Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Adam C. Farsheed, Adam J. Thomas, Brett H. Pogostin, Jeffrey D. Hartgerink
Summary: 3D printing is extensively utilized in biomedical research, particularly for creating structures that mimic the mechanical properties of biological tissues. However, there is a challenge in 3D printing hydrogels due to the difficulty in patterning soft materials in three dimensions. To address this, novel hydrogels with desirable biological properties are needed as 3D printable inks.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Peng Lou, Shuyun Liu, Yizhuo Wang, Cheng Pan, Xuewen Xu, Meng Zhao, Guangneng Liao, Guang Yang, Yujia Yuan, Lan Li, Jie Zhang, Younan Chen, Jingqiu Cheng, Yanrong Lu, Jingping Liu
Summary: The study introduces a self-assembling peptide (KGH) hydrogel that enhances chronic wound healing in diabetic mice by promoting extracellular matrix remodeling and angiogenesis. The hydrogel not only accelerates wound closure and enhances cell proliferation, granulation tissue formation, and ECM deposition in vivo, but also creates a favorable 3D growth environment for skin cells in vitro.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jyh Yea Chia, Takayuki Miki, Hisakazu Mihara, Hiroshi Tsutsumi
Summary: Short self-assembling peptide (FFiK)(2) and its derivatives can be functionalized by conjugating with various bioactive sequences to facilitate 3D culture of cancer cells. These functionalized peptide hydrogels can encapsulate MCF-7 cells without significant cytotoxicity, promoting their proliferation and potentially serving as a platform for drug screening targeting cancer stem cells.
BIOORGANIC & MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hao Zhuo, Xing Tong, Hongzhi Zheng, Zehong Chen, Bin Gou, Weiyan Yuan, Lin-Ping Wu, Linxin Zhong, Xinwen Peng, Jun Lu
Summary: By mimicking the assembly of natural macromolecules, a supramolecular nanofiber is successfully fabricated from natural polysaccharides through regular and strong interaction, and a high-energy and oriented flow field. The resulting nanofiber exhibits mechanical strength, water resistance, and humidity stimulus-responsive properties. This discovery provides important insights into the assembly of polysaccharides into supramolecular nanofibers and opens up many possibilities for preparing advanced nanomaterials from natural polysaccharides.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Dariusz Lachowski, Carlos Matellan, Ernesto Cortes, Alberto Saiani, Aline F. Miller, Armando E. del Rio Hernandez
Summary: The development of a biomaterial with independent control over substrate stiffness, extracellular pH, and temperature was demonstrated for mimicking the properties of the tumor microenvironment. It was found that high substrate rigidity and low pH promote the proliferation and survival of cancer cells, activating important signaling pathways associated with cancer progression.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mehrzad Zargarzadeh, Maria C. Gomes, Sonia G. Patricio, Catarina A. Custodio, Joao F. Mano
Summary: Photo-crosslinkable platelet lysate (PL)-based hydrogels have shown promise as a cell-supporting system due to their high content of bioactive molecules. A self-feeding hydrogel with enzyme-empowered degradation capacity has been developed, which combines the features of PL and self-feeding hydrogels. This hybrid hydrogel acts as a unique scaffold for sustained glucose delivery and growth factor release, and can be used to fabricate 3D structures and cancer models.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tong Guan, Jiayang Li, Chunying Chen, Ying Liu
Summary: This review introduces the advantages of self-assembling peptide-based hydrogels in wound treatment and emphasizes their precise control capabilities during different stages of wound healing. Furthermore, recent advancements in multifunctional self-assembling peptide-based hydrogels that can regulate and remodel the wound immune microenvironment are summarized.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Kun Fu, Hanguang Wu, Zhiqiang Su
Summary: The hierarchical formation of self-assembling peptide-based hydrogels (SAPHs) starts from peptide to nanofibers, forming hydrogels with nanofibrous network, which possess unique structure, exceptional biocompatibility, and diverse applications. This review introduces the fabrication, properties, and biological applications of SAPHs, along with systematic explanations on factors influencing synthesis process and properties of SAPHs products. The review also highlights current challenges and offers perspectives on future development of SAPHs in biotechnology.
