Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ruben M. F. Tomas, Akalabya Bissoyi, Thomas R. Congdon, Matthew I. Gibson
Summary: This study demonstrates the use of a synthetic macromolecular cryoprotectant for efficient cryopreservation of cell monolayers, simplifying cell handling processes and improving research efficiency and quality.
Review
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Manish Gore, Aditya Narvekar, Advait Bhagwat, Ratnesh Jain, Prajakta Dandekar
Summary: Cryopreservation utilizes safe and effective macromolecular cryoprotectants to store mammalian cells at low temperatures, reducing toxicity and risks associated with conventional CPAs. These agents provide cryoprotection through various mechanisms involving macromolecular crowding, influencing the dynamics of freezing medium and cells. Understanding the structures and properties of macromolecular CPAs is crucial for enhancing cell preservation processes and encouraging their use in research.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY B
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Akalabya Bissoyi, Ruben M. F. Tomas, Yanan Gao, Qiongyu Guo, Matthew I. Gibson
Summary: This study successfully cryopreserved hepatocyte spheroids using macromolecular cryoprotectants added to DMSO solutions, which significantly improved post-thaw recovery and minimized cryo-injury related membrane damage. Adding polyampholytes also rescued reduced actin polymerization, potentially linked to intracellular ice formation. This research may facilitate access to off-the-shelf and ready-to-use frozen spheroids, reducing the need for in-house culturing and the number of in vivo experiments.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Amber Nguyen, Elena Dallerba, Andrew B. Lowe
Summary: A new family of polyampholytes (PAMs) with nitrogen functional groups as both the basic and acidic groups is described. The synthesis of the well-defined statistical PAMs is confirmed through various spectroscopic techniques. Aqueous electrophoresis results indicate the isoelectric points (pI) of the PAMs, which are somewhat insensitive to the copolymer composition.
MACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Changhang Huang, Rudolf Podgornik, Xingkun Man
Summary: Selective adsorption of flexible polymers in a cylindrical pore, studied using self-consistent field theory (SCFT), shows different behaviors depending on the sequence of sticker monomers along the chain. The correlation between stickers and nonadsorbing monomers plays a crucial role in determining the adsorption efficiency of polymers.
Review
Polymer Science
Nam-Kyung Lee, Min-Kyung Chae, Youngkyun Jung, Albert Johner, Jean-Francois Joanny
Summary: This article reviews the important research in the field of polyelectrolytes, with a special focus on the role of charge sequences and the formation and transformation of pearl necklace structures.
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Susmita Sarkar, Anku Guha, Rayantan Sadhukhan, Tharangattu N. Narayanan, Jagannath Mondal
Summary: This study investigates the potential of naturally occurring osmolytes as cryoprotectants. Through simulations and experiments, the researchers found that a pair of osmolytes, glycine and betaine, can restore the electrostatic interaction in cells and act as cryoprotectants. These findings provide new insights and methods for cryopreservation of cells.
ACS BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Nam-Kyung Lee, Youngkyun Jung, Albert Johner, Jean-Francois Joanny
Summary: Polyampholytes (PAs) are polymers with both positive and negative charges along their backbone. Through simulations and analytical theory, it is shown that these polymers tend towards states with polydisperse pearls due to free energy effects. Translocation of partially globular PAs typically starts from a chain end in a tailed configuration, with most observed configurations having tails that are long enough to initiate translocation. The consequences of pearl-necklace structures on translocation are discussed, although the translocation process itself was not simulated in this study.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ameneh Taghavi-Kahagh, Seyedeh-Arefeh Safavi-Mirmahalleh, Reza Pashaei-Sarnaghi, Mehdi Salami-Kalajahi, Hossein Roghani-Mamaqani
Summary: Polyampholyte star copolymers were synthesized through a two-step RAFT polymerization and DPP polymerization, and their morphological changes and drug release behavior under different pH conditions were studied.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR LIQUIDS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yui Kato, Takuya Uto, Daisuke Tanaka, Kojiro Ishibashi, Akiko Kobayashi, Masaharu Hazawa, Richard W. Wong, Kazuaki Ninomiya, Kenji Takahashi, Eishu Hirata, Kosuke Kuroda
Summary: Cell cryopreservation is essential for long-term storage, but some cell lines cannot be efficiently cryopreserved. Research shows that a synthetic zwitterion solution can achieve good cryopreservation, but not with high efficiency for certain cells. Further study on the cryoprotective effects and mechanisms of zwitterions is needed for optimization and better results.
COMMUNICATIONS CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Yeong-Beom Kim, Min-Kyung Chae, Jeong-Man Park, Albert Johner, Nam-Kyung Lee
Summary: Polyampholytes (PA) are a special class of polymers comprising both positive and negative monomers along their sequence. Most proteins have positive and negative residues and are PAs. Proteins have a well-defined sequence while synthetic PAs have a random charge sequence.
