Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Yi Rong, Zi-Long Zhao, Xi-Qiao Feng, Jialing Yang, Yi Min Xie
Summary: This study investigates the formation, optimization, and evolution mechanisms of plant roots through biomechanical morphogenesis. The results reveal that the morphological evolutions of root systems are driven by maximizing the transport efficiency of water and nutrients, and are regulated by geotropism, hydrotropism, and growth inertia.
JOURNAL OF THE MECHANICS AND PHYSICS OF SOLIDS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Giovanni Bianchi, Aldo Agoni, Simone Cinquemani
Summary: Plants' root growth motion, which is efficient and effective, inspires the design of a soft robot for applications in search and rescue or environmental monitoring. The robot's body consists of an inflatable cylindrical plastic membrane that unfolds and extends as air is blown in. It has a mechanism in the tip controlled by two selectively-inflated balloons, which determine the growth direction by exerting pressure and opening Velcro straps. The robot's kinematic model was compared with experimental data, showing a small error in predicting the turning angle and position.
JOURNAL OF BIONIC ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Sivaranjani Devarakonda, Baskar Ganapathysubramanian, Pranav Shrotriya
Summary: The study presents an experimental and computational approach for developing a highly sensitive and responsive label-free biosensor based on aptamer-functionalized transparent electrode. The sensor shows sensitive and specific thrombin protein detection with a high signal-to-noise ratio. Computational and experimental results indicate that the sensing response is due to modified ionic transport under the combined influence of steric hindrance and surface charge modification.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Narangerel Altangerel, Benjamin W. Neuman, Philip R. Hemmer, Vladislav V. Yakovlev, Navid Rajil, Zhenhuan Yi, Alexei V. Sokolov, Marlan O. Scully
Summary: The development of a simple label-free screening technique for sensing interaction-in-solution from small molecules to large proteins has important implications for drug development research and pharmaceutical companies. This study presents a thermostable Raman interaction profiling (TRIP) technique that enables low-concentration screening of protein-ligand binding in physiologically relevant conditions. TRIP is capable of resolving time-dependent binding and analyzing biologically relevant interactions. It holds promise for high-throughput drug screening and real-time binding measurements between protein and drug.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yongwook Kim, Amine M. Laradji, Shubham Sharma, Weizhong Zhang, Nataraja S. Yadavalli, Jin Xie, Vladimir Popik, Sergiy Minko
Summary: The text explains the mechanism of separation methods, which achieve dynamic equilibrium through multiple adsorption-desorption steps. Sorting of colloidal particles faces energy barrier issues, but introducing oscillating repulsive force can facilitate rapid separation.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Igor Buzalewicz, Iwona Holowacz, Anna K. Matczuk, Mateusz Guzniczak, Dominika Skrzela, Magdalena Karwanska, Alina Wieliczko, Katarzyna Kowal, Agnieszka Ulatowska-Jarza
Summary: The worldwide increase in bacterial resistance and healthcare-associated bacterial infections pose a serious threat to human health. A new therapeutic approach based on the limited delivery of photosensitizer has been proposed, using nanoporous inorganic-organic composites encapsulating Photolon. The material exhibits excellent antimicrobial activity, and the generation of free radicals from the nanoporous surface has been confirmed by scanning Kelvin probe microscopy.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jungwoo Kim, Soo Bin Ahn, Subin Hong, Kwang-sun Kim, Esther Ha-eun Ko, I. Jeong Jo, JuOae Chang, Meehyein Kim, Wonsik Lee, Haemi Lee
Summary: Nanoscopic investigation of bacterial cells is crucial for understanding their physiological status and cellular functions. A new technique called intracellular dynamics-resolved Rayleigh scattering (IDRS) has been developed, which can visualize spatiotemporal cytoplasmic transitions in unlabeled bacteria and characterize their real-time physiological status. IDRS signals can differentiate metabolic statuses and antibiotic resistance in unlabeled bacteria, providing insights for controlling bacterial metabolism and efficacy at the single-cell level.
Article
Optics
Moosung Lee, Kyoohyun Kim, Jeonghun Oh, YongKeun Park
Summary: This study demonstrates isotropic microtomography of free-floating samples by optically rotating a sample, using 3D structured light traps to measure side scattering information for achieving isotropic resolution. The method yields a resolution of 230 nm and captures structural details inaccessible using conventional tomographic microscopy.
LIGHT-SCIENCE & APPLICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Gaoshuang Liu, Mahesh P. Bhat, Cheol Soo Kim, Jangho Kim, Kyeong-Hwan Lee
Summary: This study developed a cellulose acetate (CA) ink and optimized printing parameters to mimic the mechanical properties and water absorption ability of plant roots using 3D printing. The 3D-printed CA material exhibited similar Young's modulus, tensile strength, and high hydraulic conductivity to real plant roots.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Kari Kopra, Nazia Hassan, Emmiliisa Vuorinen, Salla Valtonen, Randa Mahran, Huda Habib, Pinja Jalkanen, Petri Susi, Vesa Hytonen, Minna Hankaniemi, Seppo Yla-Herttuala, Laura Kakkola, Markus Peurla, Harri Harma
Summary: Viruses play a major role in modern society, but current methods for counting viral particles are cumbersome and expensive. To address this issue, researchers have developed a simple and cost-effective time-resolved luminescence-based method that allows for rapid measurement of virus particle count.