BIOTECHNOLOGY ADVANCES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Zhe Zhang, Yi Chai, He Zhao, Shuhui Yang, Wei Liu, Zihui Yang, Weilong Ye, Chenlong Wang, Xiaohan Gao, Xiangdong Kong, Xiaodan Sun, Lingyun Zhao, Tuoyu Chen, Yuqi Zhang, Jiaju Lu, Xiumei Wang
Summary: The study successfully utilized a dual-functionalized peptide nanofiber hydrogel to construct an artificial neurovascular microenvironment, promoting interaction and communication between neural and vascular cells.
Review
Engineering, Biomedical
Mohammad Hadi Norahan, Sara Cristina Pedroza-Gonz, Monica Gabriela Sanchez-Salazar, Mario Moises Alvarez, Grissel Trujillo de Santiago
Summary: Chronic wounds have become a major problem in healthcare systems, leading to death worldwide. Engineering wound dressings with hydrogels can significantly improve healing time, reduce infections, and lower costs. Hydrogels provide a protective barrier, mimic the extracellular matrix, and create a moist environment. Different fabrication methods and properties of hydrogels have been extensively studied for wound healing applications, including the use of additives to enhance tissue regeneration. Hydrogel engineering offers smart solutions for effective wound healing, with capabilities such as inhibiting bacterial growth, promoting re-epithelialization, and improving tissue functionality.
BIOACTIVE MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
M. A. M. Vis, F. Zhao, E. S. R. Bodelier, C. M. Bood, J. Bulsink, M. van Doeselaar, H. Eslami Amirabadi, K. Ito, S. Hofmann
Summary: Healthy bone is maintained through the process of bone remodeling, which can be disrupted and lead to conditions like osteoporosis. Animal models are often used, but have limitations in predicting human clinical trial results. Human in vitro models are emerging as alternatives, and this study presents a scaffold-free, fully human, 3D microfluidic coculture model of bone remodeling. This model allows for the formation of bone-like tissues and the study of fluid flow-induced forces. With on-chip cell culture capabilities and long-term viability, this coculture model is an important advancement for drug testing.
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Ting Yu, Xiping Lei, Haonan Chen, Kai Fan, Dongdong Wang, Yunqin Gao
Summary: A flexible supercapacitor with excellent capacitance, good mechanical properties, and self-healing ability was successfully synthesized using a 2D/2D heterostructure of beta-NiS/Ti3C2Tx filler in a polymer hydrogel network. The electrode demonstrated high specific capacitance, stability, tensile properties, and self-healing efficiency, indicating potential for further development of multifunctional, smart, and flexible electronics products.
CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Simona Braccini, Chiara Tacchini, Federica Chiellini, Dario Puppi
Summary: This article provides an overview of the latest research on in vitro tumor models, with a focus on three-dimensional OC cell culture using hydrogel-based scaffolds. These models can better replicate the tumor microenvironment observed in vivo, making them valuable tools for cancer research and drug screening.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Petr Rozhin, Simone Adorinni, Daniel Iglesias, Tino Mackiol, Slavko Kralj, Matteo Bisetto, Michela Abrami, Mario Grassi, Manuela Bevilacqua, Paolo Fornasiero, Silvia Marchesan
Summary: Carbon nanostructures are modified to improve their dispersibility in aqueous conditions and favor the formation of hydrogels. The morphology and functionalization effects of the nanostructures are studied to understand their impact on the self-healing ability of the hydrogel and peptide fibrillation in aqueous buffer.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Zain Siddiqui, Biplab Sarkar, Ka Kyung Kim, Arjun Kumar, Reshma Paul, Aryan Mahajan, Jonathan M. Grasman, Jian Yang, Vivek A. Kumar
Summary: The study demonstrates the ability of self-assembling peptide hydrogels to promote angiogenic sprouting into polymeric scaffolds; the two-component scaffold structure helps to improve the biocompatibility and vascular integration of polymeric scaffolds; the functional difference of the peptide hydrogels can be predicted by the bioactive moieties inserted into the peptide monomers.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Filippo Tosi, Jose Augusto Berrocal, Marc C. A. Stuart, Sander J. Wezenberg, Ben L. Feringa
Summary: This study demonstrates the synthesis and self-assembly of a chiral bis(urea) amphiphile, revealing that chirality plays a crucial role in controlling morphology. The molecular-scale chiral information is translated into mesoscopic twisted ribbons in water. The system exhibits thermo-responsive aggregation behavior, with a transition from ribbons to vesicles upon heating, and morphology can be easily controlled by varying the enantiomeric excess of the amphiphile.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Fan Xu, Lukas Pfeifer, Stefano Crespi, Franco King-Chi Leung, Marc C. A. Stuart, Sander J. Wezenberg, Ben L. Feringa
