Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tankut G. Gueney, Alfonso Muinelo Herranz, Sharon Mumby, Iain E. Dunlop, Ian M. Adcock
Summary: This study explored the impact of stromal cells on basal epithelial cell-derived bronchosphere structure and function through a triple culture of human bronchial epithelial, lung fibroblast, and airway smooth muscle cells. The epithelial-stromal cross-talk led to the formation of branching tubules called bronchotubules, with a mechanically tuneable ECM supporting long-term survival. These bronchotubule models offer insights into how epithelial-stromal cell and cell-ECM communication drive tissue patterning, repair, and disease development.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Yue Chen, Yi He, Xiang Wei, Ding-Sheng Jiang
Summary: This review focuses on the role of regulated cell death in the development of aortic aneurysm and dissection (AAD). Studies have shown that the death of smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells, and inflammatory cells is involved in the progression of AAD, and interventions targeting cell death can alleviate the disease.
PHARMACOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Developmental Biology
Michael Donadon, Massimo M. Santoro
Summary: The article primarily describes the developmental origin of smooth muscle cells in different organs, as well as their specification and differentiation in the cardiovascular, respiratory, and intestinal systems. It discusses the important roles of smooth muscle in organ development and how they instruct the development of other organs through signaling and mechanical feedback mechanisms. By understanding smooth muscle cell development, the aim is to advance therapeutic approaches related to tissue regeneration and other smooth muscle-related diseases.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Diane Macabrey, Alban Longchamp, Michael R. MacArthur, Martine Lambelet, Severine Urfer, Sebastien Deglise, Florent Allagnat
Summary: Intimal hyperplasia (IH) is a major limitation in the long-term success of revascularization. This study investigated the use of sodium thiosulfate (STS) as a potential treatment to limit IH. The findings showed that STS inhibited IH in mice and human vein segments, as well as inhibited cell proliferation and promoted microtubule depolymerization. This suggests that STS acts as an H2S donor to limit vascular smooth muscle cell migration and proliferation.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Sabrina Robichaud, Adil Rasheed, Antonietta Pietrangelo, Anne Doyoung Kim, Dominique M. Boucher, Christina Emerton, Viyashini Vijithakumar, Lara Gharibeh, Garrett Fairman, Esther Mak, My-Anh Nguyen, Michele Geoffrion, Robert Wirka, Katey J. Rayner, Mireille Ouimet
Summary: This study compared autophagy flux in lipid-rich aortic intimal populations to determine whether VSMC-derived foam cells metabolize LDs similarly to their macrophage counterparts. The findings indicate that VSMC and macrophage foam cells have distinct mechanisms of cholesterol efflux, with impaired autophagy flux in VSMC foam cells that can be induced by pharmacological means. Further research targeting autophagy specifically in VSMC foam cells is warranted to promote the resolution of atherosclerotic plaques.
CIRCULATION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Rowoon Park, Jung Won Yoon, Jin-Ho Lee, Suck Won Hong, Jae Ho Kim
Summary: Researchers have developed an ultrathin cell-culture platform with potential-responsive nanoscale biointerfaces for monitoring mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). The platform allows for highly ordered organization and spontaneous differentiation of MSCs, providing a robust strategy for directing stem cells and differentiation.
JOURNAL OF NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Jingjing Wang, Rong Jiang, Yanlin Tan, Kuan Cheng
Summary: The study revealed that miR-509-5p is down-regulated in serum samples of patients with PAH and hypoxia-induced PASMCs, while DNMT1 is significantly up-regulated. MiR-509-5p affects the proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of PASMCs by down-regulating DNMT1 and up-regulating SOD2. This suggests that miR-509-5p may be a promising therapeutic target for treating PAH.