ANALYTICAL AND BIOANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Aerospace
Xiangyu Shao, Guanghui Sun, Weiran Yao, Xiaolei Li, Ouyang Zhang
Summary: This paper investigates the task-space trajectory tracking control of free-floating space manipulator (FFSM) with system uncertainty considered. A disturbance observer and fractional-order resolved acceleration control (FORAC) scheme are designed to improve performance, and estimated uncertainty is introduced to compensate for the influence of actual system uncertainty.
AEROSPACE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Terumasa Ito, Risa Iguchi, Fumiaki Matsuoka, Yoji Nishi, Tsuyoshi Ogihara, Kazuhiko Misawa
Summary: The study introduces a method for skin penetration analysis using phase-modulated SRS microscopy, which effectively suppresses background signals and improves signal contrast, allowing for monitoring of the pharmacokinetics of small molecules in the millimolar concentration range.
BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nianyu Jiang, Pranav Shrotriya, Rohana P. Dassanayake
Summary: We report an NK-lysin peptide-functionalized NAAO biosensor for detecting bacterial endotoxin. NK-lysin NK2A exhibits antimicrobial activity against bacteria, and the protein-conjugated biosensor can detect the binding of LPS, leading to observable signals.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yoshiyuki Tsuyama, Kyojiro Morikawa, Kazuma Mawatari
Summary: This research presents the establishment of a label-free molecule detection method for sub-100 nm nanochannels and demonstrates sequential analytical processes using integrated nanofluidic devices. The absorption-based detection method, photothermal optical diffraction (POD), achieves a limit of detection of 1.8 μM in 70 nm nanochannels and enables aL-fL volumetric sampling using cross-shaped nanochannels. The combination of POD and volumetric sampling with nanochannel chromatography allows for separation analysis in sub-100 nm channels.
Article
Plant Sciences
Vitor Batista Pinto, Vinicius Costa Almeida, Italo A. Pereira-Lima, Ellen Moura Vale, Wagner L. Araujo, Vanildo Silveira, Jose Marcelo Soriano Viana
Summary: Al responsive proteins play a key role in carbohydrate metabolic pathways. Sucrose synthase may contribute to Al tolerance. Responses to Aluminum toxicity are regulated at transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Larry J. Millet, Richard J. Giannone, Michael S. Greenwood, Carmen M. Foster, Kathleen M. O'Neil, Alexander D. Braatz, Sandra M. Davern
Summary: This study investigated the impact of ionizing radiation on the microvascular system and the feasibility of identifying biomarkers related to ionizing radiation exposure, providing important insights for developing medical countermeasures for individuals exposed to ionizing radiation.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Jayde Aufrecht, Muneeba Khalid, Courtney L. Walton, Kylee Tate, John F. Cahill, Scott T. Retterer
Summary: The rhizosphere is a complex ecosystem with diverse characteristics, making it challenging to study. Microfluidic platforms have provided an alternative approach to studying rhizosphere organisms under reduced-complexity conditions. However, reducing complexity can lead to biases in laboratory data compared to real-life experiments. To restore some complexity, a rhizosphere-on-a-chip platform mimicking soil structure was developed.
Article
Polymer Science
Bin Hu, Jan-Michael Carrillo, Liam Collins, Kevin S. Silmore, Jong Keum, Peter Bonnesen, Yangyang Wang, Scott Retterer, Rajeev Kumar, Bradley S. Lokitz
Summary: A strategy for facile synthesis of bottlebrush block copolymers with flexible backbones was developed. The utility of this strategy was demonstrated by grafting end-functionalized PMMA and PS onto the dually reactive block copolymer PGMA-b-PVDMA. Experimental and computational analysis showed a relationship between glass transition temperature and chain end fraction, highlighting the potential of this method to tailor polymer properties. The study also revealed multiscale structures in the samples using X-ray scattering methods and molecular dynamics simulations. The modular approach can be extended to other grafts, providing a powerful tool for synthesizing novel bottlebrush block copolymers with desired properties.