Summary: The study focused on controlling supramolecular polymerization using photoresponsive stiff-stilbene-based bis-urea monomers in organic solvents, achieving fast light-triggered depolymerization-polymerization and reversible gel formation. Precise control over supramolecular polymerization and gelation was achieved by manipulating the high photostationary states of cis-trans isomerization. The research also revealed a kinetically controlled nucleation-elongation mechanism for temperature-dependent and photoinduced supramolecular polymerization in organic solvents.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shaoyu Chen, Liangliang Yang, Franco King-Chi Leung, Takashi Kajitani, Marc C. A. Stuart, Takanori Fukushima, Patrick van Rijn, Ben L. Feringa
Summary: Scientists have been working on developing cell culture scaffold materials that mimic the native extracellular matrix (ECM) for potential applications in regenerative medicine. However, creating next-generation synthetic materials with hierarchically oriented supramolecular structures, which are both dynamic and responsive to external stimuli, remains a significant challenge. In this study, researchers have successfully created supramolecular assemblies called motor amphiphiles (MAs) that mimic the hydrogel nature of the ECM and exhibit intrinsic dynamic behavior. These assemblies can be actuated by light, similar to muscle contractions, and have the potential to serve as responsive ECM mimetic scaffolds for human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSCs).
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Julien Es Sayed, Hugo Brummer, Marc C. A. Stuart, Nicolas Sanson, Patrick Perrin, Marleen Kamperman
Summary: Frozen complex coacervate core micelles (C3Ms) are developed as particle stabilizers for Pickering emulsions, with a core of poly-electrolytes and a corona of water-soluble polymer. By controlling mixing parameters and using dynamic light scattering and proton nuclear magnetic resonance experiments, C3Ms can stabilize emulsions in different media and conditions, eventually disassembling at higher salt concentrations.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Fan Xu, Stefano Crespi, Gianni Pacella, Youxin Fu, Marc C. A. Stuart, Qi Zhang, Giuseppe Portale, Ben L. Feringa
Summary: Natural systems transfer chiral information across lengthscales through dynamic supramolecular interaction. Inspired by nature, we have successfully developed light-controlled chiral materials using a light-driven molecular motor, demonstrating a photochemically tunable multistate dynamic supramolecular system.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Erja Kerkela, Jenni Lahtela, Antti Larjo, Ulla Impola, Laura Maenpaa, Pirkko Mattila
Summary: By studying the transcriptomes of RBCs and their extracellular vesicles (EVs), important RNA markers, including long transcripts and non-coding RNA, have been identified. The transcriptome of RBCs plays a crucial role in cell maturation and erythrocyte functions. Additionally, the transcriptome of RBCs has been detected in their EVs, providing a mechanism for intercellular communication in blood.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Nicola Migliore, Aleksander Guzik, Marc C. A. Stuart, Marc Pala, Adrian Moreno, Gerard Lligadas, Patrizio Raffa
Summary: We synthesized novel biobased thermoresponsive amphiphilic copolymers and studied their solution properties. Copolymers with similar molecular weight but different monomer distributions were prepared. These polymers showed different self-assembly and thermoresponsive behavior in water. By tuning the monomer ratio and distribution, different critical solution temperatures could be observed. Aggregates of various types were observed by transmission electron microscopy. The polymers also exhibited different surface activity and showed potential applications as biobased surfactants and water/oil emulsion stabilizers.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hamoon Hemmatpour, Vahid Haddadi-Asl, Thomas C. Q. Burgers, Feng Yan, Marc C. A. Stuart, Catharina Reker-Smit, Rifka Vlijm, Anna Salvati, Petra Rudolf
Summary: In this study, a new temperature-responsive nanocarrier based on halloysite nanotubes and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) brushes was designed and characterized. The hybrid material showed a phase transition temperature of about 32 degrees C, and exhibited temperature-dependent drug release. Cell studies confirmed reduced cytotoxicity due to the poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) brushes, and drug release studies demonstrated the controlled release of doxorubicin. Additionally, the internalization of the nanotubes in HeLa cells was confirmed using stimulated emission depletion nanoscopy.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ceri J. Richards, Majid Ahmadi, Marc C. A. Stuart, Bart J. Kooi, Christoffer Aberg, Wouter H. Roos
Summary: The lack of understanding of nanoparticle-cell membrane interactions hampers the development of effective nanodrugs. Using quantitative and methodical approaches with cell membrane models, this study reveals the influence of biomolecular corona, particle size, fluid flow, and membrane composition on adsorption and desorption processes. The findings highlight the importance of these factors in understanding and designing nanodrugs.
