Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Avinoam Bar-Zion, Atousa Nourmahnad, David R. Mittelstein, Shirin Shivaei, Sangjin Yoo, Marjorie T. Buss, Robert C. Hurt, Dina Malounda, Mohamad H. Abedi, Audrey Lee-Gosselin, Margaret B. Swift, David Maresca, Mikhail G. Shapiro
Summary: Recent advancements in molecular engineering and synthetic biology have enabled the development of biomolecular and cell-based therapies with high molecular specificity, but limited spatiotemporal control. Gas vesicles, a genetically encodable air-filled protein nanostructure, can be engineered to deliver potent mechanical effects at specific locations inside the body through ultrasound-induced inertial cavitation. This capability has potential applications in remotely actuated cell-killing and tissue-disrupting agents, demonstrating the therapeutic potential of gas vesicles under focused ultrasound actuation.
NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jeffrey Y. K. Wong, Arunika I. Ekanayake, Serhii Kharchenko, Steven E. Kirberger, Ryan Qiu, Payam Kelich, Susmita Sarkar, Jianqian Li, Kleinberg X. Fernandez, Edgar R. Alvizo-Paez, Jiayuan Miao, Shiva Kalhor-Monfared, J. Dwyer John, Hongsuk Kang, Hwanho Choi, John M. Nuss, John C. Vederas, Yu-Shan Lin, Matthew S. Macauley, Lela Vukovic, William C. K. Pomerantz, Ratmir Derda
Summary: Peptide-based therapeutics with poor circulation half-life have been a challenge. In this study, researchers successfully selected albumin-binding macrocyclic peptides from genetically encoded libraries modified by specific chemistry. The selected peptides showed high affinity for human serum albumin and demonstrated longer in vivo circulation half-life, which is a promising starting point for developing compact macrocycles with extended half-life.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Bojing Jiang, Sin Yen Tan, Shiyu Fang, Xiaohan Feng, Byung Min Park, Hong Kiu Francis Fok, Zhongguang Yang, Ri Wang, Songzi Kou, Angela Ruohao Wu, Fei Sun
Summary: A modular functionalization strategy for recombinant spider silk is presented using SpyTag/SpyCatcher chemistry and AlphaFold2-aided design, enabling the decoration of silk threads with various fusion motifs. Coating the silk with a silica layer using silicatein results in a hybrid inorganic-organic 1D material. The installation of cell-binding ligands on silk threads enhances cell attachment and proliferation, demonstrating a straightforward and powerful approach to 1D protein materials.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zohaib Hussain, Seoungkyun Kim, Jinhwan Cho, Gyudae Sim, Youngjune Park, Inchan Kwon
Summary: This study introduces a novel method for the selective extraction and recovery of total rare earth elements (REEs) using elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) and the REE-binding domain (lanmodulin). By controlling solution temperature and pH, RELP shows high REE specificity and allows for easy recovery of bound REEs during repeated cycles.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yuting Liang, Di Xiang, Ying Hou, Guangshe Li, Shouhua Feng, Ming Yang
Summary: The research shows that size is a common structural driving force for controlling hierarchical assembly of inorganic nanoparticles into anisotropic superstructures. The increase in size creates an effective kinetic barrier at different attachment sites, switching the assembly pathway from thermodynamically preferred 3D to kinetically favored 1D. Furthermore, the size-encoded hierarchical assembly is accompanied by ligand-controlled Oswald ripening process, resulting in the variation of hierarchical patterns from chains to tubules.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yang Liu, Zhongyu Jiang, Shizheng Tong, Yifu Sun, Yu Zhang, Jiayuan Zhang, Duoyi Zhao, Yuanzhen Su, Jianxun Ding, Xuesi Chen
Summary: Biomineralization is a normal physiological process involving nucleation, crystal growth, phase transformation, and orientation evolution. Inducing biomineralization in tumor tissue has shown promise as a therapy for malignancy. However, the limited ion-chelating capabilities of carboxyl-containing biomineralization initiators have hindered their efficacy. In this study, a biomineralization-inducing nanoparticle (BINP) was developed for blockade therapy of osteosarcoma. BINP exhibited tumor inhibition rates of 59.3% and 52.1% for subcutaneous and orthotopic osteosarcomas, respectively. The BINP-mediated blockade therapy also inhibited bone dissolution and pulmonary metastases. This selective biomineralization approach holds promise for clinical osteosarcoma therapy.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Kassandra J. Naughton, Regina E. Trevino, Peter J. Moore, Ashlee E. Wertz, J. Alex Dickson, Hannah S. Shafaat
Summary: Genetic encoding of artificial enzymes offers advantages over traditional catalyst optimization, but has limitations in the field of artificial metalloenzymes. The development of a methodology for in vivo production of nickel-substituted rubredoxin provides a new approach for generating artificial metalloenzymes.
