Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Suresh Reddy Banda, Holger Klapproth, Nicolaas Smit, Sonja Bednar, Thomas Brandstetter, Juergen Ruehe
Summary: The sensitivity of a PCR-based biochip assay depends on the efficiency of PCR amplicons in binding to the microarray spots. Asymmetric PCR is often inefficient in generating single-stranded (ss) amplicons. However, a novel variant called Asymmetric Exponential and Linear Amplification (AELA) can overcome these issues and generate large amounts of ss-amplicons. AELA-PCR combines both exponential and linear amplification of the target nucleic acid, resulting in higher biochip sensitivity compared to conventional methods.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Dario Brambilla, Laura Sola, Marcella Chiari
Summary: Microarrays encompass DNA and protein arrays, providing a powerful tool for studying gene transcription and expression. However, protein array fabrication is hindered by technological hurdles, with one major challenge being protein immobilization. To address this issue, DNA-directed protein immobilization has been developed as an alternative approach.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Salvatore Petralia, Antonella Vigilanza, Emanuele Sciuto, Michele Maffia, Antonella Romanini, Sabrina Conoci
Summary: The study investigated single nucleotide polymorphisms in the MC1R gene using a miniaturized silicon-based microarray-chip, showing good sensitivity and high confidence level, paving the way for future development of portable genetic assays.
SENSORS AND ACTUATORS B-CHEMICAL
(2021)
Editorial Material
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Aaron H. Bui, Anne D. Fernando Pulle, Bryan T. Tuten
Summary: In this study, a new method is introduced to synthesize various polyselenophene derivatives by selectively oxidizing new poly(1,4-diselenin) s using elemental selenium, electron-deficient alkynones, and a base at ambient temperatures.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Wenjun Chen, Yuechao Yang, Xue Lan, Baolong Zhang, Xiaogang Zhang, Tiancheng Mu
Summary: The study successfully dissolved waste PET into its monomers using biomass-derived gamma-valerolactone (GVL), providing an environmentally friendly, fast, and energy-efficient pathway for recycling waste PET.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Laura Sola, Laura Abdel Mallak, Francesco Damin, Alessandro Mussida, Dario Brambilla, Marcella Chiari
Summary: We conducted a detailed investigation on the effect of a polymeric coating's functional group concentration on probe density immobilization, aiming to find the optimal formulation for specific microarray applications. The performance of a microarray is known to be influenced by the way probes are attached to the surface, and our N, N-dimethylacrylamide-based polymeric coating has shown great flexibility for customizing surface properties. Through synthesizing polymers with increasing concentrations of N-acryloyloxysuccinimide (NAS) and optimizing the coating procedure accordingly, we tested their performance in DNA and protein microarray assays to determine the formulation that improves assay performance in specific applications. The flexibility of this polymeric platform also allowed us to explore different immobilization chemistries, specifically click chemistry reactions, and assess the potential differences generated by this modification.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Sonia Manzo, Simona Schiavo
Summary: The rising awareness of plastic issue has led to investigations on the impact of microplastics to sea urchins, particularly in their role as grazer organisms. The studies highlight the hazards posed by diverse polymers, but challenges remain in fully understanding the risks due to variability and limitations in testing procedures. Future research strategies are needed for a better characterization of the actual risk for sea urchins.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Amy Oreskovic, Nuttada Panpradist, Diana Marangu, M. William Ngwane, Zanele P. Magcaba, Sindiswa Ngcobo, Zinhle Ngcobo, David J. Horne, Douglas P. K. Wilson, Adrienne E. Shapiro, Paul K. Drain, Barry R. Lutz
Summary: This study aimed to improve the diagnostic sensitivity of TB urine cfDNA by increasing recovery of short fragments during sample preparation. A highly sensitive sequence-specific purification method was developed, which showed high efficiency in capturing short TB cfDNA. In a clinical cohort study in South Africa, the urine cfDNA assay had high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing active pulmonary TB.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Carlos Rodolfo, Dalinda Eusebio, Cathy Ventura, Renato Nunes, Helena F. Florindo, Diana Costa, Angela Sousa
Summary: By studying four different chitosan polymers using the design of experiments (DoE), a functional and effective DNA vaccine delivery system was successfully optimized and evaluated for cytotoxicity and stability, showcasing the potential for future in vitro studies.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
G. M. Aparna, Kishore K. R. Tetala
Summary: Microarrays have become a pioneering technology in the last two decades and have proven their significance in various fields of biology. They are extensively used to screen, identify, and gain insights into the characteristics of biomolecules individually or in complex solutions. This review explores the development of biomolecule-based microarray applications since 2018, covering different printing strategies, substrate surface modification, biomolecule immobilization techniques, detection methods, and applications. The focus from 2018 to 2022 has been on using biomolecule-based microarrays for biomarker identification, virus detection, differentiation of pathogens, etc. Potential future applications include personalized medicine, vaccine candidate screening, toxin screening, pathogen identification, and posttranslational modifications.
