Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ilnur Ishmukhametov, Rawil Fakhrullin
Summary: Carbon nanotubes have become a versatile and widely used nanomaterial in industry and biomedicine, leading to concerns about biosafety and toxicity evaluation. Dark-field microscopy has emerged as a potent tool for visualizing and identifying carbon nanotubes in biological specimens. Advances in dark-field/hyperspectral microscopy have enabled chemical identification and mapping of carbon nanotubes, making it a valuable technique for bioimaging.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Grisha Spektor, Eva Prinz, Michael Hartelt, Anna-Katharina Mahro, Martin Aeschlimann, Meir Orenstein
Summary: The confinement of light orbital angular momentum to surfaces using plasmonics has led to new ways to generate and control plasmonic orbital angular momentum. Experimental results demonstrate the generation of a series of plasmonic vortex cavities, producing vortex pulses with increasing topological charge over time. This new approach could potentially miniaturize quantum initialization schemes and increase the torque exerted by plasmonic tweezers.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Nathan Kimmitt, Esther A. Wertz
Summary: Metal nanoantennas can manipulate light emission and detection at the single photon level by confining light into small volumes. By using optical gradient forces, this study successfully traps single emitters into nanocavities, showing improved photostability and track lengths compared to emitters farther away from the structure, especially for resonant antennas. These results pave the way for reliable coupling of single emitters to single nanoantennas using plasmonic optical trapping.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Artur Speiser, Lucas-Raphael Mueller, Philipp Hoess, Ulf Matti, Christopher J. Obara, Wesley R. Legant, Anna Kreshuk, Jakob H. Macke, Jonas Ries, Srinivas C. Turaga
Summary: DECODE is a computational tool that uses deep learning to localize single emitters in high-density two-dimensional and three-dimensional single-molecule localization microscopy data. It outperforms available methods and enables fast live-cell SMLM of dynamic processes.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alexander Ebner, Paul Gattinger, Ivan Zorin, Lukas Krainer, Christian Rankl, Markus Brandstetter
Summary: In this study, a wide-field hyperspectral mid-infrared microscope based on multidimensional single-pixel imaging was demonstrated. The microscope utilized a high brightness MIR supercontinuum source for sample illumination and a single micro-opto-electro-mechanical digital micromirror device (DMD) for spatial and spectral differentiation. The DMD served the purpose of masking captured scenes and dispersing the projected field for wavelength selection without additional optical elements. The microscope's imaging and spectral capabilities were characterized, achieving high spatial and spectral resolutions. Label-free chemical imaging and examination of polymer compounds and red blood cells were successfully demonstrated. The design showed improved sample throughput in MIR chemical and biomedical imaging with tunable field of view and adjustable spatial resolution.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Rawil Fakhrullin, Laysan Nigamatzyanova, Golnur Fakhrullina
Summary: Nanoscale contaminants pose a significant threat to organisms and the environment, and traditional methods for detecting and identifying nanomaterials face challenges. Dark-field microscopy and hyperspectral imaging offer powerful tools for chemical characterization of nanoscale particles in wet samples, providing important advances in environmental nanotoxicology studies.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Svetlana Batasheva, Farida Akhatova, Nail Abubakirov, Rawil Fakhrullin
Summary: The high worldwide consumption of cheap plastic goods has led to a serious environmental plastic pollution, which has been exacerbated by the accumulation of disposed personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 outbreak. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of dark-field hyperspectral microscopy for detecting nanoplastics derived from weathered polypropylene masks in the 400-1000 wavelength range.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Dingguo Zheng, Siyuan Huang, Chunhui Zhu, Peng Xu, Zian Li, Hong Wang, Jun Li, Huanfang Tian, Huaixin Yang, Jianqi Li
Summary: The study analyzed the surface plasmonic nearfield structure based on PINEM observations of silver nanowires, revealing plasmon oscillations associated with typical absorption of photon quanta and analyzing the polarization dependence of plasmon wavelength and symmetry properties. By utilizing advanced imaging techniques, the research has implications for future studies of localized-field structures at interfaces and visualization of novel phenomena in nanostructures, nanosensors, and plasmonic devices.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Wenkun He, Kai-Lin Chu, Faris Abualnaja, Mervyn Jones, Zahid Durrani
Summary: Dark-field optical microscopy, combined with optical simulation based on modal diffraction theory, is used to provide non-invasive, sub-wavelength geometrical information for nanoscale etched device structures. Dark-field imaging enhances the contrast of edge diffraction, and diffraction peaks in the intensity patterns can reveal the device geometry. This approach enables non-invasive fault detection for investigating etched nanodevice morphology.
