Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Barbara B. Mendes, Andrew C. Daly, Rui L. Reis, Rui M. A. Domingues, Manuela E. Gomes, Jason A. Burdick
Summary: By combining NorHA and PL, PL-NorHA hybrid hydrogels were fabricated to support cell adhesion with tailorable physicochemical properties. Microgels of PL-NorHA produced using microfluidic techniques exhibited sustained protein release and enabled the fabrication of stable 3D printed structures.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Claudio L. A. Berli, Martin G. Bellino
Summary: Developments in synthetic biology often involve the creation of individual artificial cells. However, an important aspect of living systems is the interaction between individuals, where living units can autonomously interact and display role differentiation, such as in the case of entities chasing each other. Additionally, droplets have become a valuable and exciting medium in modern microengineering and biomedical technologies. In this Perspective, we provide a brief discussion and outlook on different approaches to recreate predator-prey interactions in both swimmer and crawling droplet systems, aiming for a new generation of synthetic life with significant implications for fundamental insights and practical applications.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Jacek Jenczyk
Summary: This study analyzed and discussed two special tetrahedra packing clusters, diamond and double-diamond, which exhibit efficient space tiling strategies and remarkable packing densities. The structures demonstrate long range order with specific, repetitive structural motifs.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Siyuan Feng, Chen Meng, Yiyuan Liu, Yue Yi, Axin Liang, Yingyu Zhang, Zikai Hao
Summary: Depression and anxiety, common mental disorders, can be treated by regulating the gut microbiota composition using probiotics like Bacillus licheniformis. This study found that B. licheniformis reduced depressive-like and anxiety-like behaviors in rats by changing gut microbiota composition, increasing short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the colon, and altering neurotransmitter levels in the brain. The gut microbiome, specifically Parabacteroides, Anaerostipes, Ruminococcus-2, and Blautia, showed significant correlation with neurotransmitters and SCFAs, suggesting their important role in reducing depressive-like behaviors.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Yanfei Zhang, Liang Qi, Xiaomin Zhang, Qike Jiang, Peng Lu, Lei Xu, Alexis T. Bell
Summary: A unique method using urea-assisted dry-gel synthesis was employed to prepare sheet-like Silicalite-1 single crystals with intracrystalline macropores (HMS-Silicalite-1). These crystals exhibited enhanced catalytic performance compared to conventional Silicalite-1 and hierarchical macro/microporous Silicalite-1, making them highly efficient catalysts for diffusion-limited reactions.
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY FRONTIERS
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Seema Nandi, Emily Mihalko, Kimberly Nellenbach, Mario Castaneda, John Schneible, Mary Harp, Halston Deal, Michael Daniele, Stefano Menegatti, Thomas H. Barker, Ashley C. Brown
Summary: Native platelets play a crucial role in wound healing by promoting clotting at injury sites through GPIIb/IIIa receptor binding fibrin. Synthetic platelet-like particles have been developed to aid clotting in cases of poor platelet activity, and fibrin-binding peptides are explored as cost-effective alternatives to antibodies. Soft microgels decorated with fibrin-affine peptide are found to enhance clotting yield in vitro and decrease bleeding in vivo.
ADVANCED THERAPEUTICS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yucheng Dong, Yutai Wu, Xuyun Wang, Hui Wang, Jianwei Ren, Peng Wang, Lei Pan, Guoqiang Wang, Rongfang Wang
Summary: In this study, a biomimicry-inspired design of Ni3N/FeNi3N/NF nanoarrays with a fish scale-like structure was demonstrated, which allowed for rapid infiltration of aqueous solution within 60 ms and a 169 degrees bubble contact angle. The optimized Ni3N/FeNi3N/NF sample exhibited catalytic activity with low overpotentials for both the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the anodic-coupled urea oxidation reaction (UOR). Furthermore, the rapid bubble extraction within the nanoarrays ensured excellent cycling stability for HER over 100 hours at a current density of 50 mA cm(-2). The scale-up experiment indicated the potential for industrialized application of the prepared electrocatalysts.