Article
Cell Biology
Ngoc Luu, Apratim Bajpai, Rui Li, Seojin Park, Mahad Noor, Xiao Ma, Weiqiang Chen
Summary: This study reveals the defective mechanosensation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) during aging, leading to a decline in their ability to sense and adapt to mechanical perturbations. Aged VSMCs exhibit a relatively inert mechanobiological state with altered actin cytoskeletal integrity, resulting in impaired mechanosensitivity and dynamic mechanoresponse. This decline in mechanosensation is mediated by hyperactivity of Piezo1-dependent calcium signaling. Inhibition of Piezo1 can alleviate vascular aging and partially restore the loss in dynamic contractile properties in aged cells.
Article
Mechanics
Mahdi Khatibi, Amirhosein Mojavezi, Esmaiel Pourjafarabadi
Summary: This study investigates the energy production characteristics of reverse electrodialysis (RED) in soft nanochannels, comparing the performance of conical and cylindrical geometries. The results demonstrate that conical nanochannels consistently outperform cylindrical nanochannels in terms of energy production efficiency. Furthermore, utilizing small concentration ratios and denser polyelectrolyte layers with distinct properties can enhance energy conversion efficiency.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yuling He, Tianliang Xiao, Bingxin Lu, Xuejiang Li, Caili Zhang, Jianwei He, Jin Zhai, Xia Fan
Summary: This study demonstrates the use of hydrogen-bonded organic framework (HOF) nanochannels for osmotic power generation, which possess excellent cation selectivity and high ion flux. By mixing seawater and river water, the HOF nanochannel membranes exhibit a higher output power density than the commercial benchmark, laying the foundation for the application of HOF in harnessing salinity gradient energy.
ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Mechanics
Hsin-Yu Chang, Heng-Kwong Tsao, Yu-Jane Sheng
Summary: The wicking dynamics of total wetting liquid in graphene nanocapillaries were explored, and two regimes were identified: inertia-dominated initial spreading and viscous spreading with an exponent greater than Tanner's law. The advancing motions of both the precursor film and main flow were observed, and their lengths were proportional to the square root of time. However, the proportional constant of the precursor film was greater than that of the main flow, and it decreased with increasing channel widths. The thickness of the precursor film and the diameter of curvature of the menisci increased with increasing channel widths, and rapid imbibition behavior was observed in very narrow nanoslits.
Review
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Asieh Soozanipour, Hessamaddin Sohrabi, Farbod Abazar, Alireza Khataee, Abdollah Noorbakhsh, Mohsen Asadnia, Asghar Taheri-Kafrani, Mir Reza Majidi, Amir Razmjou
Summary: Nanochannels offer advantages in flexibility, low cost, and ion selectivity for ion separation. Research on nanochannels focuses on design factors, ion transport mechanisms, and applications.
ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Stano Pekar, Martina Martisova, Andrea Spalek Tothova, Charles R. Haddad
Summary: This study objectively measured the resemblance between arthropod mimics and ants, based on traits such as color, shape, size, and behavior. The results showed that mimics were more similar to ants in color and behavior, rather than size and body shape.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Sangeeta Negi
Summary: Ion transport through synthetic ion channels created by swift heavy ion irradiation on PET membranes has been studied for cation and anion selectivity. UV radiation has been found to affect ion transport through the synthetic channels, and the pH of the electrolytes also plays a role in ion transport through cation and anion selective membranes.
MATERIALS TODAY COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yu Huang, Lingxiao Liu, Cihui Luo, Wei Liu, Xiaoding Lou, Lei Jiang, Fan Xia
Summary: Bio-markers, such as ions, small molecules, nucleic acids, peptides, proteins, and cells, are important in living organisms and biological processes. Accurate detection of these bio-markers is significant for studying their functions, molecular diagnosis, and understanding life processes. Solid-state nanochannel-based sensing systems have shown promise in detecting bio-markers, especially with the use of outer-surface focused nanochannels. These nanochannels allow for in situ detection of large analytes and ultra-high sensitivity detection with a clear mechanism.
