Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Joshua M. Correira, Diane E. Madeksho, Lauren J. Webb
Summary: Surface chemistry is crucial for biosensors and biocatalysts, especially in terms of the interaction between enzymes and solid supports. This study focused on the effects of surface charge and hydrophobicity on the binding and activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) when adsorbed onto modified gold surfaces. The results showed that surface hydrophobicity positively correlated with surface concentration of AChE, while it inversely correlated with the specific activity of AChE. The highest binding and activity were observed on more hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces, respectively. This research emphasizes the importance of developing attachment strategies that optimize both binding and activity retention.
Article
Biophysics
Yuhao Ma, Marcello Tonelli, Larry D. Unsworth
Summary: This research investigates the impact of protein carbamylation on the physicochemical properties and adsorption to surfaces, showing that carbamylation significantly alters protein tertiary structure and surface charge, affecting adsorption.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES B-BIOINTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Rose A. Clark, Tanner Yawitz, Logan Luchs, Tiffany Conrad, Owen Bartlebaugh, Hannah Boyd, Balazs Hargittai
Summary: Biocompatible tripeptide self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) were designed to form an electroactive protein/tripeptide/Au interfacial structure with cyt c. Atomic force microscopy revealed uniform protein monolayers on the Au electrode without significant surface roughness changes. The formal potential and electron transfer rates of cyt c were affected by surface charge effects and were found to be enhanced on the peptide/Au electrode compared to SAMs with mercaptoundecanoic acid.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Xin Xie, Dan Liu, Weili Wang, Juan Xiang, Minghui Yang, Guokun Liu
Summary: Through studying the non-specific adsorption of biofluids on a bare gold electrode, a simple microelectrode-based sensor was developed for the detection of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in aqueous humor (AH). The sensor showed advantages of simplified preparation, sensitive response, and low sample consumption.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Aman Bhardwaj, Lalit M. Pandey
Summary: Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are a serious medical threat affecting the efficacy of existing medical infrastructure, with antibiotics contributing to multi-drug resistant bacteria and biofilm formation. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) based antimicrobial surfaces show potential in preventing bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation, offering a promising solution to address the issue of HAIs.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Nicolas Bourassin, Florent Barbault, Marc Baaden, Sophie Sacquin-Mora
Summary: This study investigates the adsorption behavior of an enzyme on gold surfaces and finds that the adsorption process has little impact on the protein conformation but can affect its mechanical properties and catalytic activity. Compared to functionalized surfaces, adsorption on bare gold is more stable but less specific, and more likely to disrupt the enzyme's function.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
L. E. Lopez-Gonzalez, N. Takeuchi, H. Tiznado, J. Guerrero-Sanchez, R. Ponce-Perez
Summary: This work investigates the adsorption of sorbitan monoacetate (SMA) molecules on Cu (1 1 1) and Cu2O (1 1 1) surfaces using density functional theory. The research finds that SMA adsorbs on Cu (1 1 1) through van der Waals interactions, while on Cu2O (1 1 1) it binds through coordination and hydrogen bonds. Charge transfer analysis reveals the electron withdrawing behavior of the molecule's oxygen atoms and the electron donating behavior of Cu atoms. Non-covalent index analysis shows attractive van der Waals interactions in both systems.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Dimitrios Stefanakis, Vangelis Harmandaris, Georgios Kopidakis, Ioannis Remediakis