Article
Hematology
Eva Lauren, Lotta Sankkila, Ville Pettilae, Erja Kerkelae
Summary: Transfusion of red blood cells (RBC) may impact the recipient immune system, and the duration of storage can result in the release of extracellular vesicles (EVs) that mediate cell-cell interactions. This in vitro study demonstrates that stored RBC supernatant (SN) can modulate the immune response in recipient cells, while fresh RBCs can induce immune reactions.
TRANSFUSION MEDICINE AND HEMOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Veera A. Timonen, Erja Kerkela, Ulla Impola, Leena Penna, Jukka Partanen, Outi Kilpivaara, Mikko Arvas, Esa Pitkanen
Summary: Imaging flow cytometry (IFC) combines flow cytometry with microscopy to rapidly characterize cellular and molecular properties using high-throughput single-cell fluorescent imaging. DeepIFC, a computational method based on the Inception U-Net neural network architecture, generates fluorescent marker images and learn morphological features from IFC brightfield and darkfield images. It identifies cell types from the generated fluorescent images and visualizes the single-cell features in a 2D space. DeepIFC allows accurate cell reconstruction, typing, and recognition of unseen cell types from brightfield and darkfield images via virtual fluorescent labeling.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Qin Huang, Nicolas Cisse, Marc C. A. Stuart, Yaroslava Lopatina, Tibor Kudernac
Summary: Seeded supramolecular polymerization (SSP) is a method for controlled synthesis of supramolecular structures. By engineering the molecular design of the building blocks, we have successfully controlled the polymerization kinetic barriers and studied the effects of hetero-seeding on the polymerization process.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hamoon Hemmatpour, Oreste De Luca, Dominic Crestani, Marc C. A. Stuart, Alessia Lasorsa, Patrick C. A. van der Wel, Katja Loos, Theodosis Giousis, Vahid Haddadi-Asl, Petra Rudolf
Summary: Polydopamine formation on halloysite nanotubes was systematically investigated. The oxidative coupling reaction of dopaminechrome molecules was found to be the main reaction pathway, leading to the formation of polycatecholamine oligomers as intermediates, followed by the post cyclization of linear oligomers. Furthermore, TRIS molecules were incorporated into the initially formed oligomers.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ainoa Guinart, Maria Korpidou, Daniel Doellerer, Gianni Pacella, Marc C. A. Stuart, Ionel Adrian Dinu, Giuseppe Portale, Cornelia Palivan, Ben L. Feringa
Summary: This study presents a delivery system with high spatiotemporal control and tunable release profiles, based on the combination of a hydrophobic synthetic molecular rotary motor and a PDMS-b-PMOXA diblock copolymer. The system successfully delivers a fluorescent dye with high efficiencies triggered by low-power visible light, and demonstrates the ability to turn on and off the responsive behavior on demand over sequential cycles. The system also shows comparable cell viability to the free drug when tested with a lung cancer cell line and an FDA-approved drug encapsulation.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Nadja A. Simeth, Paula de Mendoza, Victor R. A. Dubach, Marc C. A. Stuart, Julien W. Smith, Tibor Kudernac, Wesley R. Browne, Ben L. Feringa
Summary: Molecular recognition-driven self-assembly using single-stranded DNA as a template is a promising method to obtain complex structures from simple building blocks. In this study, the beneficial properties of a photoresponsive biohybrid hydrogel were controlled with light, adding an extra level of function to the system. The structural response of the hydrogel at both the microscopic and macroscopic scale was studied, revealing remarkable shape-memory properties and shape manipulation capabilities.