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Yi Wolf Zhang, Nan Zheng, Danny Hung-Chieh Chou
Summary: Phage display is a useful tool for discovering therapeutic antibodies and proteins. This study developed a new method for displaying insulin-like peptides on M13 phage, addressing the challenges posed by insulin's complex structure. The method has potential for displaying other structurally complex proteins on phage.
ORGANIC & BIOMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Qiushi Sun, Hai Niu, Chengyu Wan, Xiuxian Yu, Yuda Zhu, Zeliang Wei, Shiyi Li, Yuman Dong, Guang Xin, Fan Li, Yilan Wang, Kun Zhang, Junhua Zhang, Boli Zhang, Wen Huang
Summary: Recent studies have shown that platelets may exhibit memory-like responses to pathogen stimulation, which can be mediated by the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and mitochondrial DNA methylation. These memory-like responses in platelets contribute to immune responses and play a protective role in arterial thrombosis.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Arne Lueken, Lucas Stuewe, Johannes Lohaus, John Linkhorst, Matthias Wessling
Summary: This study examines the behavior of soft particles during the formation and compression of filter cakes in microfluidic model systems. It identifies the importance of considering the compression history in describing filter cake morphology and its properties, bridging the gap between single colloid movements and the filtration process. The visualization of single-particle movements and compression phenomena helps understand how cake-specific permeation resistance and filtration efficiency are influenced.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zenon Toprakcioglu, Tuomas P. J. Knowles
Summary: This study presents a droplet-microfluidic strategy for generating asymmetric tubular-like microgels from reconstituted silk fibroin. The shear stress within the microchannel promotes surface protein aggregation, resulting in the asymmetric morphology of the microgels. By varying flow rates, the morphology of the microgels can be controlled, while the radius of curvature of the asymmetric microgels is correlated to the wall shear stress.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
The Anh Han
Summary: This paper presents a systematic study of the mechanisms of emergence and evolution of collective behaviors in dynamical Multi-Agent Systems (MAS) using Evolutionary Game Theory (EGT) and agent-based modeling and simulation (ABM) techniques. The research covers various aspects, including the introduction of cognitive and emotional mechanisms into MAS, cost-efficient interference for promoting prosocial behaviors in complex networks, regulation and governance of AI safety development ecology, and equilibrium analysis of random evolutionary multi-player games. This paper highlights the importance of EGT for modeling minds with machines and engineering prosocial behaviors in dynamical MAS.
Article
Psychiatry
Daniela Lichtman, Eyal Bergmann, Alexandra Kavushansky, Nadav Cohen, Nina S. Levy, Andrew P. Levy, Itamar Kahn
Summary: The research characterized the brain-wide structural volumetric and functional connectivity features of a mouse model with a mutation in the IQ domain of the IQSEC2 gene. Results showed that mice with the A350V mutation had increased whole-brain volume, predominantly in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, and potential alterations in the structure-function relations of the frontal, auditory, and visual networks. The study revealed increased functional connectivity between the anterior cingulate cortex and the dorsomedial striatum, which was correlated with individual variability in social behavior.
TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Duy T. Nguyen, Jack E. Famiglietti, Ryan A. Smolchek, Zadia Dupee, Nickolas Diodati, Diego Pedro, Juan M. Uruena, Matthew A. Schaller, W. Gregory Sawyer
Summary: A new cell culture platform has been developed, which utilizes a pump-free suction device for controlled perfusion of cell culture media, leading to more physiologically relevant cell culture models. This platform has demonstrated versatile applications, including the culture of cellular spheroids and the maintenance of tissue microexplants with high viability and prolonged contractility.
