European Multicenter Study on Degradable Starch Microsphere TACE: The Digestible Way to Conquer HCC in Patients with High Tumor Burden

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of transarterial chemoembolization with degradable starch microspheres (DSM-TACE) for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with a high tumor burden ineligible for or failing other palliative therapies, 121 patients from three European centers were included. Kaplan–Meier analysis was used for median overall survival (OS) and time to progression (TTP, mRECIST criteria) in months with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Uni- (UVA) and multivariate (MVA) analyses were performed using the Cox Proportional Hazard Model. The median OS of the study cohort was 15.5 (13.3–18.7) months. The UVA identified HCC lesions ≤10 cm, unilobar involvement, lower Child–Pugh class and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage, absence of vascular invasion, and extrahepatic metastases as factors for prolonged survival. MVA confirmed lesions of ≤10 cm and unilobar disease as independent OS factors. Median TTP was 9.5 (7.6–10.3) months. The best response was achieved after a median of 3 (range: 1–6) treatments with CR/PR/SD/PD in 13.5%/44.5%/25.2%/16.8%, respectively. DSM-TACE was well tolerated with no major clinical adverse events and only limited major laboratory events. Preserved liver function was observed after repetitive DSM-TACE treatments. Repetitive DSM-TACE is a safe, well-tolerated and effective treatment option for HCC patients with high tumor burden ineligible or failing other palliative therapies.

Switchable Multimode Microlaser based on AIE Microsphere

<p><a>Switchable multimode microlasers are of great significance to the development of photonic devices with high integration levels.</a> <a>Herein, we demonstrate an acid/alkaline gas responsive multimode AIEgen@starch microsphere-based microlaser. The aggregation-induced emission (AIE) active fluorescent dye ASCPI is used as the gain medium in this study. ASCPI was weakly emissive in water but became highly emissive when introduced to the starch microsphere as a guest molecule. The resultant ASCPI@starch microsphere worked well as a typical whispering-gallery-mode microlaser. The laser mode wavelengths were size dependent. Due to the sensitivity of ASCPI to pH, the output wavelength of the microlaser could be switched to shorter wavelength by acetic acid vapor treatment or longer wavelength by NH₃ vapor treatment. This work will provide a useful enlightenment for the rational design of effective switchable lasers using AIE materials with a simple preparation procedure.</a></p>

Switchable Multimode Microlaser based on AIE Microsphere

<p><a>Switchable multimode microlasers are of great significance to the development of photonic devices with high integration levels.</a> <a>Herein, we demonstrate an acid/alkaline gas responsive multimode AIEgen@starch microsphere-based microlaser. The aggregation-induced emission (AIE) active fluorescent dye ASCPI is used as the gain medium in this study. ASCPI was weakly emissive in water but became highly emissive when introduced to the starch microsphere as a guest molecule. The resultant ASCPI@starch microsphere worked well as a typical whispering-gallery-mode microlaser. The laser mode wavelengths were size dependent. Due to the sensitivity of ASCPI to pH, the output wavelength of the microlaser could be switched to shorter wavelength by acetic acid vapor treatment or longer wavelength by NH₃ vapor treatment. This work will provide a useful enlightenment for the rational design of effective switchable lasers using AIE materials with a simple preparation procedure.</a></p>

Switchable Multimode Microlaser based on AIE Microsphere

Switchable multimode microlasers are of great significance to the development of photonic devices with high integration levels. Herein, we demonstrate an acid/alkaline gas responsive multimode AIEgen@starch microsphere-based microlaser. The aggregation-induced...

Study on Synthesis of Starch Based Polymer Microspheres and Adsorption Behavior for Lead Ions

The starch based polymer microspheres were synthesized in the system of the inverse emulsion polymerization. These polymer microspheres were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscope and Grain Size Analyzer. Adsorption behavior of starch based polymer microspheres for Pb2+ was investigated by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results showed that the average particle diameter of starch based polymer microspheres was about 43.9 μm, and surface of starch microsphere was rough and porous which could be beneficial to form adsorption layer. And the starch based polymer microsphere exhibited good adsorption of lead ions.