Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Tan Hu, Yang Xu, Gang Xu, Siyi Pan
Summary: This study investigates the effect of substitution of a single amino acid residue on the gelation properties of C-13-dipeptide hydrogels. It shows that four C-13-R1Y can form hydrogels with tunable rigidity and that C-13-WY and C-13-YY hydrogels have high stability and excellent mechanical properties. Furthermore, these hydrogels can encapsulate lemon essential oil and show enhanced antibacterial activity when loaded with the oil.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Xuejing Cheng, Huiyu Chen, Fang Yang, Jiaxu Hong, Yiyun Cheng, Jingjing Hu
Summary: Bacterial keratitis is a common corneal infection that can lead to blindness. Current clinical treatment with antibiotic eye drops is not effective. This study proposes a supramolecular hydrogel composed of guanosine-5'-monophosphate disodium salt and tobramycin, which shows promising therapeutic efficacy and good biocompatibility for bacterial keratitis.
BIOACTIVE MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xin Li, Honglei Jian, Qingquan Han, Anhe Wang, Jieling Li, Ningyuan Man, Qi Li, Shuo Bai, Junbai Li
Summary: Short peptide self-assembled hydrogels have excellent biocompatibility and functional expansion, making them promising in cell culture and tissue engineering. However, the preparation of bio-inks with adjustable mechanical strength and controlled degradation for 3D bioprinting is challenging.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Iris Soares, Ines Rodrigues, Paulo Martins da Costa, Luis Gales
Summary: In recent decades, multidrug-resistant pathogens have become a significant global concern, and alternative antibacterial agents are being sought. This study focuses on the antibacterial activity of four dipeptide nanotubes, revealing diverse mechanisms through which they exert their effect against bacteria. Two dipeptides, FF and LS, are identified as pore forming structures that induce membrane permeation and affect cellular hydration and integrity, with FF also showing potential in inhibiting biofilm formation due to its amyloid-like nature and hydrophobicity.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Emma Vargo, Katherine M. Evans, Qingjun Wang, Andrew Sattler, Yiwen Qian, Jie Yao, Ting Xu
Summary: The study demonstrates a straightforward approach to generate ring-shaped nanoparticle assemblies in thin films of supramolecular nanocomposites, simplifying and streamlining nanofabrication processes. Directed self-assembly is used to guide the formation of concentric rings with high-quality orbital angular momentum, introducing interparticle coupling as a new design axis. The detailed analysis confirms the flexibility of the supramolecular system in self-regulating the spatial distribution of components, providing guidelines for developing self-regulating DSA as an alternative to incommensurability-driven methods.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Santu Bera, Pierre-Andre Cazade, Shayon Bhattacharya, Sarah Guerin, Moumita Ghosh, Francesca Netti, Damien Thompson, Lihi Adler-Abramovich
Summary: This study reports the design of a new series of ultra-short collagen-mimicking tripeptides through sequence engineering, which can co-assemble with a non-collagenous hydrogelator to form rigid hybrid hydrogels. The supramolecular interactions that promote the self-supporting and self-healing properties of the co-assemblies are characterized by physicochemical experiments and atomistic models. The results demonstrate the significance of sequence engineering for designing functional peptide motifs and reveal co-assembly as a promising strategy for generating hybrid biomolecular assemblies with structural heterogeneity and functionality of natural materials.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Santu Bera, Pierre-Andre Cazade, Shayon Bhattacharya, Sarah Guerin, Moumita Ghosh, Francesca Netti, Damien Thompson, Lihi Adler-Abramovich
Summary: This study reports the design of rigid hybrid hydrogels produced by sequence engineering of a new series of ultra-short collagen-mimicking tripeptides, demonstrating the importance of sequence engineering to design functional peptide motifs with desired physicochemical and electromechanical properties and revealing co-assembly as a promising strategy for the utilization of small, readily accessible biomimetic building blocks to generate hybrid biomolecular assemblies with structural heterogeneity and functionality of natural materials.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Xu Liao, Xudong Song, Jiejing Li, Lisha Li, Xianglin Fan, Qin Qin, Chongbin Zhong, Pingzhen Yang, Jie Zhan, Yanbin Cai
Summary: The overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and burst of inflammation following cardiac ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) are the leading causes of cardiomyocyte injury. Monotherapeutic strategies designed to enhance anti-inflammatory or anti-ROS activity explicitly for treating I/R injury have demonstrated limited success because of the complex mechanisms involved. In this study, an injectable hydrogel system was designed and prepared to block the ROS-inflammation cycle, leading to improved treatment outcomes.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Liangchun Li, Li Xie, Renlin Zheng, Rongqin Sun
Summary: This review discusses the design and structures of self-assembly linear dipeptide hydrogels, as well as the strategies for preparing the new generation of hydrogels. With a deeper understanding of the relationship between the structures and properties of dipeptides, it is believed that dipeptide hydrogels have great potential in preparing minimal biocompatible materials.