ACS SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xiaowen Cao, Feng Chen, Jing Xue, Yue Zhao, Min Bai, Yongxi Zhao
Summary: Here, we present a hierarchical DNA branch assembly-encoded fluorescent nanoladders for denoised and highly multiplexed signal amplification of single-cell transcripts. Our method achieves independent RNA-primed rolling circle amplification without nonspecific amplification and allows for programmable DNA branch assembly to encode virtual signals for visualizing numbers of targets. We demonstrate accurate RNA profiling in different cancer cells and reveal diverse localization patterns for spatial regulation of transcripts.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Qing Li, Jiaxing Zhang, Yuefei Wang, Gong Zhang, Wei Qi, Shengping You, Rongxin Su, Zhimin He
Summary: This study reports the self-assembly of peptides into hierarchical helical arrays capable of emitting circularly polarized luminescence (CPL), with the handedness of the CPL signals controlled by changing the amino acid sequence. The peptide HHAs provide hydrophobic pockets for accommodating fluorescent molecules with helical arrangement, leading to the generation of CPL signals with high g(lum) values. This work paves the way for constructing highly ordered chiral materials with potential applications in the chiroptical field.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anthony G. K. Garcia, Adam D. Steinbrenner
Summary: Plants have an innate immune system that relies on cell-surface pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs) to defend against attackers. A genetically encoded bioluminescent reporter has been developed for detecting immune activation by PRRs in Nicotiana benthamiana, allowing for efficient and sensitive assessment of PRR function.
MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jingxiong Lu, Pengchao Hu, Lingyan Cao, Zixiang Wei, Fan Xiao, Zhe Chen, Yan Li, Leilei Tian
Summary: DNA nanomedicines have emerged as potential anti-tumor drugs, with the ability to control the size, shape, and loads of therapeutic motifs. Utilizing DNA nanotechnology, it is possible to genetically encode and produce all-DNA nanomedicines in living bacteria. The biological production capability will enable low-cost, large-scale production and promote clinical applications of all-DNA nanomedicines.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Dube Dheeraj Prakashchand, Jagannath Mondal
Summary: Lipids assemble around apoE before triggering the spontaneous unwrapping of the compact tertiary fold of monomeric apoE3. The lipid-induced conformational activity is robust across a monomeric mutant and wild-type sequence of apoE3.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY B
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Md. Shahadat Hossain, Zhe Zhang, Sudhat Ashok, Ashley R. Jenks, Christopher J. Lynch, James L. Hougland, Davoud Mozhdehi
Summary: This study genetically engineered prokaryotes to develop a simple and high-yield biosynthetic route for producing farnesylated proteins. They revealed the determinants of their material properties and this could contribute to the development of farnesylated proteins as recombinant therapeutics or biomaterials with programmable assembly.
ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jun Wang, Jing Liu, Zhongxing Yang
Summary: The article discusses the potential of hypoxia as a therapeutic target and the use of peptides for targeting hypoxic diseases. It highlights three main strategies for targeting hypoxia using peptide-based nanomaterials and emphasizes the advantages of peptides in treatment and diagnosis processes.
