in large vaccination campaigns.     

Chitosan Biopolymer Schiff Base: Preparation,Characterization, Optical,and Antibacterial Activity

Natural biopolymer used for hydrogels has attracted increasing attention in the multifaceted areas of biomedical science and engineering. The authors prepared chitosan biopolymer Schiff base by solvent exchange method using a simple aliphatic crosslinker, crotanaldehyde. The identity of Schiff base was confirmed by UV-vis and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The chitosan Schiff base was evaluated by XRD, TGA, DSC, and SEM. The microbiological screening results demonstrated the antibacterial activity of Schiff base against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. These results suggest that the newly prepared Schiff base may open a new perspective in biomedical applications.     

Amphiphilic Polymeric Nanocarriers with Luminescent Gold Nanoclusters for Concurrent Bioimaging and Controlled Drug Release

Multifunctional theranostic systems with good biocompatibility, strong clinical imaging capability, and target specificity are the desired features of future medicine. Here, the design of a theranostic nanocomposite capable of simultaneous targeting and imaging of the cancer cells is presented. It releases its drug payload by a controlled release mechanism. The nanocomposite contains luminescent gold nanocluster (L‐AuNC) photostable and biocompatible diagnostic probes conjugated to a folic acid (FA)‐modified pH‐responsive amphiphilic polymeric system for controlled drug release. The nanocomposite uses a core‐satellite structure to encapsulate hydrophobic drugs and releases the drug payload in mildly acidic endosomal/lysosomal compartments by the action of the pH‐labile linkages in the polymer. In vivo studies show the selective accumulation of the FA‐conjugated nanocomposite in tumor tissues by folate‐receptor‐mediated endocytosis. These findings demonstrate the potential of the nanocomposite as a nontoxic, folate‐targeting, pH‐responsive drug carrier that is useful for the early detection and therapy of folate‐overexpressing cancerous cells.     

ε-己内酯／三亚甲基碳酸酯聚合物的性能及研究进展

TMC和ε-CL的均聚物以及二者的共聚物是一种无毒的具有良好生物相容性和生物可降解的聚合物,可作为生物可降解的缝合线、人造皮肤、药物释放和神经导管等生物医用材料,近年来得到了广泛的研究。本文就TMC与ε-CL均聚物的性能和二者共聚物的研究现状进行概要性综述。     

明胶及其在生物材料中的应用

明胶是一种天然的高分子材料,其理化性质、生物学性能研究表明其是制造生物医用材料的良好基材.总结了明胶的结构和性质,综述了明胶在生物医用材料中的应用,指出了当明胶与其他生物材料复合时,明胶基生物材料在医学领域有着广阔的应用前景.     

加拿大光电子技术及产业概况

介绍了加拿大目前的光电子技术、产业概况及相关的科研机构和光电子会议。     

21世纪的光电子产业

简明阐述了光子学、光电子技术的发展历程和形成光电子产业（亦称光子产业）的现状及其构成的技术基础,指出光电子科学技术和产业在促进国家经济和科学技术持续发展中的巨大作用及其发展趋势,要抓住机遇,加速建立和发展我国的光电子产业,其中着重分析了以广州为中心创建“广东光谷”的有利条件．     

光子学的内涵、发展与突破

论述了光子学、光子技术的产生、发展和突破，阐明了光子学的定义、内涵、范畴和前沿，提出了关于第Ⅰ类和第Ⅱ类光子产业的设想．     

阵列光镊的发展

介绍了光镊的原理及近年来发展起来的各种阵列光镊技术,探讨了阵列光镊技术在不同学科领域的应用.