CHEMICAL SOCIETY REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yanglei Xu, Xin Sui, Song Guan, Jin Zhai, Longcheng Gao
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2015)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Yanglei Xu, Minghui Zhang, Tong Tian, Ying Shang, Zheyi Meng, Jiaqiao Jiang, Jin Zhai, Yao Wang
NPG ASIA MATERIALS
(2015)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yanglei Xu, Jiaqiao Jiang, Zheyi Meng, Qian Zhang, Xiulin Li, Jin Zhai
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C
(2016)
Article
Electrochemistry
Yanglei Xu, Yun Tong, Fei Yan, Sheng Chen, Feng Xu
Summary: The study constructed an artificial nanochannel membrane inspired by nature to mimic the ion transportation characteristics of biological ion pumps. This novel ion pump system shows great potential in various fields such as biology, energy, seawater desalination, and biosensors.
ELECTROCHIMICA ACTA
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yanglei Xu, Yijia Song, Feng Xu
Summary: The development and utilization of renewable clean energy has become a common way out for the world to solve energy crisis. The concentration gradient between sea water and river water is widely regarded as a very significant sustainable energy resource, and the rapid technical breakthrough of membrane engineering is necessary to capture this energy existing in the fluidic system. The nanofluidic device developed in this study shows great promise for energy harvesting.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Sheng Chen, Yanglei Chen, Deqiang Li, Yanglei Xu, Feng Xu
Summary: Renewable biomaterials like cellulose were used in the preparation of a composite aerogel for a flexible pressure sensor, exhibiting remarkable flexibility, fast response, and adjustable sensitivity in a wide pressure range. The sensor's working mechanism, potential applications, and the utilization of sustainable natural biomaterials in high-tech fields were well demonstrated in this study.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yanglei Xu, Sheng Chen, Feng Xu
Summary: This study investigates a key step in a photoactivated nanofluidic diode, mimicking the mechanism of the photoinduced electron-transfer process in photosynthesis. The light-activated chemical reaction causes a significant change in ionic current rectification.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Bingxin Lu, Tianliang Xiao, Yanglei Xu, Xungang Diao, Jin Zhai
Summary: In this study, the kinetics of ion transmembrane through a glass/ZIF-8 hybrid membrane was explored. The results show that ion transportation of the ZIF-8 membrane follows Arrhenius behavior, with the rates of ions controlled by the transmembrane activation energy, in which the ionic charge and radius play an important role.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Yijia Song, Yanglei Xu, Deqiang Li, Sheng Chen, Feng Xu
Summary: Light-management films made from lignocellulose-based materials with excellent UV-blocking performance and self-cleaning function are prepared by facile dissolution and regeneration of wood pulp and corncob residue, showing potential applications in smart buildings.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Electrochemistry
Yanglei Xu, Kejian Zhang, Sheng Chen, Xiao Zhang, Yanglei Chen, Deqiang Li, Feng Xu
Summary: Controlling ion transport through different-dimensional confined spaces has always been an important goal in the field of nanofluidic osmotic power generators. In this study, ion transport behaviors in MXene/BNC composite Janus membranes were studied, providing a facile and general strategy for investigating the effects of membrane-scale confinement.
ELECTROCHIMICA ACTA
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
Peng Cheng, Sheng Chen, Xin Li, Yanglei Xu, Feng Xu, Arthur J. Ragauskas
Summary: In this study, a lignin-based nanofluidic membrane was synthesized to mimic the channels in trees, allowing for ion transport and reverse electrodialysis. The membrane, composed of fusiform microrods, was able to transport counter-ions and harvest osmotic energy.
ENERGY CONVERSION AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hongqin Wu, Jiahui Mu, Yanglei Xu, Feng Xu, Shri Ramaswamy, Xueming Zhang
Summary: This study demonstrates the design and fabrication of high-performance regenerated cellulose-based separators for supercapacitors. These separators exhibit superior mechanical strength, thermal stability, and ion transport capabilities compared to commercial separators. The results suggest that these separators have potential applications in high-performance and safe supercapacitors.
