Atherosclerotic disease is a substantial global burden, and existing treatments, such as statins, are recommended to lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and inhibit the progression of atherosclerosis. However, side effects, including gastrointestinal unease, potential harm to the liver, and discomfort in the muscles, might be observed. In this study, we propose a novel method using periodic mesoporous silica nanoparticles (PMS) to create heparin-modified PMS (PMS-HP) with excellent biocompatibility, enabling selective removal of LDL-C from the blood. In vitro, through the introduction of PMS-HP into the plasma of mice, we observed that, compared to PMS alone, PMS-HP could selectively adsorb LDL-C while avoiding interference with valuable components such as plasma proteins and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Notably, further investigations revealed that the adsorption of LDL-C by PMS-HP could be well-fitted to quasi-first-order (R2 = 0.993) and quasi-second-order adsorption models (R2 = 0.998). Likewise, in vivo, intravenous injection of PMS-HP enabled targeted LDL-C adsorption (6.5 ± 0.73 vs. 8.6 ± 0.76 mM, p < 0.001) without affecting other plasma constituents, contributing to reducing intravascular plaque formation (3.66% ± 1.06% vs. 1.87% ± 0.79%, p < 0.05) on the aortic wall and inhibiting vascular remodeling (27.2% ± 6.55% vs. 38.3% ± 1.99%, p < 0.05). Compared to existing lipid adsorption techniques, PMS-HP exhibited superior biocompatibility and recyclability, rendering it valuable for both in vivo and in vitro applications.

The integration of the properties of silicon nano crystallinity with silica mesoporosity provides a wealth of new opportunities for emerging biomedicine. Cholesterol (CHO) and triglyceride (TG) levels have always been a challenge for cardiologists in the treatment of patients with chronic coronary artery disease (CAD). For patients with hyperlipidemia, statins and other lipid-lowering drugs are currently recommended. It should be noted, however, that significant side effects have been reported in the treatments, including liver damage, muscle pain, etc. We here found that our previously produced periodic mesoporous nanocrystalline silicon-silica, meso-ncSi/SiO2 (PMS), a nanocomposite material, has the properties of lowering CHO and TG, and is associated with better safety and biocompatibility compared to existing lipid-lowering drugs. After being incubated with PMS for 2 hours, CHO and TG levels in blood were significantly lower than before. In addition, CHO and TG adsorbed on with PMS could also be extracted and released, contributing to the recovery and recycling of PMS.

Background: To develop and validate a nomogram prediction model for assessing the risk of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) within one year of discharge. Methods: We enrolled 828 patients with NVAF and HFpEF from May 2017 to March 2022 in Zhongda Hospital as the training cohort, and 564 patients with NVAF and HFpEF in Taizhou People’s Hospital between August 2018 and March 2022 as the validation cohort. A total of 35 clinical features, including baseline characteristics, past medical records, and detection index, were used to create a prediction model for MACCE risk. The optimized model was verified in the validation cohort. Calibration plots, the Hosmer-Lemeshow test, and decision curve analyses (DCA) were utilized to assess the accuracy and clinical efficacy of the nomogram. Results: MACCE occurred in 23.1% of all patients within one year of discharge. The nomogram identified several independent risk factors for MACCE, including atrial fibrillation duration ≥6 years, poor medication compliance, serum creatinine level, hyperthyroidism, serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide level, and circumferential end-diastolic stress. The DCA demonstrated the excellent efficacy of the prediction model for the MACCE end-point, with a wide range of high-risk threshold probabilities in both cohorts. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test confirmed that momogram predictions fit for both the training (p = 0.573) and validation (p = 0.628) cohorts. Conclusions: This nomogram prediction model may offer a quantitative tool for estimating the risk of MACCE in patients with NVAF and HFpEF within one year of discharge.

Cu+ doped GeSe2-Sb2Se3 glass ceramics were prepared using the melt-quenching method. The effect of the p-n type nano-heterojunction formed between two narrow bandgap semiconductors in the prepared glass ceramics on the photocatalytic activity was studied by x-ray diffraction, ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer and high resolution transmission electron microscopy. Cu+ induced the formation of granular Cu2GeSe3 crystals, which was distributed in the parallel rod-like Sb2Se3 clusters, forming the heterojunction in nano-scale. The prepared glass ceramics powder decomposed 94% methyl orange under visible light irradiation. The excellent photocatalytic activity was ascribed to the nano-heterojunction structure and the effective separation of electrons from holes caused by inter-semiconductor transfer mechanism.

TiO2(B) is typical crystal structure for TiO2, besides anatase, ruble and brookite. In this work, one-dimensionalTiO(2)(B) modified by Pd were prepared. The obtained Pd/TiO2(B) was used for photo-thermocatalytic benzyl alcohol oxidation. Well-matched heterostructure contact boundary between (111) planes of Pd nanoparticles and (003) planes of TiO2(B) was formed, which might facilitate interfacial photo-generated electrons transfer. The Pd/TiO2(B) catalyst exhibited enhanced the photo-thermocatalytic activity, attributed tothe synergistic effect of Pd, TiO2(B) and their well-matched heterojunction, and also the synergism between the thermocatalysis and photocatalysis.

CuI-doped GeSe2–Sb2Se3 system glass ceramics are a novel type of promising semiconductor for photoelectric application. In this study, selenide glass ceramics with different compositions were prepared by using the traditional melt-quenching method together with a 1-h annealing process at crystallization temperature. The compositional, morphological, structural and photoelectric properties of the as-prepared glass ceramics were comprehensively investigated with XRD, SEM, TEM and photo-electrochemical system. The results show that the 20 mol% CuI-doped 50GeSe2–50Sb2Se3 glass ceramics present the highest conductivity which determines the migration of photo-generated charge carriers and the highest photocurrent under visible illumination.

An external cavity laser based on double-ring mirror, which has optional output mode, has been presented. Double-crest curve and two single-crest curves are observed. They are corresponding to hybrid mode, TE and TM mode, respectively.

We propose and experimentally investigate types of silicon ring reflectors on Silicon-On-Insulator (SOI) platform. These reflectors are used for realizing the silicon hybrid external cavity lasers. A suspended edge coupler is used to connect the reflective semiconductor optical amplifier (RSOA) chip and the reflectors. The properties of the reflectors and the hybrid external cavity lasers with these reflectors are illustrated. The experimental results show that all of those reflectors have a high reflectivity and the highest reflectivity can up to be 95%. The lowest insertion loss can be as low as 0.4dB. The output power of the hybrid external cavity lasers with these reflectors can reach mW magnitude and the highest output power is 6.1mW. Over 30dB side mode suppression ratio is obtained.

Two types of wavelength tunable cavity mirrors have been presented and silicon-on-insulator (SOI) platform. Both cavity mirrors show high reflectivity and large Q magnitude. They are used for realizing the silicon hybrid integrated lasers. The Q magnitude of the mirrors is about 6 × 104, and the reflectivity is more than 95%.We use a suspended edge coupler to connect the III-V semiconductor optical amplifier chip and the cavity mirrors. The measured highest laser output power is 6.1 mW in uncooled condition. A wide bandwidth tenability (the whole FSR) can be achieved, the tuning efficiency is about 6.7 mW/nm, and over 35-dB side mode suppression ratio is obtained.