NANOSCALE ADVANCES
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Zekun Mu, Kevin Wiehe, Kevin O. Saunders, Rory Henderson, Derek W. Cain, Robert Parks, Diana Martik, Katayoun Mansouri, Robert J. Edwards, Amanda Newman, Xiaozhi Lu, Shi-Mao Xia, Amanda Eaton, Mattia Bonsignori, David Montefiori, Qifeng Han, Sravani Venkatayogi, Tyler Evangelous, Yunfei Wang, Wes Rountree, Bette Korber, Kshitij Wagh, Ying Tam, Christopher Barbosa, S. Munir Alam, Wilton B. Williams, Ming Tian, Frederick W. Alt, Norbert Pardi, Drew Weissman, Barton F. Haynes
Summary: This study demonstrates that mRNA can encode antigenic Env trimers on ferritin nanoparticles, which can stimulate the expansion of broadly neutralizing antibody precursor B cells and induce neutralizing antibody activity against HIV-1. This finding has implications for the development of HIV-1 vaccines.
Review
Ophthalmology
Kristen L. Buehne, Jullia A. Rosdahl, Kelly W. Muir
Summary: A comprehensive assessment was conducted on strategies to improve glaucoma medication adherence, with most studies focusing on direct improvements in adherence, and some showing positive effects. However, only a few studies found improvements in intraocular pressure, and no differences were observed in visual field progression between groups.
SEMINARS IN OPHTHALMOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhaoyang Liu, Yunbin Hu, Wenhao Zheng, Can Wang, Walid Baaziz, Fanny Richard, Ovidiu Ersen, Mischa Bonn, Hai Wang, Akimitsu Narita, Artur Ciesielski, Klaus Muellen, Paolo Samori
Summary: The precise synthesis of graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) with controlled width and edge structures is beneficial for overcoming the limitations of graphene, and GNRs with open-edge structures allow faster ion diffusion, showing great potential for energy storage systems. However, current solution-synthesized GNRs suffer from aggregation, which restricts their applications. Therefore, a facile and scalable approach is needed to exfoliate GNRs from aggregates. Here, a high-shear-mixing approach is demonstrated to untie GNR bundles into individual nanoribbons.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Cheng Zeng, Wenhao Zheng, Hong Xu, Silvio Osella, Wei Ma, Hai Wang, Zijie Qiu, Ken-ichi Otake, Wencai Ren, Huiming Cheng, Klaus Muellen, Mischa Bonn, Cheng Gu, Yuguang Ma
Summary: Electrochemical deposition is an efficient technique for preparing conjugated polymer films on electrodes, allowing control over film thickness, crystal size, and crystal orientation. The films produced by this method have a unique crystal structure and exhibit exceptional carrier and exciton migration.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Max Lukas, Ellen H. G. Backus, Mischa Bonn, Maksim Grechko
Summary: SFG vibrational spectroscopy is a powerful technique to study interfaces. However, implementing this technique is challenging. In this study, a collinear PR-SFG setup using a displaced Sagnac interferometer is developed, which allows independent control of time delay and intensity and provides long-time phase stabilization for the measured signal.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY A
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Max Lukas, Ralph Schwidetzky, Rosemary J. Eufemio, Mischa Bonn, Konrad Meister
Summary: The exceptional ice nucleation activity of bacterial ice nucleators is highlighted in this perspective, emphasizing the importance of functional aggregation of ice-nucleating proteins (INPs) anchored to the outer bacterial cell membrane. It is crucial to consider the role of the bacterial cell membrane and environmental conditions in facilitating precise functional aggregation of INPs, and interdisciplinary approaches combining various tools are needed to study changes at the protein level.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY B
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
H. Samet Varol, Stefan Seeger
Summary: This study presents a new method to collect 3D confocal images of irregular polysiloxane micro- and nanorods for discussing their wetting response and quantifying their dimensions. Through different staining scenarios, the researchers were able to resolve the micro- and nanorods and validate the results against electron microscopy images. The findings from the 3D confocal images shed light on the long-time existence of multiple wetting states and the shifting and pinning of three-phase contact lines under the same droplet on surfaces.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Kristen L. Buehne, Sarah Hart, Bradley Williams, Jennifer L. Cohen
Summary: This article reports on a patient, mother, and affected brother in a family with ophthalmologic conditions, and identifies a novel variant in the PAX6 gene. This variant is also associated with nonocular symptoms in the affected family members.
