Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Marco Leonetti, Lorenzo Pattelli, Simone De Panfilis, Diederik S. Wiersma, Giancarlo Ruocco
Summary: Through directly measuring spatially resolved intensity correlations of light inside a disordered medium using DNA strings decorated with emitters, researchers uncovered deviations in the size and polarization degrees of freedom of bulk speckles from theoretical predictions. These deviations are explained by correlations among polarization components and non-universal near-field contributions at the nanoscale.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Thang Minh Nguyen, YongDeok Cho, Ji-Hyeok Huh, Hayun Ahn, NaYeoun Kim, Kyung Hun Rho, Jaewon Lee, Min Kwon, Sung Hun Park, ChaeEon Kim, Kwangjin Kim, Young-Seok Kim, Seungwoo Lee
Summary: Researchers developed a new type of nanomembrane as a substrate for dark-field microscopy, overcoming the optical loss and edge scattering issues associated with conventional TEM grids.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Thang Minh Nguyen, YongDeok Cho, Ji-Hyeok Huh, Hayun Ahn, NaYeoun Kim, Kyung Hun Rho, Jaewon Lee, Min Kwon, Sung Hun Park, ChaeEon Kim, Kwangjin Kim, Young-Seok Kim, Seungwoo Lee
Summary: This study demonstrates the use of a freely suspended ultrathin and wide-scale transparent nanomembrane as a substrate for dark-field microscopy, which addresses challenges posed by conventional TEM grids such as optically lossy carbon layer and broadband scattering from the edges.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Swati Tanwar, Vishaldeep Kaur, Gagandeep Kaur, Tapasi Sen
Summary: Engineering hotspots in surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) by precisely controlling the assembly of plasmonic nanostructures can enhance the potential of SERS for single molecule detection. Plasmonic dimer nanoantennas with tunable gaps showed significant enhancements for single dye molecules, and were able to detect a single thrombin protein molecule in a 10 nm wide nanogap. These engineered nanoantennas have the potential to serve as a broadband SERS enhancer for specific detection of biological molecules with single-molecule sensitivity.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Chaoying Tong, Xia Tong, Yuanxin Cao, Guihan Cai, Tongtao Wang, Qisheng Wei, Shuyun Shi, Ying Guo
Summary: The fundamental mechanism of solvent-mediated reduction of HAuCl4 by carbon dots (CDs) to form gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), as well as the surface characteristics that determine their dispersion and aggregation, have been explored in this study. It was found that monodispersed core-shell AuNPs@CDs were synthesized in water, while aggregated AuNPs@CDs were formed in ethanol. A colorimetric ethanol sensor based on AuNPs@CDs was proposed, which showed high selectivity.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Aljaz Kavcic, Maja Garvas, Matevz Marincic, Katrin Unger, Anna Maria Coclite, Boris Majaron, Matjaz Humar
Summary: Optical microcavities as cellular probes enable three-dimensional localization and tracking of individual cells at single-cell resolution, as well as sensing of their environment. They have unique spectral features that are unaffected by tissue scattering, absorption, and autofluorescence.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Optics
M. Chen, T. V. A. G. de Oliveira, I. Ilyakov, T. Noerenberg, F. Kuschewski, J-C Deinert, N. Awari, A. Ponomaryov, M. Kuntzsch, S. C. Kehr, L. M. Eng, M. Gensch, S. Kovalev
Summary: This article presents a conceptually new approach to synchronizing accelerator-based light sources and external laser systems. The method utilizes an intense accelerator-based single-cycle terahertz pulse to slice a femtosecond-level part of a longer picosecond laser pulse, achieving precise synchronization of approximately 10 fs for real-time lock-in amplifier signal demodulation. The concept was successfully demonstrated in three benchmark experiments using a 4th generation accelerator-based terahertz light source.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sabrina Diehn, Helmut Schlaad, Janina Kneipp
Summary: Dark field scattering microscopy can provide valuable information about the properties and molecular environment of noble metal nanoparticles through the analysis of large hyperspectral data sets. By decomposing the scattering spectra using non-negative matrix factorization, it is possible to identify individual plasmon resonances and their contributions to specific microscopic focal volumes in the mapping data sets.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Duoduo Zhang, Nan Jiang, Peng Li, Yusheng Zhang, Shihao Sun, Jian Mao, Songqin Liu, Wei Wei
Summary: A dual-mode strategy for sensitive detection of MAO-B was developed using dark-field light scattering imaging and colorimetry based on localized surface plasmon resonance induced by silver deposited gold nanostars.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Ruidi Shen, Ji Zhang, Wenxiu Huang, Shaoyong Wu, Gongke Li, Seyin Zou, Liansheng Ling
Summary: The study developed a new diagnostic method using specific oligonucleotides to detect CA-125 through PCR and AuNPs-DNA probes, achieving rapid diagnosis of ovarian cancer.
