Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Radu Hristu, Stefan G. Stanciu, Adrian Dumitru, Bogdan Paun, Iustin Floroiu, Mariana Costache, George A. Stanciu
Summary: Second harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy is a powerful tool for tissue characterization and diagnostics in medicine, particularly for mapping collagen structure for diagnosis. The study found that H&E staining affects the extraction and use of image parameters specific to polarization-resolved SHG microscopy, potentially leading to different analysis results and impacting diagnostic accuracy.
BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Emilie Gachon, Patrick Mesquida
Summary: Collagen fibrils exhibit a surface charge dependency on longitudinal strain, becoming more positive within 10% strain and more negative between 10% to 17% strain. This change is correlated with fibril stiffness and may be influenced by structural rearrangements. Kelvin-probe force microscopy testing on fibrils attached to an extensible, thin polymer film allows for the determination of electrical surface potential.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Elsie Quansah, Tanveer Ahmed Shaik, Ecehan Cevik, Xinyue Wang, Christiane Hoeppener, Tobias Meyer-Zedler, Volker Deckert, Michael Schmitt, Juergen Popp, Christoph Krafft
Summary: This study investigated the structural and biochemical changes induced by pentosidine (PENT) crosslinks in glycated tissues using multimodal multiphoton imaging, Raman spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The results showed that the non-centrosymmetry loss of collagen led to a decrease in second harmonic generation (SHG) signal intensity, while the PENT crosslinks caused an increase in two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) signal intensity. Raman spectroscopy was able to detect collagen-related changes and differentiate glycated from untreated tissues.
ANALYTICAL AND BIOANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
MacAulay Harvey, Richard Cisek, Mehdi Alizadeh, Virginijus Barzda, Laurent Kreplak, Danielle Tokarz
Summary: We investigate the structure of individual collagen fibrils using polarization-resolved SHG (PSHG) microscopy and atomic force microscopy. By comparing numerical simulations to experimental data, we estimate parameters related to the structure and chirality of the collagen fibril without tilting the sample or cutting tissue at different angles, enabling chirality measurements on individual nanostructures in standard PSHG microscopes. This technique can also be applied to other chiral nanoscale structures such as microtubules, nanowires, and nanoribbons.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Mohammad Javad Sadeghinia, Bjorn Skallerud, Gerhard A. Holzapfel, Victorien Prot
Summary: This study examines the collagen fiber structure and mechanical properties of mitral valve leaflets using second harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy and planar biaxial mechanical testing. The results show that the orientation and dispersion of collagen fibers vary across the thickness of the leaflets. A constitutive model based on the generalized structure tensor approach is used to represent the tissue behavior, and it accurately predicts the biomechanical response of the leaflets.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Arwa Bazaid, Fengyuan Zhang, Qiancheng Zhang, Sabine Neumayer, Denise Denning, Stefan Habelitz, Ana Marina Ferreira, Brian J. Rodriguez
Summary: Since the discovery of piezoelectricity in bone in 1957, there has been a debate about the functional role of collagen piezoelectricity. The investigation of piezoelectricity in collagen has generated interest in bone remodeling, but there are conflicting reports about its presence in a humid environment. This study used lateral piezoresponse force microscopy to investigate the electromechanical properties of type I collagen from a rat tail tendon at the nanoscale, and found that collagen retains its piezoelectric behavior even in a biologically relevant humidity range.
Article
Oncology
Danielle E. Desa, Wencheng Wu, Robert M. Brown, Edward B. Brown, Robert L. Hill, Bradley M. Turner, Edward B. Brownn
Summary: This study assessed the impact of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on tumor collagen in breast cancer patients. The results showed that chemotherapy affects tumor extracellular collagen in a subtype-specific manner and alters some prognostic signatures. This may have implications for the clinical utility of these signatures.
Article
Orthopedics
A. N. Jambor, E. M. Shelton, R. Kijowski, C. R. Henak, P. J. Campagnola
Summary: The study effectively demonstrated the disorganized collagen structure resulting from trypsin and collagenase degradation in cartilage, with collagenase showing the most significant effect. Application of a LD model successfully classified control and degraded tissues, indicating distinct activity of these enzymes on collagen assembly. Results from human cartilage suggested that collagenase effects were more representative of in vivo degeneration, emphasizing the potential of using high-resolution SHG and optical scattering as an earlier diagnostic tool for OA.
OSTEOARTHRITIS AND CARTILAGE
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Katarzyna Fidecka, Nicola Rotiroti, Jessica Giacoboni, Fernando Camara, Matthieu Refregiers, Riccardo Vago, Emanuela Licandro, Frederic Jamme
Summary: This study reports the characterization of nonfluorescent halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) using multiphoton microscopy and reveals the discovery of the SH signal generated by HNTs at the nanoscale level. The study sheds light on the understanding of the signal's generation from the nanoparticle's aluminosilicate skeleton and suggests potential technological applications of HNTs in various domains.
ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yanan Sun, Lishuang Li, Shuhua Ma, Gaiying He, Weifeng Yang, Yi Wang
Summary: The transdermal administration of collagen is an important method for wound healing and skin regeneration. This study presents a novel approach that combines second-harmonic generation with two-photon excited fluorescence to visualize the dynamics of collagen transdermal absorption in vivo. The findings were validated through traditional in vitro skin scanning and histological examination.
FRONTIERS IN CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Optics
Xiang Li, Wenhui Yu, Rui Hu, Junle Qu, Liwei Liu
Summary: We propose an off-axis interferometry-based polarization-sensitive second-harmonic generation microscopy (OI-PSHG) by recording the complex field of a wide-field SHG image and performing polarization measurements. The method allows for simultaneous recording of SHG signals associated with different positions, resulting in a higher imaging frame rate compared to raster scanning-based SHG microscopy. This work lays the foundation for fast SHG microscopy using complex deconvolution and harmonic tomography, offering the ability to perform wide-field imaging and polarization measurements.
Article
Dermatology
Mercedes Sendin-Martin, Jasmine Posner, Ucalene Harris, Matthew Moronta, Julian Conejo-Mir Sanchez, Sushmita Mukherjee, Milind Rajadhyaksha, Kivanc Kose, Manu Jain
Summary: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common skin cancer, and non-invasive in vivo technologies such as multiphoton microscopy (MPM) can aid in diagnosing and prognosticating these tumors. This study explored the potential of MPM to differentiate collagen changes associated with different BCC subtypes compared to normal skin structures and benign lesions. The results showed that collagen distribution is more aligned surrounding BCCs nests compared to normal structures and benign lesions, and collagen is orientated more parallelly surrounding indolent BCC subtypes versus those with aggressive behavior.
EXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Francois Aguillon, Andrei G. Borisov
Summary: In this work, the impact of atomic scale lattice imperfections on the nonlinear response of graphene nanoflakes enhanced by resonance between electromagnetic fields and localized plasmon is investigated theoretically. Using the many-body time-dependent density matrix approach, it is found that a single defect in nanoflakes with thousands of carbon atoms can significantly affect the nonlinear hyperpolarizability and override symmetry constraints. This effect cannot be captured by the relaxation time approximation in quantum or classical frameworks. The results of this study have important implications for the design of nonlinear graphene devices.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chenshuang Zhang, Fangrui Lin, Yong Zhang, Haozhi Yang, Danying Lin, Jun He, Changrui Liao, Xiaoyu Weng, Liwei Liu, Yiping Wang, Bin Yu, Junle Qu
Summary: MSIM-SHG is a novel approach that combines second-harmonic generation (SHG) with multifocal structured illumination microscopy (MSIM) to achieve super-resolution imaging. It has wide applications in imaging material molecules and quantifying collagen fiber alignment, showing potential for clinical diagnosis and biological research.
Article
Biology
Hideaki Fujita, Junichi Kaneshiro, Maki Takeda, Kensuke Sasaki, Rikako Yamamoto, Daiki Umetsu, Erina Kuranaga, Shuichiro Higo, Takumi Kondo, Yoshihiro Asano, Yasushi Sakata, Shigeru Miyagawa, Tomonobu M. Watanabe
Summary: Estimating dynamic changes in crossbridge formation in living cardiomyocytes is important for understanding cardiomyopathy mechanisms and assessing interventions. In this study, a system was established to measure second harmonic generation (SHG) anisotropy derived from myosin filaments and their crossbridge status. The method was applied to evaluate the effects of an inheritable mutation and ultraviolet irradiation on crossbridge formation and myocardial function. The study demonstrated the applicability and effectiveness of this method in assessing actomyosin activity in cardiomyocytes and its potential in risk assessment for future heart failure.
LIFE SCIENCE ALLIANCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Francesca Giulimondi, Erica Quagliarini, Luca Digiacomo, Serena Renzi, Valentina Palmieri, Massimiliano Papi, Daniela Pozzi, Giulio Caracciolo
Summary: This article discusses the impact of interoperator variability and the use of automated systems on biomolecular corona studies, and investigates the effects of molecular crowding and washing the pellet during corona isolation in nanoparticle-biofluid incubation. The findings are believed to be important for improving the accuracy of experimental design and reporting.