Summary: The study examines the impact of substrate on the structural properties and morphology of alkanethiol self-assembled monolayers on gold surfaces through calculations and simulations. Changes in substrate lead to transitions from order to disorder, with substrate morphology playing a crucial role in determining long-range order.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Zijiao Zhang, Ni Kou, Weilong Ye, Shuo Wang, Jiaju Lu, Yun Lu, Huiying Liu, Xiumei Wang
Summary: In this study, antimicrobial peptides were self-assembled on gold substrates to form good antibacterial surfaces with stable antibacterial behavior. The grafted AMPs showed potential as a novel therapeutic method for the treatment of implanted biomaterial infections, with good biocompatibility and enhanced bactericidal performance.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Rahul Madathiparambil Visalakshan, Richard Bright, Anouck L. S. Burzava, Alex J. Barker, Johanna Simon, Neethu Ninan, Dennis Palms, Jonathan Wood, Maria Martinez-Negro, Svenja Morsbach, Volker Mailaender, Paul H. Anderson, Toby Brown, Dan Barker, Katharina Landfester, Krasimir Vasilev
Summary: This study investigates the interaction between highly efficient antibacterial surfaces with sharp nanostructures and blood proteins, as well as the subsequent immunological consequences, which are crucial for the fate of implantable biomaterials. The research found significant differences in the protein corona composition formed on control and nanostructured surfaces when exposed to human serum and plasma. The quantitative analysis demonstrated that the nanostructured surface attracted more vitronectin and less complement proteins compared to the untreated control. The protein corona composition further modulated the adhesion and cytokine expression by immune cells. In addition, in vivo studies using a subcutaneous mouse model showed reduced fibrous capsule thickness, suggesting an attenuated inflammatory response. These findings suggest that antibacterial surface modification with sharp nanostructures may not only reduce inflammation but also lead to a more favorable foreign body response and enhanced healing, benefiting most medical devices implanted in patients.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
J. Lehnfeld, Y. Dukashin, J. Mark, G. D. White, S. Wu, V Katzur, R. Mueller, S. Ruhl
Summary: Once biomaterials are inserted into the oral cavity, they are immediately covered by a layer of adsorbed proteins, primarily from saliva proteins. The chemical surface functionalities have a substantial effect on the total amounts of proteins adsorbed, but there is no linear correlation between the adsorbed amounts and the physicochemical surface parameters.
JOURNAL OF DENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Pooria Tajalli, Jennifer M. Hernandez Rivera, Mina Omidiyan, Hung-Vu Tran, T. Randall Lee
Summary: Two different positional isomers of carbonate-terminated alkanethiol molecules were synthesized and used to create self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold as mimics of commercially available polycarbonate surfaces. The characterization of the adsorbate molecules and SAMs was done using various spectroscopic techniques. The wettabilities of both SAMs were found to be similar to that of poly(ethylene carbonate) samples, indicating that the carbonate-terminated SAMs can be used to study the interfacial properties of polycarbonates without interference from surface reconstruction.
ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Xinqing Pang, Weiqi Li, Lan Chang, Julien E. Gautrot, Wen Wang, Helena S. Azevedo
Summary: The extracellular matrix component hyaluronic acid plays a crucial role in regulating endothelial cell behavior. Immobilized HA enhances cell spreading and migration, facilitates cell alignment and elongation under laminar flow conditions, potentially drives directional migration, and accelerates the assembly of focal adhesions. Studying the effects of immobilized HA provides new insights into its role in regulating the behavior of endothelial cells.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Limin Wang, Ulrich S. Schubert, Stephanie Hoeppener
Summary: Surface modification using self-assembled monolayers has seen significant advancement in the past decade, with the introduction of new chemical reactions such as nucleophilic substitution, click chemistry, supramolecular modification, photochemical reaction, and others, enhancing the properties of solid substrates like silicon and glass.