FRONTIERS IN CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Nandini Swaminathan, Nallin Sharma, Yowan Nerthigan, Hui-Fen Wu
Summary: By manipulating the self-assembly of Diphenylalanine (FF) dipeptide in the presence of Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles in different solutions, a hybrid nanostructure with unique luminescent properties was obtained, showing potential for sensitive detection of trypsin for biomedical applications.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hugh P. Ryan, Cally J. E. Haynes, Alyssa Smith, Angela B. Grommet, Jonathan R. Nitschke
Summary: A method for immobilizing coordination cages on alumina has been reported, allowing for the encapsulation and separation of guest and non-guest molecules. Quantification of cage loadings and guest displacement assays demonstrate the retained ability of the adsorbed cages.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Grzegorz Markiewicz, Adrianna Szmulewicz, Lukasz Majchrzycki, Maarten M. J. Smulders, Artur R. Stefankiewicz
Summary: Hydrogen-bonded polymers are highly dynamic supramolecular aggregates that can self-assemble through external or internal stimuli. This study finds that chiral biphenyldiimides derived from amino acids can self-assemble into open-chain 1D supramolecular polymers, and the amino acid side chains play an important role in stabilizing or destabilizing the assemblies. Significant differences in the polymerization process are observed between dynamic liquid and static solid. This work demonstrates the potential of diimide-based organic dyes in the formation of chiral supramolecular assemblies with tunable properties.
MACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Lei Jiang, Zeng Liu, Jia Liu, Shu He, Xing Wu, Wei Shao
Summary: A supramolecular lignin-containing hydrogel with dynamic redox system and host-guest interaction was developed. The hydrogel showed a three-dimensional structure with uniformly distributed silver nanoparticles. It exhibited high elongation at break, fracture stress, adhesion strength, and conductivity. Additionally, the hydrogel had good self-healing behavior and could be used as a strain and pressure sensor with high sensitivity over a wide strain range.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Nitin Yadav, Utkarsh Kumar, Virander Singh Chauhan
Summary: This study developed a nanodelivery system for slow and sustained release of vancomycin (Van), which efficiently inhibited bacterial growth. In a mouse thigh infection model, the Van-loaded nanoparticles showed significantly enhanced therapeutic efficacy compared to Van alone. These findings highlight the potential of this nanoformulation as a delivery vehicle for effective antimicrobial therapy.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lisa Schlichter, Carmen C. Piras, David K. Smith
Summary: The study demonstrates the dynamic assembly of a pH-responsive low-molecular-weight gelator within a pre-formed gel matrix using acid diffusion, allowing for spatial and temporal control. Different acids and gel structures can create diverse gel assembly patterns and lasting pH gradients.
