Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rikhia Ghosh, Vahid Satarifard, Reinhard Lipowsky
Summary: During endocytosis, cellular membranes engulf nanoparticles and form a closed membrane neck that undergoes fission. This process has been studied extensively for solid nanoparticles and recently observed for liquid and condensate droplets. Molecular dynamics simulations show that both partial and complete engulfment result in two different endocytic pathways, with the shape of the membrane neck playing a crucial role.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mitisha Surana, Ganesh Ananthakrishnan, Matthew M. Poss, Jad Jean Yaacoub, Kaihao Zhang, Tusher Ahmed, Nikhil Chandra Admal, Pascal Pochet, Harley T. Johnson, Sameh Tawfick
Summary: The study investigates the impact of interfacial interaction between 2D materials and the substrate on the electronic properties, and quantitatively analyzes the orientation-dependent facet topographies observed on graphene using electron backscatter diffraction and atomic force microscopy. Molecular simulations reveal that apart from anisotropic interfacial energy, graphene strain plays a critical role in forming the observed topographies. These findings are also applicable to other 2D/3D heterostructures.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Caihao Qiu, Marco Salvalaglio, David J. Srolovitz, Jian Han
Summary: An intrinsic feature of crystalline systems is the presence of disconnections, which strongly affect the morphology and motion of interfaces. These elastic interactions modify equilibrium interface morphologies compared to surface energy and affect interface kinetics, leading to a faceting-defaceting transition.
Review
Cell Biology
Elisa Maricchiolo, Eleonora Panfili, Andrea Pompa, Francesca De Marchis, Michele Bellucci, Maria Teresa Pallotta
Summary: In eukaryotes, there are multiple unconventional protein secretion (UPS) pathways that enable proteins to be secreted outside the cell through different mechanisms, allowing them to perform various extracellular functions. This review provides an overview of the currently identified UPS pathways in mammals and plants, highlighting their similarities and differences.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ping Zhou, Yushun Liu, Guo-zhen Zhu
Summary: This study reveals the complex periodic faceting of TiO2 rutile nanowires and its dependence on nanowire width, providing new insights into the morphological control of nanowires.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tom Hoefken, Christian Strauch, Stefanie Schneider, Andrea Scotti
Summary: Particle size disparities can inhibit crystallization, but soft deformable nanogels have the ability to change the size of larger particles and crystallize even with high initial size-polydispersity. Experimental results using neutron scattering with contrast variation show an increase in the parameter describing size-polydispersity for individual nanogels in crowded environments, which is often interpreted as deformation. Computer simulations confirm this qualitative increase of the parameter with increasing particle deformation. Furthermore, the analysis reveals that the size disparities between nanogels do not significantly increase, but their shapes vary greatly.
Review
Cell Biology
Jiaying Yang, Mei Yang, Yingtong Wang, Jicheng Sun, Yiran Liu, Ling Zhang, Baofeng Guo
Summary: The cGAS-STING pathway plays an important role in tumor survival, shaping the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, and tumor cell progression.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Ireth Garcia-Aguilar, Piermarco Fonda, Eli Sloutskin, Luca Giomi
Summary: Emulsion droplets stabilized by a frozen interface of alkane molecules and surfactants undergo morphological transformations from spheres to faceted icosahedra under the influence of gravity and the spontaneous curvature of the frozen interface.
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Minoru Kurisu, Ryosuke Katayama, Yuka Sakuma, Toshihiro Kawakatsu, Peter Walde, Masayuki Imai
Summary: In this study, a synthetic minimal cell consisting of energy production, information polymer synthesis, and vesicle reproduction is synthesized. By converting supplied ingredients to energy currencies, the synthesis of an information polymer is triggered, with the vesicle membrane acting as a template. The information polymer promotes membrane growth, allowing the vesicles to undergo recursive reproduction.
COMMUNICATIONS CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sagi Hacmon, Shir R. R. Liber, Lee Shool, Alexander V. V. Butenko, Ayelet Atkins, Eli Sloutskin
Summary: Adding long-chain alcohols to the bulk of oil-in-water emulsion droplets can adjust the temperature at which they undergo a phase transition, leading to significant changes in their interfacial structures. The self-assembly of mixed alcohol:alkane interfacial structures, consisting of stacked alkane layers co-crystallized with hydrogen-bonded alcohol dimers, was found to maximize the phase transition temperature. This discovery, supported by theoretical modeling and direct cryogenic transmission electron microscopy, highlights the tunability of important properties in emulsions through minute concentrations of specific additives.