CHEMICAL SOCIETY REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Myung-Gyun Baek, Sang-Geon Park
Summary: By introducing self-assembled monolayers, the performance of OLED devices can be improved, and the wetting properties, surface roughness, and work function of the ITO surface can be controlled. SAM-modified devices demonstrate better performance, including higher current density, brightness, and lower turn-on voltage.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Diana R. Fonseca, Ana Moura, Victoria Leiro, Ricardo Silva-Carvalho, Berta N. Estevinho, Catarina L. Seabra, Patricia C. Henriques, Monica Lucena, Catia Teixeira, Paula Gomes, Paula Parreira, M. Cristina L. Martins
Summary: The bioengineered approach of grafting MSI-78A onto chitosan microspheres enhances its bactericidal performance against Helicobacter pylori. The conjugation does not compromise the antimicrobial activity of MSI-78A and even boosts its effectiveness against H. pylori, making it a potential alternative for antibiotic therapy.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Joao Paulo Bras, Isabelle Guillot de Suduiraut, Olivia Zanoletti, Silvia Monari, Mandy Meijer, Jocelyn Grosse, Mario Adolfo Barbosa, Susana Gomes Santos, Carmen Sandi, Maria Ines Almeida
Summary: This study suggests that male rats with high-CORT stress responsiveness exhibit increased anhedonia and passive coping responses in adulthood following peripubertal stress exposure. Additionally, exposure to peripubertal stress leads to increased hippocampal TNF-alpha expression, which correlates with passive coping responses. Furthermore, peripubertal stress has long-term effects on hippocampal microglia, particularly in high-CORT stress-responsive rats.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Beatriz Lima, Maria J. Oliveira, Mario A. Barbosa, Raquel M. Goncalves, Flavia Castro
Summary: Cancer-related immunosuppression is a challenging aspect of cancer therapy. Biomaterials-based immunomodulatory therapies, such as chitosan and poly-gamma-glutamic acid, have the potential to reprogram innate immune cells in the tumor microenvironment and initiate T cell immune response against advanced cancers.
MATERIALS TODAY ADVANCES
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Rita M. Pinto, Catarina Leal Seabra, Martine De Jonge, M. Cristina L. Martins, Patrick Van Dijck, Salette Reis, Claudia Nunes
Summary: This study focuses on the development of a carrier nanosystem with bactericidal and matrix-disruptive agent targeted against Staphylococcus aureus biofilms. The results showed a strong antibiofilm activity of the developed nanosystems.
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Antonio Miguel Ramoa, Filipa Campos, Luis Moreira, Catia Teixeira, Victoria Leiro, Paula Gomes, Jose das Neves, M. Cristina L. Martins, Claudia Monteiro
Summary: This study explores the use of AMP grafting to PLGA-PEG NPs for wound infection treatment. The functionalized NPs show enhanced antibacterial activity in vivo, and do not exhibit cytotoxicity towards cells.
BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Rute Chitas, Claudia Nunes, Salette Reis, Paula Parreira, Maria Cristina L. Martins
Summary: Chronic infection with Helicobacter pylori is a major risk factor for gastric cancer. Blank nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) have shown potential for H. pylori eradication. Anionic NLC proved to be effective in completely clearing both rod and coccoid morphologies of H. pylori.
Article
Cell Biology
Maria Molinos, Morena F. Fiordalisi, Joana Caldeira, Catarina R. Almeida, Mario A. Barbosa, Raquel M. Goncalves
Summary: Aging is a major cause of intervertebral disc degeneration and low back pain. In this study, the main alterations in nucleus pulposus (NP) cells with aging were investigated using bovine coccygeal discs from young and old animals. The results showed that elderly NP cells exhibited upregulated expression of bIL-6 and bMMP1 genes, as well as decreased percentages of CD29+, CD44+, CD45+, and Tie2+ cells compared to young NP cells. However, the expression of GD2, CD146, Stro-1, and CD34 remained consistent with age. Morphological analysis also revealed that aging increased NP cell area, diameter, and vesicles. These findings provide insights into NP cell aging and identify potential targets for mitigating age-related disc diseases.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Daniela P. Vasconcelos, Madalena Costa, Joaquim L. Reis, Vasco S. Pinto, Ana B. Sousa, Artur P. aguas, Mario A. Barbosa, Judite N. Barbosa
Summary: This pilot study evaluated the feasibility of chitosan porous 3D scaffolds incorporated with resolvin D1 as an alternative to iliac bone autograft. The results showed that the chitosan scaffolds with resolvin D1 demonstrated potential in inhibiting inflammation and promoting new bone formation, suggesting their usefulness for bone tissue repair applications.