Meeting Abstract
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Meaghan E. Harley-Troxell, Madhu Dhar, David E. Anderson, Larry J. Millet
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Dong Zhou, Gang Feng, Henna Khosla, Scott T. Retterer, Bo Li
Summary: This study demonstrates a new strategy to suspend and test polymer single crystals by stacking them on a 2D material and suspending them over microholes. The in-plane moduli of the polymer single crystal and the 2D material are experimentally measured for the first time. This research provides key insights for accurately measuring the mechanical properties of polymer single crystals and their composites, as well as designing composite structures.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Courtney L. Walton, Muneeba Khalid, Amber N. Bible, Vilmos Kertesz, Scott T. Retterer, Jennifer Morrell-Falvey, John F. Cahill
Summary: The plant rhizosphere is a complex environment where the exchange of molecular signals between plants, microbes, and fungi drives the development of the biological system. Exogenous compounds in the rhizosphere play a crucial role in plant-microbe interactions, growth and development, and the spatiotemporal distribution of molecular components. A methodology for in situ measurement of amino acids from bacterial biofilms and plant roots using liquid microjunction-surface sampling probe-mass spectrometry was successfully developed.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MASS SPECTROMETRY
(2022)
Article
Physics, Applied
Dayne Y. Sasaki, Rajesh Chopdekar, Scott T. Retterer, Daniel Y. Jiang, Jeremy K. Mason, Michael S. Lee, Yayoi Takamura
Summary: This study investigates the stabilization of complex spin textures in thermally demagnetized artificial spin ice arrays through an appropriate selection of nanoisland width and interisland spacing. Micromagnetic simulations reveal the role of interisland dipolar interactions in the formation of these spin textures.
PHYSICAL REVIEW APPLIED
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Connor Robertson, Jared L. L. Wilmoth, Scott Retterer, Miguel Fuentes-Cabrera
Summary: The recent advancement in machine learning technologies has allowed for new analytical capabilities in microbiology, particularly in the field of predictive microbial growth. This paper introduces the use of a Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) trained on experimental data to accurately predict the growth of two Pseudomonas aeruginosa mutants. The accuracy of the predictions was evaluated using various metrics, such as image comparison and colony size, showing promising results but indicating a need for more comprehensive data in the literature for further validation.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jessica M. Morgan, Joanna Jelenska, Dale Hensley, Scott T. Retterer, Jennifer L. Morrell-Falvey, Robert F. Standaert, Jean T. Greenberg
Summary: The use of vertically aligned carbon nanofiber arrays for transient transformation in various plant tissues has been successfully demonstrated, providing a reliable and simple method for gene delivery and evaluation of gene function.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Jaime Lorenzo N. Dinglasan, Tien T. Sword, J. William Barker, Mitchel J. Doktycz, Constance B. Bailey
Summary: Lysate-based cell-free expression systems provide a means to express complex proteins, such as nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs), which are difficult to synthesize in vivo. This study describes a reporter system for optimizing NRPS expression in E. coli lysate reactions. The optimized conditions enable higher product yield and improved expression of other monomodular NRPSs. Tailored reporters for specific enzyme classes are necessary for optimizing expression in lysate-based systems. These findings have important implications for complex enzyme synthesis and natural product discovery.
ACS SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Samuel G. V. Charlton, Amber N. Bible, Eleonora Secchi, Jennifer L. Morrell-Falvey, Scott T. Retterer, Thomas P. Curtis, Jinju Chen, Saikat Jana
Summary: Biofilms are bacterial communities structured within an extracellular matrix, which plays a role in controlling their architecture and mechanical resistance. The research investigates the correlation between biofilm structure and viscoelastic response by comparing biofilms of Pantoea sp. (WT) and a mutant (& UDelta;UDP) with reduced exopolysaccharide production.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Jaime Lorenzo N. Dinglasan, Mitchel J. Doktycz
Summary: Cell-free systems can expedite biomanufacturing processes by bypassing troublesome requirements associated with live cells. The lack of survival objectives and the open nature of cell-free reactions allow for purposeful direction of metabolic flux. However, pathway crosstalk within endogenous lysate metabolism can compromise conversion yields by diverting carbon flow away from desired products.
Article
Microbiology
Michelle C. Halsted, Amber N. Bible, Jennifer L. Morrell-Falvey, Scott T. Retterer
Summary: This study utilizes functionalized silanes and an image processing algorithm to quantitatively investigate early biofilm propagation. The results show that Pantoea sp. YR343 forms honeycomb-shaped biofilms on hydrophobic surfaces, with the morphology displaying logarithmic growth over time. The fliR mutant with flagella deficiency has reduced surface attachment, and the image processing algorithm effectively captures quantifiable differences between Pantoea WT and Delta fliR biofilm morphologies.
Article
Polymer Science
Bin Hu, Jan-Michael Carrillo, Liam Collins, Kevin S. Silmore, Jong Keum, Peter Bonnesen, Yangyang Wang, Scott Retterer, Rajeev Kumar, Bradley S. Lokitz
Summary: A strategy for facile synthesis of bottlebrush block copolymers with flexible backbones was developed, which demonstrated the potential to tailor polymer properties. By analyzing and simulating various copolymers, the relationship between the glass transition temperature and the fraction of chain ends was highlighted.