Review
Emergency Medicine
Bowen Yang, Yumeng Lin, Yibo Huang, Nanxi Zhu, Ying-Qiang Shen
Summary: This review summarizes the recent advances in the application and regulation mechanisms of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in wound healing. EVs can promote wound healing and reduce scar formation by modulating multiple signaling pathways. Furthermore, there are challenges and opportunities in engineering or modifying EVs to enhance their efficacy and specificity in wound healing.
Article
Biophysics
Jason M. Warner, Dong An, Benjamin S. Stratton, Ben O'Shaughnessy
Summary: Membrane fusion is a critical step in many essential processes, but its mechanisms are poorly understood. Protein-free fusion driven by calcium or other cations has provided a simplified model, but the pathway selection mechanism remains unknown. A mathematical model developed in this study identifies a highly dynamic hemifusion complex as the network hub. The fate of this complex determines the outcome of fusion, hemifusion, or vesicle lysis.
BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Izumi Yanatori, Fumio Kishi, Shinya Toyokuni
Summary: Ferritin is a protein for storing iron and is secreted from cells via extracellular vesicles or autophagy pathway. It functions as an iron-carrier protein in the extracellular environment and can suppress ferroptosis by secreting holo-ferritin.
ARCHIVES OF BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Physics, Applied
Yiwen Zhang, Chuan Zhou, Ying Zhu, Guangrui (Maggie) Xia, Lei Li, Rui-Tao Wen
Summary: Surface thermal annealing can be used to evaluate the threading dislocation densities in heteroepitaxial layers, and the origin of thermal pits induced by annealing was found to be the activation of threading dislocations.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Maija Puhka, Lisse Thierens, Daniel Nicorici, Tarja Forsman, Tuomas Mirtti, Taija af Haellstroem, Elina Serkkola, Antti Rannikko
Summary: Prostate cancer lacks non-invasive specific biomarkers for aggressive disease. This study focuses on urinary extracellular vesicles (uEV) as potential biomarkers. The results show that uEV carry a comprehensive presentation of differentially expressed miRNAs, target mRNAs, and pathogenesis pathways associated with prostate cancer status and progression.
Article
Biophysics
Tao Zhang, Rastko Sknepnek, M. J. Bowick, J. M. Schwarz
BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2015)
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Rastko Sknepnek, Silke Henkes
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Duanduan Wan, Mark J. Bowick, Rastko Sknepnek
Article
Chemistry, Physical
D. A. Matoz-Fernandez, Kirsten Martens, Rastko Sknepnek, J. L. Barrat, Silke Henkes
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Daniel L. Barton, Silke Henkes, Cornelis J. Weijer, Rastko Sknepnek
PLOS COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY
(2017)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Silke Henkes, Kaja Kostanjevec, J. Martin Collinson, Rastko Sknepnek, Eric Bertin
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2020)
Article
Engineering, Mechanical
Aashrith Saraswathibhatla, Silke Henkes, Emmett E. Galles, Rastko Sknepnek, Jacob Notbohm
Summary: The study found that in an epithelial monolayer, cells coordinate motion with their neighbors to form collectively moving packs, where the time persistence and alignment of traction forces are crucial factors controlling pack size. Experimental results combined with numerical simulations revealed that without alignment of traction between neighboring cells, the size of the collective cell pack would be substantially smaller.
EXTREME MECHANICS LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Sijie M. Tong, Navreeta K. Singh, Rastko M. Sknepnek, Andrej Kosmrlj
Summary: Epithelial tissues exhibit complex viscoelastic rheological behavior, where cells can actively tune their mechanical properties to change the overall response of the tissue. This study systematically investigated the shear and bulk responses of epithelia in both fluid and solid phases using small oscillatory shear and bulk deformations. The findings suggest that the solid-fluid transition can be controlled by applying pre-deformation to the system.
PLOS COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Rastko Sknepnek, Ilyas Djafer-Cherif, Manli Chuai, Cornelis Weijer, Silke Henkes
Summary: Convergence-extension in embryos is regulated by chemical and mechanical signaling through T1 transitions. A model with positive feedback between myosin motors recruitment and mechanical tension in cell junctions is proposed and analyzed. The model generates active T1 events, resulting in tissue elongation perpendicular to the main direction of tissue stress. Our findings demonstrate that active intercalations activate T1 events and cause tension-dependent tissue reorganization, consistent with experiments on gastrulation in chick embryos.