Article
Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism
Patricia Santateresa-Bernat, Isabel Sanchez-Garcia, Rafael Curras-Perez
Summary: This research examines the impact of influencers on tourists' behavioral intentions, taking into account how tourists process persuasive information and the relationship between vloggers and recipients. By applying three theories, an online survey was conducted with 412 subjects, confirming that tourists' future behaviors towards a destination are influenced by their attitudes towards vloggers' messages, which depends on the perceived usefulness of the message and the vlogger's credibility.
CURRENT ISSUES IN TOURISM
(2022)
Article
Mechanics
Fatima Ezahra Chrit, Samuel Bowie, Alexander Alexeev
Article
Polymer Science
Molla R. Islam, Chelsey Nguy, Sanika Pandit, Louis Andrew Lyon
MACROMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2020)
Article
Mechanics
Ersan Demirer, Yu-Cheng Wang, Alper Erturk, Alexander Alexeev
Summary: This study investigates the effects of two distinct actuation methods on the hydrodynamics of elastic rectangular plates. Experiments and simulations showed that externally actuated plates outperform internally actuated ones in terms of thrust production and hydrodynamic efficiency. The inertia coefficient strongly depends on the tip deflection amplitude and the Reynolds number, especially for larger amplitudes.
JOURNAL OF FLUID MECHANICS
(2021)
Article
Mechanics
Ki Tae Wolf, J. Brandon Dixon, Alexander Alexeev
Summary: The study found that valves significantly improve pumping efficiency in biomimetic lymphatic systems, especially when pumping against adverse pressure gradients and at low vessel contraction wave speeds. However, the presence of valves also increases viscous resistance, requiring greater work. Optimal valve elasticity can maximize pumping flow rate.
JOURNAL OF FLUID MECHANICS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Yueyi Sun, David R. Myers, Svetoslav V. Nikolov, Oluwamayokun Oshinowo, John Baek, Samuel M. Bowie, Tamara P. Lambert, Eric Woods, Yumiko Sakurai, Wilbur A. Lam, Alexander Alexeev
Summary: Researchers discovered that platelets utilize a new emergent behavior, asynchrono-mechanical amplification, to enhance material contraction and magnify contractile forces. This behavior, triggered by the heterogeneity in the timing of a population of actuators, indicates that cell heterogeneity plays an essential biophysical function in cell-matrix biomaterials.
Article
Mechanics
Ersan Demirer, Oluwafikayo A. Oshinowo, Alexander Alexeev
Summary: The study shows that by adjusting the phase difference between external and internal actuation, the thrust and swimming velocity of the propulsor can be regulated while maintaining high efficiency. The hybrid propulsor outperforms propulsors with single actuation methods, maintaining large tip displacement and reduced center-of-mass displacement.
JOURNAL OF FLUID MECHANICS
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Molla R. Islam, Rachel Nguyen, Louis Andrew Lyon
Summary: The study found that ultra-soft microgels with extremely low crosslinking can form stable colloidal packing under controlled osmotic pressure, and coexistence of hexagonal and square lattices can also be observed in lower ranges. The unique packing behavior is attributed to the extreme softness of these particles, which lead to deformation and shrinking during deswelling, resulting in packing states governed by contributions to the entropy at various levels. Further experimental and theoretical studies are needed for a complete understanding of the behavior of ultra-soft microgels in packed and confined geometries.
MACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nicholas E. Stone, Abhishek Raj, Katherine M. Young, Adam P. DeLuca, Fatima Ezahra Chrit, Budd A. Tucker, Alexander Alexeev, John McDonald, Benedict B. Benigno, Todd Sulchek
Summary: Isolating a patient's metastatic cancer cells is crucial for personalized medicine treatment; traditional approaches select treatments based on histological classification of cancerous tissue, while personalized medicine analyzes a patient's own cancer cells for effective treatments.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Fatima Ezahra Chrit, Abhishek Raj, Katherine M. Young, Nicholas E. Stone, Peter G. Shankles, Kesiharjun Lokireddy, Christopher Flowers, Edmund K. Waller, Alexander Alexeev, Todd Sulchek
Summary: The study utilized a microfluidic device as a high-sensitivity sensor to accurately detect cell viability by transducing cell biomechanics to separation. Different angles of the ridges were evaluated to optimize cell separation and identification. Furthermore, the use of principal component analysis improved the accuracy of cell state identification by clustering populations with little overlap between viable and nonviable cells, enabling efficient cell sorting and label-free viability sensing.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jocelyn Loo, Ian Sicher, Ailin Goff, Ockchul Kim, Nicole Clary, Alexander Alexeev, Todd Sulchek, Alla Zamarayeva, Sewoon Han, Miguel Calero-Garcia
Summary: This study demonstrates efficient mRNA delivery using a novel microfluidic device, which can be applied in a wide range of human primary cell types for gene therapy without negatively impacting T cell function.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yueyi Sun, Oluwamayokun Oshinowo, David R. Myers, Wilbur A. Lam, Alexander Alexeev
Summary: Blood clot contraction plays a crucial role in wound healing and hemostasis. This study investigates the relationship between single platelet forces and macroscopic clot forces, providing insights into blood disorders associated with bleeding and thrombosis. The findings contribute to the development of platelet-based biomaterials and facilitate the understanding of clotting mechanisms.
Article
Mechanics
Ersan Demirer, Oluwafikayo A. Oshinowo, Alper Erturk, Alexander Alexeev
Summary: Using fluid-structure interaction computational modelling, this study investigates the hydrodynamic performance of bio-inspired elastic propulsors with tapered thickness that oscillate in an incompressible Newtonian fluid at Reynolds number Re = 2000. The simulations reveal that the tapered propulsors can outperform uniformly thick propulsors in terms of hydrodynamic efficiency and thrust by modulating the acoustic black hole effect. This enhanced performance is linked to the ability of the tapered propulsors to generate travelling waves with a large amplitude displacement at the trailing edge.
JOURNAL OF FLUID MECHANICS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Ki Tae Wolf, Amir Poorghani, J. Brandon Dixon, Alexander Alexeev
Summary: This study numerically investigates peristaltic fluid pumping in a vessel with one-way elastic valves that are spaced relative to the contraction wavelength. It is found that matching the valve spacing to the wavelength is critical for efficient pumping. When the spacing does not match, asynchronous valve opening leads to periodic changes in the volume of vessel segments, resulting in volumetric fluid pumping. This volumetric pumping enhances the flowrate and efficiency against adverse pressure gradients, with the optimum pumping occurring at a valve spacing to contraction wavelength ratio of about 2/3. These findings provide insight into biomimetic pumping devices and contribute to understanding the pumping features of the lymphatic system.
BIOINSPIRATION & BIOMIMETICS
(2023)
Article
Mechanics
Fatima Ezahra Chrit, Joshua Barton, Todd Sulchek, Alexander Alexeev
Summary: Sorting biological cells in heterogeneous cell populations is essential for various biomedical applications and therapeutics. Microfluidic methods, specifically those utilizing ridged microchannels, are a promising approach for label-free cell sorting based on biophysical properties. In this study, we use computational modeling to investigate cell sorting based on cell stiffness in ridged microchannels with shear thinning fluid. Our results demonstrate that shear thinning fluids can significantly improve the resolution of stiffness-based cell sorting compared to Newtonian fluids, and this enhancement is explained by analyzing hydrodynamic forces acting on cells during interactions with the microchannel ridges.
Article
Biophysics
Yueyi Sun, Hoyean Le, Wilbur A. Lam, Alexander Alexeev
Summary: Blood clot contraction is a crucial process in blood clotting, and its mechanics and dynamics are influenced by multiple factors. This study uses a computational model to investigate the interactions between fibrin mesh and platelets during clot contraction, as well as the impact of red blood cells on clot contraction.
BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2023)