ANALYTICA CHIMICA ACTA
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Zetao Fan, Xinxiang You, Zhibo Xie, Huaqiao Gui, Jianguo Liu, Douguo Zhang
Summary: The hygroscopicity of aerosol nanoparticles has significant impacts on atmospheric chemistry, visibility, global climate, and human health. This study developed a planar photonic chip-based dark-field microscope for real-time imaging and sensing of the hygroscopic growth dynamics of single aerosol nanoparticles. The experimental results were consistent with the calculation results, and this technique can be extended to investigate physicochemical reactions of various aerosols in real atmospheric environments.
IEEE JOURNAL OF SELECTED TOPICS IN QUANTUM ELECTRONICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sirin Celiksoy, Weixiang Ye, Karl Wandner, Katharina Kaefer, Carsten Sonnichsen
Summary: The study found that the sensitivity of plasmonic sensors to changes in single wavelength scattering intensity can be accurately described by simple equations, allowing for the distinction of various contributing factors. Experimental data supported the accuracy of theoretical predictions.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Yu-Chien Huang, Te-Hsin Chen, Jz-Yuan Juo, Shi-Wei Chu, Chia-Lung Hsieh
Summary: A study demonstrated optical widefield interferometric photothermal microscopy for visualizing and quantifying heat generation of single nanoparticles with high sensitivity; the photothermal signal of small metallic nanoparticles was determined by the amount of dissipated heat, independent of particle size; for larger nanoparticles, the strong scattered light of the particle enhanced the photothermal signal by interfering with the scattered field of the thermal lens.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Jian Wang, Min Huang, Meng Xiao Li, Fu Zhu, Ru Cheng, Jia Jun Liu, Hong Yan Zou, Cheng Zhi Huang
Summary: In this study, a smart imaging probe was used as a contrast agent for dark-field cell imaging. The nanorods, with the silver shell acting as the response element for iodine and the protective agent for the gold core, showed excellent tumor cellular uptake ability without cytotoxicity when conjugated with folate.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Bingyan Yan, Shaohua Xu, Fang Luo, Bin Qiu, Zhenyu Lin, Ying Wang
Summary: A sensitive method for detecting Pb2+ has been developed by utilizing the difference of gold monomer ratio. This method employs single-particle gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and 8-17 DNAzyme as signal converter and identification unit, and allows for quantitative analysis of Pb2+ by color changing under DFM.
SENSORS AND ACTUATORS B-CHEMICAL
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Naruhiko Sawa, Tsuneyuki Tatsuke, Atsushi Ogawa, Yasutaka Hirokawa, Takashi Osanai, Taizo Hanai
JOURNAL OF BIOSCIENCE AND BIOENGINEERING
(2019)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Atsushi Ogawa, Akane Kutsuna, Masashi Takamatsu, Tatsuya Okuzono
BIOORGANIC & MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2019)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Atsushi Ogawa, Masashi Takamatsu
BIOORGANIC & MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2019)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Hajime Takahashi, Atsushi Ogawa
ACS SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mari Tezuka-Kagajo, Masashi Maekawa, Atsushi Ogawa, Yoshiko Hatta, Eiichi Ishii, Mariko Eguchi, Shigeki Higashiyama
NUCLEIC ACID THERAPEUTICS
(2020)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Atsushi Ogawa, Yu Itoh
ACS SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY
(2020)
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Atsushi Ogawa
Summary: Sup-tRNA enables assignment of amino acids to nonsense codons in mRNA, with applications in protein engineering, gene regulation, and biosensors. It has been artificially evolved for developing biosensors that utilize an engineered premature sup-tRNA to suppress nonsense codons and encode detectable reporter proteins.
ANALYTICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Hajime Takahashi, Atsushi Ogawa
Summary: A coupled in vitro transcription/translation system based on wheat germ extract was successfully constructed for efficient protein expression from DNA templates in short-time batch reactions. The productivity was significantly higher than conventional methods, and the system showed high efficiency at a low DNA template concentration, making it suitable for a wide range of protein expressions.
BIOORGANIC & MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Hajime Takahashi, Ryo Okubo, Atsushi Ogawa
Summary: This study constructed efficient eukaryotic ON-riboswitches using high-affinity aptamers of mid-sized Arg-rich peptides. These riboswitches showed higher switching efficiencies at low ligand concentrations compared to small ligand-responsive ON-riboswitches. Additionally, the two best riboswitches were almost insensitive to each other's peptide ligands despite their high sequence similarity. This orthogonal pair of riboswitches could serve as widely useful eukaryotic gene regulators or biosensors due to their high responsiveness and specificity.
BIOORGANIC & MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Atsushi Ogawa, Honami Inoue, Yu Itoh, Hajime Takahashi
Summary: An RNA aptamer that induces conformational changes upon binding to a ligand can be used to create a riboswitch for gene regulation. However, finding diverse orthogonal ligand/aptamer pairs is challenging. In this study, we focused on a specific ligand, 6-nt nanosized DNA (nDNA) and mutated the nDNA/aptamer interactions to obtain several orthogonal nDNA/riboswitch pairs. These pairs can be used to create complex gene circuits in synthetic biology, including multiple simultaneous and/or multistep cascading regulations.
ACS SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hajime Takahashi, Masahiro Fujikawa, Atsushi Ogawa
Summary: This study successfully developed a rational strategy for constructing eukaryotic kt-riboswitches that enhance translation initiation in a ligand-dependent manner. These kt-riboswitches showed higher induction ratios compared to previously optimized eq-riboswitches. The IRES used in this study functions well in various eukaryotic expression systems, making these kt-riboswitches potentially important gene regulators.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Gen Hirao, Nanami Fukuzumi, Atsushi Ogawa, Tsuyoshi Asahi, Maeda Mizuo, Tamotsu Zako
Summary: The study investigates the effect of immobilized ssDNA density on genetic diagnosis using AuNPs. Lower DNA densities improve the sensitivity of target ssDNA detection. Furthermore, the study finds that DNA density, rather than dispersion stability, significantly impacts the detection sensitivity.
Article
Biology
Hajime Takahashi, Atsushi Ogawa
Summary: This study explores the usage of liposomes as pseudo cell membranes for encapsulating biomolecules and introduces a novel method using wheat germ extract to prepare protein synthesis reactions in liposomes, overcoming the inhibitory effect of high sucrose concentration on gene expression. The optimized protocol successfully creates millimeter-sized, stable WGE-encapsulating liposomes, serving as a versatile research tool for artificial cells.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yuki Yano-Ozawa, Nadine Lobsiger, Yu Muto, Takahiro Mori, Ken Yoshimura, Yuki Yano, Wendelin Jan Stark, Mizuo Maeda, Tsuyoshi Asahi, Atsushi Ogawa, Tamotsu Zako
Summary: This study utilized high-density ssDNA modification on AuNP surface to prevent non-specific aggregation and successfully detected estradiol (E2) using a smartphone dark field microscope (DFM). The results were verified by a conventional benchtop DFM, showing the future field applicability of AuNP-based sensors.