Article
Polymer Science
Artem M. Rumyantsev, Nicholas E. Jackson, Albert Johner, Juan J. de Pablo
Summary: The primary sequence of charged monomers in a polyampholyte significantly affects its conformational properties. The study uses theory and simulations to predict the influence of sequence on the behavior of globally neutral polyampholytes under salt-free conditions. The results show that the charge blockiness along the chain plays a crucial role in determining the internal structure and coil-globule transition of polyampholytes.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xingyu Wu, Christopher Barner-Kowollik
Summary: The development of synthetic macromolecular chemistry has made significant progress in controlling the properties of soft matter materials with molecular precision. Fluorescence-based techniques have emerged as a powerful tool for macromolecular characterization, providing detailed information and deeper insights beyond commonly used analytical methods. This article critically examines the applications of fluorescence phenomena, principles, and techniques in characterizing macromolecules and soft matter materials, highlighting recent advances and discussing future opportunities and challenges.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Mao Deng, Huijuan Chen, Long Xie, Kai Liu, Xumin Zhang, Xiaofang Li
Summary: This study demonstrates the importance of tea saponins as emulsifiers and cryoprotectants in preparing silymarin nanoemulsion and preventing damage during freeze-drying. Tea saponins improve the solubility and stability of silymarin.
LWT-FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Lukasz Stala, Justyna Ulatowska, Izabela Polowczyk
Summary: A group of six amino-hypophosphite polyampholytes (AHPs) were synthesized and tested for their ability in scavenging four toxic metal ions. The AHPs were produced using a green and convenient one-pot reaction, making them more sustainable than conventional materials derived from crude oil. Characterization using FTIR spectra showed that the AHPs possessed ion scavenging properties in a wide pH range, with certain selectivity towards specific metal ions. The high ionic capacities of the AHPs suggest their potential application in removing toxic metal ions from various types of wastewater.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Matthew T. Warren, Iain Galpin, Fabienne Bachtiger, Matthew Gibson, Gabriele C. Sosso
Summary: In this study, the researchers discovered that the amino acid L-alpha-alanine exhibits ice recrystallization inhibition activity. Through experimental assays and molecular simulations, they found that the difference in the inhibition activity between L-alpha-alanine and beta-alanine is not due to their ice binding affinity, but rather their capacity to become overgrown by ice. These findings shed new light on the microscopic mechanisms of small molecule cryoprotectants.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ruben M. F. Tomas, Akalabya Bissoyi, Thomas R. Congdon, Matthew I. Gibson
Summary: This study demonstrates the use of a synthetic macromolecular cryoprotectant for efficient cryopreservation of cell monolayers, simplifying cell handling processes and improving research efficiency and quality.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Vinko Zadjelovic, Gabriel Erni-Cassola, Theo Obrador-Viel, Daniel Lester, Yvette Eley, Matthew I. Gibson, Cristina Dorador, Peter N. Golyshin, Stuart Black, Elizabeth M. H. Wellington, Joseph A. Christie-Oleza
Summary: Polyethylene (PE) is a highly durable synthetic material that is widely distributed in nature as a pollutant. This study found that a hydrocarbon-degrading bacterium in the plastisphere is capable of reducing the molecular weight of PE and inducing metabolic pathways for aliphatic compound degradation. These findings suggest that hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria may play a role in the biodegradation of PE.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Correction
Chemistry, Physical
Matthew T. Warren, Iain Galpin, Fabienne Bachtiger, Matthew I. Gibson, Gabriele C. Sosso
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Akalabya Bissoyi, Ruben M. F. Tomas, Yanan Gao, Qiongyu Guo, Matthew I. Gibson
Summary: This study successfully cryopreserved hepatocyte spheroids using macromolecular cryoprotectants added to DMSO solutions, which significantly improved post-thaw recovery and minimized cryo-injury related membrane damage. Adding polyampholytes also rescued reduced actin polymerization, potentially linked to intracellular ice formation. This research may facilitate access to off-the-shelf and ready-to-use frozen spheroids, reducing the need for in-house culturing and the number of in vivo experiments.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Marta M. P. S. Neves, Sarah-Jane Richards, Alexander N. N. Baker, Marc Walker, Panagiotis G. G. Georgiou, Matthew I. I. Gibson
Summary: Glycoforms of proteins can indicate disease state, making it crucial to develop new tools for detecting protein glycosylation. This study presents a sandwich bio-assay approach using antibodies immobilised on biolayer interferometry sensors to select proteins, and gold nanoparticles functionalised with lectins to identify specific glycoforms. The nanoparticles significantly enhance the signal, allowing the detection of glycoforms at low concentrations without the need for enrichment or manual steps. Proof of concept using prostate specific antigen shows the potential of glycoform analysis in distinguishing cancerous and non-cancerous status.