Article
Polymer Science
Boris Shaskolskiy, Ilya Kandinov, Dmitry Kravtsov, Alexandra Vinokurova, Sofya Gorshkova, Marina Filippova, Alexey Kubanov, Victoria Solomka, Dmitry Deryabin, Ekaterina Dementieva, Dmitry Gryadunov
Summary: A multiplex assay using a low-density hydrogel microarray is developed to identify genomic substitutions in N. gonorrhoeae determining resistance to treatment agents. The microarray accurately identifies drug resistance determinants and single-nucleotide substitutions, with results consistent with Sanger sequencing. Analysis of clinical isolates in Russia over 5 years demonstrates the utility of hydrogel microarrays in monitoring antibiotic resistance spread.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Longfei Tang, Jingyi Yang, Ziting Liu, Qin Mi, Lili Niu, Juan Zhang
Summary: A new nanoprobe (DTAAT) was designed based on DNA tetrahedron supported hybridization chain reaction (HCR) for in situ analysis of bacteria. By coupling antibody-aptamer conjugate (AA) with DNA tetrahedron (DT) and linking it with trigger strand (A), DTAAT can precisely recognize bacteria through dual binding, releasing a trigger strand complementary to the aptamer. The released trigger strand induces efficient HCR at three vertices of DT using proximity effect, with a reaction rate of 359.29 min-1 compared to 212.60 min-1 for free HCR. DTAAT enables in situ imaging and single-cell characterization of bacteria, with high specificity and anti-interference capability for quantitative analysis.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Giorgio Ventimiglia, Massimiliano Pesaturo, Alastair Malcolm, Salvatore Petralia
Summary: A silicon lab-on-chip, integrating PCR and hybridization microarray, has been developed for nucleic acid detection. The lab-on-chip shows remarkable sensitivity, multiplexing analysis, and specificity for the detection of target sequences.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhaojun Liu, Bian Tian, Yao Li, Zijun Guo, Zhongkai Zhang, Zhifang Luo, Libo Zhao, Qijing Lin, Chengkuo Lee, Zhuangde Jiang
Summary: Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) have attracted wide interest for their ability to directly convert thermal energy into electricity, reducing energy waste and increasing energy recovery rates. This review examines applications of TEGs in wearable devices and everyday life, as well as the hybridization of TEGs with triboelectric nanogenerators, piezoelectric nanogenerators, and the photovoltaic effect. The review also provides prospects and suggestions for future research.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Fiaz Ahmed, J. David Neelin
Summary: A process-oriented diagnostic (POD) is introduced to measure the thermodynamic sensitivity of convection in climate models based on the observed tropical precipitation-buoyancy relationship. The study diagnosed 24 coupled model inter-comparison project phase six (CMIP6) models and found that half of them exhibited sensitivity close to observed, while six models were excessively sensitive.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)