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Fadi A. L. Farawati, Shu-Min Hsu, Edgar O'Neill, Dan Neal, Arthur Clark, Josephine Esquivel-Upshaw
JOURNAL OF PROSTHETIC DENTISTRY
(2019)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Nicole Martino, Caroline Truong, Arthur E. Clark, Edgar O'Neill, Shu-Min Hsu, Dan Neal, Josephine F. Esquivel-Upshaw
JOURNAL OF PROSTHETIC DENTISTRY
(2020)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
S. M. Hsu, F. Ren, C. Batich, A. E. Clark, V Craciun, J. F. Esquivel-Upshaw
MATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING C-MATERIALS FOR BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2020)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Shu-Min Hsu, Fan Ren, Zhiting Chen, Mijin Kim, Chaker Fares, Arthur E. Clark, Dan Neal, Josephine F. Esquivel-Upshaw
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Chaker Fares, Randy Elhassani, Jessica Partain, Shu-Min Hsu, Valentin Craciun, Fan Ren, Josephine F. Esquivel-Upshaw
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Chaker Fares, Shu-Min Hsu, Minghan Xian, Xinyi Xia, Fan Ren, John J. Mecholsky, Luiz Gonzaga, Josephine Esquivel-Upshaw
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Shu-Min Hsu, Fan Ren, Christopher D. Batich, Arthur E. Clark, Dan Neal, Josephine F. Esquivel-Upshaw
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Mailis D. Soler, Shu-Min Hsu, Chaker Fares, Fan Ren, Renita J. Jenkins, Luiz Gonzaga, Arthur E. Clark, Edgar O'Neill, Dan Neal, Josephine F. Esquivel-Upshaw
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Tatiana Aviles, Shu-Min Hsu, Arthur Clark, Fan Ren, Chaker Fares, Patrick H. Carey, Josephine F. Esquivel-Upshaw
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Samira Esteves Afonso Camargo, Tanaya Roy, Xinyi Xia, Chaker Fares, Shu-Min Hsu, Fan Ren, Arthur E. Clark, Dan Neal, Josephine F. Esquivel-Upshaw
Summary: The study investigates the effects of polymicrobial biofilms on the corrosion behavior of titanium dental implants, with SiC and TiN-based coatings being shown to reduce surface corrosion.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Shu-Min Hsu, Muhammad Alsafadi, Christina Vasconez, Chaker Fares, Valentin Craciun, Edgar O'Neill, Fan Ren, Arthur Clark, Josephine Esquivel-Upshaw
Summary: The experimental results suggest that toothpaste containing NovaMin has a strong potential for remineralization, which can effectively promote the repair and remineralization of teeth.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Samira Esteves Afonso Camargo, Xinyi Xia, Chaker Fares, Fan Ren, Shu-Min Hsu, Dragos Budei, Chairmandurai Aravindraja, Lakshmyya Kesavalu, Josephine F. Esquivel-Upshaw
Summary: The study found that titanium nanotubes promoted the proliferation of human osteoblasts and reduced biofilm adhesion. The presence of silicon carbide also had an effect on the nanostructured surfaces.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Shu-Min Hsu, Chaker Fares, Xinyi Xia, Md Abu Jafar Rasel, Jacob Ketter, Samira Esteves Afonso Camargo, Md Amanul Haque, Fan Ren, Josephine F. Esquivel-Upshaw
Summary: The study successfully prepared a composite material of silicon carbide and anodized titanium dioxide nanotubes using anodization and plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition methods, and found that it exhibited good corrosion resistance and promising potential as an implant coating material.
JOURNAL OF FUNCTIONAL BIOMATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Josephine F. Esquivel-Upshaw, Shu-Min Hsu, Ana C. Bohorquez, Nader Abdulhameed, Gary W. Scheiffele, Mijin Kim, Dan Neal, John Chai, Fan Ren
CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL DENTAL RESEARCH
(2020)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Samira Esteves Afonso Camargo, Azeem S. Mohiuddeen, Chaker Fares, Jessica L. Partain, Patrick H. Carey, Fan Ren, Shu-Min Hsu, Arthur E. Clark, Josephine F. Esquivel-Upshaw
JOURNAL OF FUNCTIONAL BIOMATERIALS
(2020)