EUROPEAN SPINE JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Hematology
Quan D. M. Pham, Sharon M. Thomson, Burk N. Schaible, Kevin D. Mills, Anthony Atala, Christopher D. Porada, Graca Almeida-Porada
Summary: This study investigated the attitudes of individuals with haemophilia towards prenatal diagnosis and therapy. The results showed that most participants were willing to undergo prenatal diagnosis, and had concerns about lasting therapeutic efficacy, side effects, and procedural risks. However, they were likely to accept a wide range of prenatal therapeutic options if they were proven to be long-lasting and safe.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maura Cimino, Paula Parreira, Victoria Leiro, Aureliana Sousa, Raquel M. Goncalves, Cristina C. Barrias, M. Cristina L. Martins
Summary: Efforts have been made to optimize hMSC culture protocols by mimicking the cell physiological microenvironment. The use of pKL surfaces can improve hMSC adhesion and proliferation through selective binding of heparin and fibronectin.
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Sara Reis Moura, Jaime Freitas, Claudia Ribeiro-Machado, Jorge Lopes, Nuno Neves, Helena Canhao, Ana Maria Rodrigues, Mario Adolfo Barbosa, Maria Ines Almeida
Summary: This study decodes the regulatory network of the lncRNA H19 on the extracellular matrix (ECM) and reveals its impact on bone regeneration. Inhibition of H19 expression results in decreased ECM density and collagen content, and promotes adipogenic differentiation of bone marrow-derived stem cells. Furthermore, H19 is targeted by miR-29c, which is downregulated in osteoporotic bone tissue and affects MSC proliferation and collagen production. These findings suggest that H19 is a potential therapeutic target for controlling cell behavior and engineering the bone ECM.
STEM CELL RESEARCH & THERAPY
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Mariana Barbosa, Pedro M. Alves, Fabiola Costa, Claudia Monteiro, Paula Parreira, Catia Teixeira, Paula Gomes, Maria Cristina L. Martins
Summary: Surface immobilization of antimicrobial peptides is a promising strategy to prevent biofilm formation on biomaterials. This study demonstrates that direct surface immobilization of Dhvar5 peptide using copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition method improves antimicrobial activity of chitosan ultrathin coatings.
Review
Orthopedics
Catarina Leite Pereira, Sibylle Grad, Raquel M. Goncalves
Summary: Biomarkers in degenerative disc disease (DDD) have been poorly explored, but they have the potential to become objective and reliable indicators for assessing disease progression, pain levels, and pathology. They can aid in the diagnosis, prognosis, and management of therapeutic approaches for DDD.
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Yu-xian Lai, Jia-yin Fu, Shao-fei Wu, Ren-yun Li, Jia-qi Hu, You-xiang Wang, M. Cristina L. Martins, Ke-feng Ren, Jian Ji, Guo-sheng Fu
Summary: Drug-coated balloon (DCB) is a therapeutic method for delivering antiproliferative drugs without permanent implants. However, delayed reendothelialization leads to poor therapeutic effects. The proposed PrS/pDNA/RAPA coating effectively promotes endothelial repair and inhibits neointimal hyperplasia after balloon-induced vascular injuries.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY B
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Lin-Lin Luo, Jie Xu, Bing-Qiao Wang, Chen Chen, Xi Chen, Qiu-Mei Hu, Yu-Qiu Wang, Wan-Yun Zhang, Wan-Xiang Jiang, Xin-Ting Li, Hu Zhou, Xiao Xiao, Kai Zhao, Sen Lin
Summary: A novel AAV serotype, AAVYC5, introduced in this study, showed more efficient transduction into multiple retinal layers compared to AAV2, and enabled successful delivery of anti-angiogenic molecules in mice and non-human primates.