COLD SPRING HARBOR MOLECULAR CASE STUDIES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Junren Wang, Shuai Fu, Heng Zhang, Robert Graf, Henry Halim, Shuai Chen, Wenhao Zheng, Mischa Bonn, Katharina Landfester, Andreas Riedinger, Hai Wang
Summary: This study reports a novel solution-processed approach to fabricate high-quality, large-area alpha-Ag2S thin films. Ultrafast terahertz conductivity measurements show efficient charge transport in the films. Additionally, introducing poly(vinyl alcohol) enables the synthesis of free-standing alpha-Ag2S thin films for flexible optoelectronics.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shuai Fu, Enquan Jin, Hiroki Hanayama, Wenhao Zheng, Heng Zhang, Lucia Di Virgilio, Matthew A. Addicoat, Markus Mezger, Akimitsu Narita, Mischa Bonn, Klaus Muellen, Hai Wang
Summary: Two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks (2D COFs) are crystalline porous polymers with well-defined open nanochannels. This study reveals that TPB-TFB COF thin films exhibit high photoconductivity with long charge scattering time and high charge carrier mobility at room temperature.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
S. Schneider, M. Brodrecht, H. Breitzke, T. Wissel, G. Buntkowsky, H. S. Varol, R. Brilmayer, A. Andrieu-Brunsen, M. Vogel
Summary: We used nuclear magnetic resonance to investigate the dynamics of LiCl-7H(2)O and LiCl-7D(2)O solutions in silica nanopores. We found that the solution dynamics are slower in functionalized pores compared to pristine pores. Bimodal dynamics of water and lithium ions may be observed when the exchange between different confinement regions is slow at reduced temperatures. We suggested that steric hindrance and electrostatic interactions in functionalized pores interfere with the formation of a defined electric double layer, resulting in overall slower dynamics.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
H. Samet Varol, Stefan Seeger
Summary: By controlling the stability of humidity, various geometry silicone patterns can be grown on engineering materials using a droplet-assisted growth method, allowing for control over their surface roughness and hydrophobicity.
Article
Ophthalmology
Kristen L. L. Buehne, Jullia A. A. Rosdahl, Aaron M. M. Hein, Sandra Woolson, Maren Olsen, Miriam Kirshner, Malina Sexton, Hayden B. B. Bosworth, Kelly W. W. Muir
Summary: We conducted a secondary clinical assessment of a randomized controlled trial to determine the impact of a glaucoma medication adherence intervention on clinical outcomes at 12 months post randomization. The results showed that a multi-faceted intervention that improved medication adherence for 6 months did not affect the clinical outcomes measured at 12 months.
OPHTHALMIC RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
H. Samet Varol, Claire Foerster, Annette Andrieu-Brunsen
Summary: Selective binding of metal ions to their receptors at cell membranes is crucial for immune reactions, signaling, and ion channel regulation. Scientists have developed metal-ion-responsive mesoporous films inspired by ligand-binding-based pore activities, which can fine-tune the ionic nanopore transport. However, a comprehensive understanding of the transport of both anions and cations triggered by ligand binding is necessary for the application of these films in sensing and separation. This study demonstrates how the concentration and attachment of Ca2+ ions to different silica nanopores can finely tune the transport of anions and cations, particularly in phosphate-containing polyelectrolyte (PMEP) functionalized mesopores. Additionally, the functionality of pore polymers related to Ca2+ ion binding affects the adsorption/desorption response of the pores.
ADVANCED MATERIALS INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Pankaj Seliya, Mischa Bonn, Maksim Grechko
Summary: This study focuses on the interaction between quantum-mechanical systems and fluctuating thermal environments, providing insights into their coupling through a combined experimental and theoretical approach. The experimental part involves spectroscopy measurements to directly observe the coupling between quantum oscillators and low-frequency modes. The theoretical part introduces a mixed quantum-classical formalism to describe the sample response. This approach enables the quantitative and mode-specific analysis of coupled quantum and classical dynamics in complex chemical systems.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yongkang Wang, Yuki Nagata, Mischa Bonn
Summary: Graphene, as a transparent two-dimensional conductive electrode, has brought new perspectives to electrochemical systems. The substrate plays a crucial role in determining the water organization and wetting behavior of graphene. Surface-specific spectroscopy study reveals that the charging of graphene is decoupled from the charging of its substrate.
FARADAY DISCUSSIONS
(2023)