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Cheng Ma, Zhichen Zhang, Tingting Tan, Jun-Jie Zhu
Summary: Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) analysis has gained importance in biomarker detection and clinic diagnosis due to its high sensitivity and broad linear range. The use of advanced nanomaterials such as graphene, gold nanomaterials, and quantum dots has improved the performance of ECL biosensors by regulating the ECL signal. Plasmonic nanostructures, including noble metals and semiconductor nanomaterials, play a crucial role in the fabrication of these biosensors by influencing the ECL signal through quenching, enhancement, and polarization angle change. Plasmonic-based ECL biosensors have the potential to detect a wide range of targets, and the application of plasmonic materials in ECL microscopy analysis also enhances the image quality. Future opportunities and challenges lie in further exploring the plasmonic effects in the ECL field.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yunpeng Lin, Jinyong Hu, Wenbo Zhang, Li Jiang, Deqi Yi, Thitima Rujiralai, Jie Ma
Summary: This study developed an enhanced Ag@Au dimer optical antenna that achieved broadband fluorescence enhancement throughout the visible spectrum by utilizing nano-sized silver and gold. Compared to traditional silver dimer optical antennas, the Ag@Au dimer antenna exhibited improved optical response in the blue range and maintained superior chemical stability and accessibility to functionalization.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Lingyan Zheng, Yi Wen, Wen Ren, Hong Duan, Jianhan Lin, Joseph Irudayaraj
Summary: A visual method for rapid detection and quantification of Escherichia coli using spectral angle mapping and dark-field microscopy was developed. The method showed high sensitivity with a linear detection range of 6.1 x 101 to 6.1 x 106 CFU/mL in milk samples and a detection limit of ~61 CFU/mL. The method can be utilized as an effective tool to detect Escherichia coli in food samples and monitor pathogens in complex samples.
SENSORS AND ACTUATORS B-CHEMICAL
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yunyun Huang, Pengwei Chen, Luyan Zhou, Jiaying Zheng, Haotian Wu, Jiaxuan Liang, Aoxiang Xiao, Jie Li, Bai-Ou Guan
Summary: This work presents an optical microfiber biosensor for dopamine detection, achieving ultrahigh sensitivity at the single-molecule level. The sensor overcomes the sensitivity limits of optical devices and extends single-molecule detection to small molecules. It offers opportunities for noninvasive early-stage diagnostic devices and flexible single-molecule detection techniques.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Jiawei Liu, Qiang Yang, Shizhen Chen, Zhicheng Xiao, Shuangchun Wen, Hailu Luo
Summary: By solving Maxwell's equations, we discovered a relationship between the cross-polarized component and the copolarized component of the dipole scattering field. This discovery has allowed for the development of a nondestructive imaging technique that can visualize the structure of pure-phase objects at low photon levels without damaging living cells. By using polarization entanglement, the switch between dark-field imaging and bright-field imaging can be remotely controlled.
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Henrik Parsamyan, Torgom Yezekyan, Khachatur Nerkararyan, Sergey Bozhevolnyi
Summary: Scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM) is a powerful optical technique for visualizing surface nanostructures and fields beyond the diffraction limit. The resolution of SNOM is theoretically unlimited but limited in practice due to background light scattering. This article proposes using a "dark" SNOM probe to suppress background scattering and improve sensitivity and resolution for nano-optical characterization.
NEW JOURNAL OF PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Zunaira Shoaib, Timothy M. Fan, Joseph M. K. Irudayaraj
Summary: Osteosarcoma, a common primary bone tumor, is influenced by mechanobiology in its pathogenesis. Mechanobiology-driven therapies can curb tumor progression by altering the physical microenvironment or inhibiting proteins associated with metastasis.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Wenjie Liu, Abinash Padhi, Xiaohui Zhang, Jairaj Narendran, Mark A. Anastasio, Amrinder S. Nain, Joseph Irudayaraj
Summary: This study elucidates the spatiotemporal organization of heterochromatin in the elongated nuclei of cells on aligned nanofibers. The findings suggest that the anisotropy of nuclei is sufficient to drive heterochromatin alterations, and reveal an unconventional H3K9me3 heterochromatin distribution.