NANOSCALE HORIZONS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nicola Judge, Panagiotis G. Georgiou, Akalabya Bissoyi, Ashfaq Ahmad, Andreas Heise, Matthew I. Gibson
Summary: Ice-binding proteins (IBPs) are found in extremophile organisms and have various (bio)-technological applications. This study investigates the use of high molecular weight polyproline as an ice recrystallization inhibitor (IRI) and demonstrates the potential of non-vinyl-based polymers in inhibiting ice recrystallization.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Lukas Eickhoff, Mira Kessler, Christopher Stubbs, Jakob Derksen, Martina Viefhues, Dario Anselmetti, Matthew I. I. Gibson, Berthold Hoge, Thomas Koop
Summary: This study explores the relationship between the molecular size of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and its ice nucleation activity. The experiments show that the ice nucleation activity of shorter PVA chains significantly decreases with a decrease in molar mass. The results support the view that PVA polymers and oligomers act as heterogeneous ice nucleators.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Huba L. Marton, Peter Kilbride, Ashfaq Ahmad, Matthew I. Gibson, Antonia P. Sagona
Summary: Bioprocessing and biotechnology utilize microorganisms for various applications, but bacteriophage contamination poses a challenge to product quality and requires extensive decontamination. We demonstrate that poly(acrylic acid) can prevent phage-induced killing of bacterial hosts and replication, without affecting recombinant protein expression. This simple, low-cost additive offers a practical solution to reduce phage contamination.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Kathryn A. Murray, Yanan Gao, Christopher A. Griffiths, Nina L. H. Kinney, Qiongyu Guo, Matthew I. Gibson, Thomas F. Whale
Summary: 3D cell assemblies, such as spheroids, are more accurate in replicating in vivo conditions compared to traditional 2D cell monolayers, making them valuable tools for reducing or replacing animal testing. However, current cryopreservation methods are not well-suited for complex cell models, limiting their usage. By utilizing soluble ice nucleating polysaccharides, researchers have significantly improved spheroid cryopreservation outcomes, providing better cell protection compared to using DMSO alone. The extracellular function of these nucleators reduces the formation of fatal intracellular ice and prevents ice propagation between adjacent cells, potentially revolutionizing the banking and deployment of advanced cell models.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Callum Pritchard, Melissa Ligorio, Garrett D. Jackson, Matthew I. Gibson, Michael D. Ward
Summary: The presentation of glycans in multiple forms enhances their binding capacity to lectins. Current materials used as scaffolds for multivalent glycan arrays have limited reproducibility and predictability due to their intrinsic dispersity. In this study, self-assembled metal coordination cages with predictable ligand arrays were used to assemble a monodisperse library of glycoclusters displaying a range of valencies. The synthetic route was tolerant of biologically relevant glycans, and the glycocluster series demonstrated increased binding to lectins with increasing glycans. This strategy offers an alternative for controlling the valency of 3-D glycan arrays and has potential applications in sensing, imaging, and basic biology.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yanan Gao, Akalabya Bissoyi, Nina L. H. Kinney, Thomas F. Whale, Qiongyu Guo, Matthew I. Gibson
Summary: Spheroids are better at mimicking 3-D tissue niches than standard cell cultures, but cryopreserving them is challenging due to the limitations of conventional cryoprotectants. This study demonstrates that chemically-programmed extracellular ice nucleation combined with proline pre-conditioning can significantly improve post-thaw recovery of spheroids. This highlights the importance of identifying compounds and materials to address both biochemical and biophysical damage pathways beyond standard cryoprotectants.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Huba L. Marton, Peter Kilbride, Ashfaq Ahmad, Antonia P. Sagona, Matthew I. Gibson
Summary: Bioprocessing and biotechnology rely on microorganisms for the production of various products. However, phage contamination poses a significant challenge. In this study, we found that poly(acrylic acid) can prevent phage-induced killing and replication of bacteria without affecting recombinant protein expression. This simple and cost-effective additive offers a practical solution to reduce phage contamination.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Ruben M. F. Tomas, Robert Dallman, Thomas R. Congdon, Matthew I. Gibson
Summary: This study demonstrates the use of soluble ice nucleator materials for the cryopreservation of hepatocyte-derived cell lines and primary hepatocytes, aiming to facilitate high-throughput screening in drug discovery and development. The method preserves cell integrity, viability, and functionality, with higher recovery rates and a more convenient storage format compared to commercial cryopreserved hepatocytes.
BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE
(2023)