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Sijie Tong, Rastko Sknepnek, Andrej Kosmrlj
Summary: We use the normal mode formalism to study the shear rheology of the vertex model for epithelial tissue mechanics. We consider systems with external and internal dissipation mechanisms, and derive expressions for stresses on cells due to mechanical and dissipative forces. The semi-analytical method developed here can be directly applied to study the linear response of a broad class of soft matter systems.
PHYSICAL REVIEW RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
D. A. Matoz-Fernandez, Fordyce A. Davidson, Nicola R. Stanley-Wall, Rastko Sknepnek
PHYSICAL REVIEW RESEARCH
(2020)
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Silke Henkes, M. Cristina Marchetti, Rastko Sknepnek
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
K. R. Prathyusha, Silke Henkes, Rastko Sknepnek
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Emily R. Russell, Rastko Sknepnek, Mark Bowick
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Mark J. Bowick, Andrej Kosmrlj, David R. Nelson, Rastko Sknepnek
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yiping Yin, Zhe Wang, Hua Zou
Summary: This study presents a novel method for preparing dimpled polymer-silica nanocomposite particles using interfacial swelling-based seeded polymerization. The optimized conditions allow for a relatively high percentage of dimpled particles to be achieved.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Brenden D. Hoehn, Elizabeth A. Kellstedt, Marc A. Hillmyer
Summary: Porous materials with nanometer-scale pores have important applications as nanoporous membranes. In this study, ABA triblock copolymers were used as precursors to produce nanoporous polymeric membranes (NPMs) in thin film form by degrading the end blocks. Polycyclooctene (PCOE) NPMs with tunable pore sizes were successfully prepared using solvent casting technique. Oxygen plasma etching was employed to improve the surface porosity and hydrophilicity of the membranes. This study provides a straightforward method to produce tough NPMs with high porosity and hydrophilic surface properties.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Vladislav S. Petrovskii, Stepan I. Zholudev, Igor I. Potemkin
Summary: This article investigates the behavior of linear and ring polypeptide chains in aqueous solution and explores the properties of the complexes formed by these chains with oppositely charged surfactants. The results demonstrate that the complexes of linear supercharged unfolded polypeptides and the corresponding surfactants exhibit impressive adhesive properties.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Merve Cevik, Serkan Dikici
Summary: Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of death globally, and vascular grafts are a promising treatment option. This study focuses on tissue-engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs) using decellularized parsley stems as a potential biomaterial. The decellularized parsley stems showed suitable properties for TEVGs, providing a suitable environment for human endothelial cells to form a pseudo endothelium. This study showcases the potential of using parsley stems for TEVGs.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Gustavo A. Vasquez-Montoya, Tadej Emersic, Noe Atzin, Antonio Tavera-Vazquez, Ali Mozaffari, Rui Zhang, Orlando Guzman, Alexey Snezhko, Paul F. Nealey, Juan J. de Pablo
Summary: The optical properties of liquid crystals are typically controlled by electric fields. In this study, we investigate the effects of microfluidic flows and acoustic fields on the molecular orientation and optical response of nematic liquid crystals. We identify several previously unknown structures and explain them through calculations and simulations. These findings hold promise for the development of new systems combining sound, flow, and confinement.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xinjun Wu, Xin Guan, Shushu Chen, Jiangpeng Jia, Chongyi Chen, Jiawei Zhang, Chuanzhuang Zhao
Summary: This research presents a novel shape memory hydrogel with a remodelable permanent shape and programmable cold-induced shape recovery behavior. The hydrogel is prepared using specific treatment methods to achieve shape fixation by heating and shape recovery by cooling. Additionally, deformable devices can be obtained by assembling hydrogel blocks with different concentrations.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Rebecca Hengsbach, Gerhard Fink, Ulrich Simon
Summary: This study examines the properties of DNA functionalized pNipmam microgels and pure pNipmam microgels at different concentrations of sodium chloride and in PBS solutions using temperature dependent H-1-NMR measurements. The results show that DNA modification affects the volume phase transition temperature and the addition of salt and PBS further enhances this effect.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ningyi Li, Junhong Li, Lijingting Qing, Shicheng Ma, Yao Li, Baohui Li
Summary: This paper investigates the self-assembly behavior of colloids with competing interactions under spherical confinement and finds that different ordered structures can be formed under different sized spherical confinements. Moreover, more perforated structures are formed in smaller spheres.