Review
Oncology
Raya Boyd, Saeed Ahmad, Ratnakar Singh, Zeeshan Fazal, Gail S. Prins, Zeynep Madak Erdogan, Joseph Irudayaraj, Michael J. Spinella
Summary: This review summarizes the molecular research on the potential carcinogenic mechanisms of PFAS, focusing on the three major pathways of metabolism, endocrine disruption, and epigenetic perturbation. It discusses how these interdependent pathways may explain the pro-carcinogenic effects of PFAS and highlights testicular and prostate cancer as models to validate this concept.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Wen Ren, Joseph Irudayaraj
Summary: This study proposes a magnetic control-enhanced lateral flow (MCLF) detection strategy for nucleic acid sequences with high sensitivity. By using magnetic controllers and regulating their movement, the detection limit of the assay is improved. The proposed MCLF technique enables the detection of DNA target sequences as low as 100 aM by naked eyes.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yi Wen, Wenjie Liu, Benjamin David, Wen Ren, Joseph Irudayaraj
Summary: In this study, a novel multifunctional nanocarrier system was proposed for targeted drug delivery in lung cancer theranostics. This nanocarrier system utilizes oxygenated particles to deliver oxygen to the hypoxic tumor microenvironment, and can also be conjugated with ligands for targeted delivery of the drug doxorubicin. In vitro testing demonstrated that the functionalized nanocarrier system showed increased efficacy against lung cancer cell proliferation, and imaging techniques validated its efficient targeting and tracking capabilities.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Yoon Jeong, Joseph Irudayaraj
Summary: In order to sequester prokaryotic cells in a biofilm-like niche, it is crucial to create a microenvironment that reflects the heterogeneous nature of biological systems. This study presents an artificial long-term confinement model using natural alginate hydrogels that can support the growth and survival of organisms for over 10 days. The confinement platform allows for the encapsulation of bacterial cells in both the core and shell layers, with tunable thickness and number of shell layers.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2023)
Article
Biophysics
Yoon Jeong, Wentao Kong, Ting Lu, Joseph Irudayaraj
Summary: In this study, a natural soft hydrogel bioactuator based on alginate core-shell structures was developed to enable 3D microbial colonization at high cell density. Compared to conventional techniques, this system showed a significant increase in cellular biomass, enzymatic activity, and bioluminescence signal, while providing sustained support for bacterial growth within confined space.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Zhiyang (Stan) Tu, Joseph Irudayaraj, Youngsoo Lee
Summary: This study aimed to enhance the understanding of applying NIR spectroscopy in spray-dried samples by comparing two sample preparation strategies and two spectrometers. The results showed that the sample preparation strategies had little impact on NIR calibration model development. Although the benchtop NIR spectrometer outperformed the portable NIR spectrometer, the portable NIR spectrometer still demonstrated reliable performance for moisture analysis.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Xing Zhang, Jodi A. Flaws, Michael J. Spinella, Joseph Irudayaraj
Summary: Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are exogenous substances that can alter the endocrine function of an organism, leading to adverse effects on growth, development, metabolism, and reproductive function. Studies have shown that EDCs can cause proteinuria, affect glomeruli and renal tubules, and even lead to diabetes and renal fibrosis in both animals and humans. This review discusses the renal accumulation of specific EDCs, such as dioxins, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), bisphenol A (BPA), and phthalates, and explores how exposure to these EDCs can result in renal lesions and diseases, including cancer. The regulation of target genes and activation of related pathways by typical EDCs are also summarized.
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Xiaoxue Han, Leah Suyeon Ju, Joseph Irudayaraj
Summary: Oxygen is crucial in regulating various processes in wound healing. However, hypoxia commonly found in wounds can hinder normal healing. To enhance wound healing, oxygenation strategies such as incorporating oxygen delivery materials are effective. This review summarizes the stages of wound healing, the role of hypoxia, and current strategies for incorporating oxygen into wound dressings. The efficacy, mechanisms, and potential benefits and drawbacks of various oxygenation materials are discussed.
MOLECULAR PHARMACEUTICS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Faizan Rashid, Veronika Dubinkina, Saeed Ahmad, Sergei Maslov, Joseph Maria Kumar Irudayaraj
Summary: Exposure to PFOS and GenX has different effects on the microbiome of the small intestine and colon, as well as on liver metabolism. High doses of GenX increase the abundance of certain bacteria, while PFOS generally alters the abundance of other bacteria. These treatments are associated with alterations in important microbial metabolic pathways. Additionally, PFOS and GenX exposure can cause metabolic disorders in the liver.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yoon Jeong, Khushali Vyas, Joseph Irudayaraj
Summary: This study investigates the toxicity of PFAS on bacteria in a biofilm-like niche provided by hydrogel-based core-shell beads. The findings show that Escherichia coli MG1655 strain confined in hydrogel beads exhibit altered physiological characteristics compared to their susceptible counterpart cultivated under planktonic conditions. The study suggests that soft-hydrogel engineering platforms may protect microorganisms from environmental contaminants.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Wen Ren, Victoria Messerschmidt, Michael Tsipursky, Joseph Irudayaraj
Summary: In this study, an oxygen nanobubbles-embedded hydrogel (ONB-G) with carbopol was proposed for oxygenation of wounds to accelerate wound healing. ONB-G, prepared by integrating carbopol, hydrogel, and dextran-based oxygen nanobubbles (ONBs), can hold and release oxygen to promote wound healing. Experimental results showed that ONB-G could encapsulate oxygen for up to 34 days and maintain high oxygen levels for up to 4 weeks. HDFa cell-based studies demonstrated the potential of ONB-G in enhancing cell viability, proliferation, and wound closure. Histological evaluation using a pig model also indicated improved healing with ONB-G treatment compared to control groups. Overall, dextran-shell ONBs embedded in a gel exhibit promising potential in accelerating wound healing.
ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yoon Jeong, Joseph Irudayaraj
Summary: This study demonstrates the design and fabrication of finely tuned alginate core-shell capsules with controllable core and shell thickness at the micron scale. These capsules were successfully used to encapsulate bacteria while maintaining their morphology and mechanical stability.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Yi Wen, Faizan Rashid, Zeeshan Fazal, Ratnakar Singh, Michael J. Spinella, Joseph Irudayaraj
Summary: The study showed that PFOS accumulated in mouse kidneys in a dose-dependent manner, leading to significant increase in kidney injury markers, affecting transcription factors and epigenetic mechanisms. The decrease in global DNA methylation levels suggests potential implications of PFOS on kidney fibrosis and carcinogenesis.
ENVIRONMENTAL EPIGENETICS
(2022)