Biodegradable Eri silk nanoparticles as a delivery vehicle for bovine lactoferrin against MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cells

This study used the Eri silk nanoparticles (NPs) for delivering apo-bovine lactoferrin (Apo-bLf) (~2% iron saturated) and Fe-bLf (100% iron saturated) in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines. Apo-bLf and Fe-bLf-loaded Eri silk NPs with sizes between 200 and 300 nm (±10 nm) showed a significant internalization within 4 hours in MDA-MB-231 cells when compared to MCF-7 cells. The ex vivo loop assay with chitosan-coated Fe-bLf-loaded silk NPs was able to substantiate its future use in oral administration and showed the maximum absorption within 24 hours by ileum. Both Apo-bLf and Fe-bLf induced increase in expression of low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 and lactoferrin receptor in epidermal growth factor (EGFR)-positive MDA-MB-231 cells, while transferrin receptor (TfR) and TfR2 in MCF-7 cells facilitated the receptor-mediated endocytosis of NPs. Controlled and sustained release of both bLf from silk NPs was shown to induce more cancer-specific cytotoxicity in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells compared to normal MCF-10A cells. Due to higher degree of internalization, the extent of cytotoxicity and apoptosis was significantly higher in MDA-MB-231 (EGFR+) cells when compared to MCF-7 (EGFR-) cells. The expression of a prominent anticancer target, survivin, was found to be downregulated at both gene and protein levels. Taken together, all the observations suggest the potential use of Eri silk NPs as a delivery vehicle for an anti-cancer milk protein, and indicate bLf for the treatment of breast cancer.

Vehicle motion simulators, a key step towards road vehicle dynamics improvement

Real road vehicle tests are time consuming, laborious, and costly, and involve several safety concerns. Road vehicle motion simulators (RVMS) could assist with vehicle testing, and eliminate or reduce the difficulties traditionally associated with conducting vehicle tests. However, such simulators must exhibit a high level of fidelity and accuracy in order to provide realistic and reliable outcomes. In this paper, we review existing RVMS and discuss each of the major RVMS subsystems related to the research and development of vehicle dynamics. The possibility of utilising motion simulators to conduct ride and handling test scenarios is also investigated.

From exclusion to agency in Papua: Pagar Adat Papua (the Papuan Customary Framework) as a culture- centred approach to HIV and AIDS communication

 This thesis examines the existing constructions, multiple discourses and framings of the HIV and AIDS epidemic in the Mee community of Papua, Indonesia, through the lens of a culture-centred approach to HIV and AIDS communication.

Nonlinear controller design for vehicle-to-grid systems with output LCL filters

This paper presents a nonlinear controller design for vehicle-to-grid (V2G) systems with LCL output filters. The V2G systems are modeled with LCL output filters in order to eliminate harmonics for improving power qualities and the nonlinear controller is designed based on the feedback linearization. The feasibility of using the appropriate feedback linearization approaches, either partial or exact, is also investigated through the feedback linearizability of V2G systems. In this paper, partial feedback linearization is used to design the controller with a capability of sharing both active and reactive power in V2G systems. The performance of the proposed controller controller is evaluated on a single-phase full-bridge converter-based V2G system with an LCL output filter and compared to that of without any filter. Simulation results clearly demonstrate the harmonic elimination capabilities of the proposed V2G structure with the proposed control scheme.