PARTICLE & PARTICLE SYSTEMS CHARACTERIZATION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Valentina Palmieri, Francesco Amato, Andrea Giacomo Marrani, Ginevra Friggeri, Giordano Perini, Alberto Augello, Marco De Spirito, Massimiliano Papi
Summary: Graphene Oxide (GO) is an oxidized form of graphene that contains various oxygen functional groups. The solubility of GO in water makes it an ideal material in the biomedical field, but the synthesis methods used can affect the balance of oxygen groups and the impact on cells. Spectroscopic techniques are commonly used to characterize GO, but they have limitations in indicating its reactivity with polymers or biological media. In this study, a colorimetric method based on GO's reactivity with copper ions was developed to evaluate the oxidation degree and accessibility of polymeric samples. This technique will be crucial for scaffold characterization in tissue engineering and studying interactions between GO-related materials and biological entities.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Massimiliano Papi, Marco De Spirito, Valentina Palmieri
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted collaboration between nanotechnology scientists, industry stakeholders, and clinicians to find solutions for SARS-CoV-2 infections. Carbon-based materials (CBM) like graphene and carbon nanotubes have shown potential in viral research due to their unique effects on microorganisms and immune interaction. This review explores the interaction of CBM with SARS-CoV-2, including their physical and chemical properties, known interactions with viral components, and potential applications in prevention, treatment, and diagnostics.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Damon Fard, Erika Testa, Valentina Panzeri, Sabrina Rizzolio, Giada Bianchetti, Virginia Napolitano, Silvia Masciarelli, Francesco Fazi, Giuseppe Maulucci, Bianca Maria Scicchitano, Claudio Sette, Maria Teresa Viscomi, Luca Tamagnone
Summary: Transmembrane semaphorins are signaling molecules that control axonal wiring and embryo development and are increasingly implicated in human diseases. The poorly understood member of this family, Sema6C, has been found to play a functional role in cancer cells, supporting their viability and growth. Mechanistically, Sema6C activates a signaling pathway mediated by tyrosine kinases c-Abl and Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK), leading to cell senescence and the activation of autophagy.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Alessio Abeltino, Giada Bianchetti, Cassandra Serantoni, Alessia Riente, Marco De Spirito, Giuseppe Maulucci
Summary: Nutrition is a crucial aspect of medicine, affecting various health conditions. Digital medicine utilizes digital twins, which are replicas of human physiology, to prevent and treat diseases. This study compared different models for the deployment of Personalized Metabolic Avatars, with GRUs and LSTMs showing the best predictive performance and acceptable computational times. The Transformer model did not significantly improve predictive performance but increased computational time, while the SARIMAX model had the best computational time but worst predictive performance.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Davide Pierangeli, Giordano Perini, Valentina Palmieri, Ivana Grecco, Ginevra Friggeri, Marco De Spirito, Massimiliano Papi, Eugenio DelRe, Claudio Conti
Summary: The authors discovered that tumor-cell spheroids exhibit optical rogue waves under randomly modulated laser beam illumination. The intensity of transmitted light follows a Weibull statistical distribution, with extreme events corresponding to localized optical modes propagating within the cell network. These nonlinear optical filaments form high-transmission channels and can be used to achieve controlled temperature increase. This study sheds light on optical propagation in biological aggregates and demonstrates the potential of using rogue waves in biomedical applications.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Giada Bianchetti, Flavio De Maio, Alessio Abeltino, Cassandra Serantoni, Alessia Riente, Giulia Santarelli, Maurizio Sanguinetti, Giovanni Delogu, Roberta Martinoli, Silvia Barbaresi, Marco De Spirito, Giuseppe Maulucci
Summary: The human gut microbiome plays a significant role in human health and disease development. Recent advancements in technology have allowed for a better understanding of its composition and functions. Diet, specifically, has been found to shape the gut microbiome, affecting its diversity, population size, and metabolism. Personalized nutrition, based on individual characteristics, has shown promise in directly impacting the gut microbiome. Longitudinal studies are necessary to fully comprehend the long-term effects of specific diets and food components on the gut microbiome, as well as the variations between individuals. Accurate methods of collecting dietary data and the application of machine learning techniques hold immense potential in understanding the gut microbiome's response to diet and providing tailored lifestyle recommendations.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Francesco Amato, Giordano Perini, Ginevra Friggeri, Alberto Augello, Alessandro Motta, Leonardo Giaccari, Robertino Zanoni, Marco De Spirito, Valentina Palmieri, Andrea Giacomo Marrani, Massimiliano Papi
Summary: Graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide are widely used carbon nanomaterials in biomedicine. However, the hydrophobic behavior of reduced graphene oxide limits its stability in biological media. In this study, sodium ascorbate is used as a reducing agent to prepare reduced graphene oxide with improved stability and suitability for applications in cell culture media.
ADVANCED MATERIALS INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Alessia Riente, Alessio Abeltino, Cassandra Serantoni, Giada Bianchetti, Marco De Spirito, Stefano Capezzone, Rosita Esposito, Giuseppe Maulucci
Summary: We developed a non-invasive device that evaluates personalized chewing styles by analyzing various aspects. The device provides valuable insights into personalized chewing profiles and could modify unhealthy chewing habits.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Roberto Matassa, Marta Gatti, Martina Crociati, Roberto Brunelli, Ezio Battaglione, Massimiliano Papi, Marco De Spirito, Stefania Annarita Nottola, Giuseppe Familiari
Summary: The ability of branched glycoprotein filaments to change their hierarchical organization through external stimuli expands understanding of self-assembling strategies that can rearrange networks. This research focuses on the morpho-structural changes of the zona pellucida and its self-assembled filament networks, revealing controlled levels of structured organizations during different stages of oocyte development. The changes are regulated by the nanostructured polymorphisms of the branched filaments and controlled by self-extension/-contraction/-bending processes.