Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Hajar Maleki, Nicola Huesing
Summary: Silk fibroin is incorporated into silica aerogels through either a one-step or two-step sol-gel reaction. The hybridization process is regulated by organosilane concentration and SF to silane mass fractions. Both approaches result in materials with promising mechanical properties for a wide range of applications, with the one-step process showing better compressibility and the two-step process potentially leading to aerogels with lower shrinkage.
JOURNAL OF SOL-GEL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Michael Woltje, Arthur Kolbel, Dilbar Aibibu, Chokri Cherif
Summary: This study proposed a novel method to significantly reduce the processing time for silk fibroin preparation while maintaining the quality of the solution, providing a new approach for the industrial production of silk fibroin in technological and biomedical applications.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Anne Katherine Brooks, R. Grayson Ramsey, Ning Zhang, Vamsi K. Yadavalli
Summary: In this study, a composite material called photofibrogel (PFG) was developed by incorporating photoreactive properties in silk fibroin (SF) and gelatin. The PFG composite enables control over material properties and can be used to fabricate high-resolution structures with macro and micro patterning capabilities. It exhibits versatility, robustness, bioactivity, and electrochemical properties, making it suitable for applications in tissue engineering and flexible bioelectronics.
ACS BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
G. Poggi, D. Chelazzi, M. Laurati
Summary: The addition of cellulose nanocrystals accelerates gelation kinetics and increases the stiffness of gels formed by silk fibroin. Continuous shear tests revealed a higher yield stress in silk fibroin/cellulose nanocrystal gels, with the yield strain decreasing at higher shear rates possibly due to shear-induced compaction. Large amplitude oscillatory shear (LAOS) measurements demonstrated a broad and gradual transition from solid to fluid in the gels, with two distinct yield strains indicating different stages of fluidization.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES A-PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING ASPECTS
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Munguti Peter Muindi, Ji Hae Lee, HaeYong Kweon, Muo Kasina
Summary: This study investigates the extraction, gelation, structural, and cytotoxicity properties of silk sericin (SS) under different conditions, and finds that the concentration of ethanol and temperature have an impact on the properties of SS.
Review
Polymer Science
Traian V. Chirila
Summary: Fibroin, extracted from silk cocoons, has been widely used in biomedical applications, but its efficacy as a material for contact lenses remains limited and controversial, with no evidence of commercialization.
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Arindam Phani, Ho Sang Jung, Seonghwan Kim
Summary: Phase-contrast in tapping-mode atomic force microscopy has traditionally been interpreted using homogeneous distributions that ignore fluctuations, but recent research challenges this assumption by revealing heterogeneous contributions induced by the tip. At smaller tapping amplitudes, transitional heterogeneous losses emerge as the dominant mechanism outweighing homogeneous losses, providing a more accurate characterization of soft materials. This understanding of loss pathways can offer insights into the bio-physical origins of heterogeneities in soft-bio-matter.
COMMUNICATIONS PHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Hikmet Okkay, Sadik Sat, Ugur Cengiz
Summary: In this study, optically transparent and mechanically stable superhydrophilic composite thin films were fabricated via a low-cost one-step one pot microwave-assisted sol-gel technique. The wettability performance and antifogging behavior of the films were investigated by varying the PVA content, with the findings showing that a PVA content of 0.096 (wt,%) resulted in higher mechanical performance and a transparent superhydrophilic surface.
JOURNAL OF THE TAIWAN INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERS
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Michael G. Sun, Yuncin Luo, Tao Teng, Victor Guaiquil, Qiang Zhou, Lander McGinn, Osayd Nazzal, Michael Walsh, James Lee, Mark I. Rosenblatt
Summary: Silk fibroin films are promising biomaterials for corneal tissue engineering, offering the ability to mimic native corneal tissue, promote wound healing, and regulate cellular behavior through stiffness tunability. Studies have shown that corneal epithelial cells are mechanosensitive to different stiffnesses of silk films, suggesting that film stiffness can be used to modulate cell behavior for ocular surface repair.
MACROMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Nata F. S. de Bem, Michael G. Ruppert, Andrew J. Fleming, Yuen K. Yong
Summary: The article introduces an atomic force microscope cantilever with on-chip actuation and dual-sensing capabilities. A mathematical model is developed and validated, and a physical prototype is presented for calibration and validation. Experimental results demonstrate consistency with external measurements.
SENSORS AND ACTUATORS A-PHYSICAL
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Qiang Fu, Bin Xia, Xiang Huang, Fuping Wang, Zhongmin Chen, Guobao Chen
Summary: Current pro-angiogenic methods in tissue engineering focus on enriching the vascular network but overlook the importance of providing a proper cellular environment. By introducing silk fibroin into decellularized vascular matrix gel (DVMG), the physical properties of the hybrid scaffolds are improved, leading to enhanced cell growth promotion and increased vascularization potential. This development offers new possibilities for the rapid vascular network generation in clinically engineered scaffolds.
JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS RESEARCH PART A
(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
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Devin Kalafut, Ryan Wagner, Maria Jose Cadena, Anil Bajaj, Arvind Raman
Summary: This study investigates the impact of cantilever motion when tip-sample detachment occurs in contact resonance atomic force microscopy modes. By intentionally pushing experimental equipment and numerical simulations to the point of detachment, the dynamics of the cantilever during a useful threshold feature in the measured response are explored.
BEILSTEIN JOURNAL OF NANOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Marcos Duque, Gonzalo Murillo
Summary: In this article, a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) has been developed to harvest mechanical energy from human motion and convert it into electrical energy. The energy generation has been optimized through material selection, design improvement, and charge injection. The TENG is capable of collecting mechanical energy from hand tapping and using it to power miniaturized electronic sensors in a self-sufficient and sustainable way.
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Nikolay Kalanda, Marta Yarmolich, Alexander Burko, Aleksandr Temirov, Aleksandr Kislyuk, Sergey Demyanov, Kilian Lenz, Juergen Lindner, Dong-Hyun Kim
Summary: Using ultrasonic dispersion with optimized conditions, a single-phase nanosized Sr2FeMoO6-delta powder with highly ordered Fe and Mo cations was successfully synthesized. The powder exhibited a magnetically inhomogeneous state, composed of superparamagnetic and ferrimagnetic phases. The ferrimagnetic component showed higher values and smoothly increased until reaching saturation as the temperature decreased. The absence of exchange magnetic interaction between the grains in the superparamagnetic phase suggested a critical size for nanoparticles and confirmed the absence of the frozen state in some particles. These findings are important for understanding the magnetic properties and magnetization features of the polydisperse Sr2FeMoO6-delta powder, which has potential applications in spintronic devices.
CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Mengyang Yang, Lili Yang, Jiamin Xu, Yinghua Nie, Wenjuan Wu, Ting Zhang, Xichang Wang, Jian Zhong
Summary: This study comprehensively investigated the effects of extraction methods on the properties and emulsification ability of silver carp fin gelatins, highlighting the importance of molecular characteristics in determining their functionality. The findings contribute to a better understanding of the utilization potential of aquatic by-products and gelatins in high value-added applications.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Tingting Wu, Hao Guo, Ting Zhang, Rui Sun, Ningping Tao, Xichang Wang, Jian Zhong
Summary: The study established a manual comparative analysis method based on liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-LipidSearch to analyze the effect of thermal processing methods on long-chain free fatty acid species in tilapia muscles. It was found that about 66 fatty acid species were present in raw and thermally processed tilapia muscles, with only five fatty acid species showing higher sensitivity in positive ionisation mode of mass spectrometry.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Minghao Li, Sheng-Li Xue, Xiaowen Tang, Jiayu Xu, Suning Chen, Yue Han, Huiying Qiu, Miao Miao, Nan Xu, Jingwen Tan, Liqing Kang, Zhou Yu, Xiaoyan Lou, Yang Xu, Jia Chen, Zhiqiang Yan, Weixing Feng, Depei Wu, Lei Yu
Summary: This study found that tumor burden (TB) is related to the safety and efficacy of CAR-T cell treatment for r/r B-ALL. Patients with low tumor burden had better safety profiles and higher complete remission rates. Tumor burden did not significantly affect long-term therapeutic efficacy. Severe cytokine release syndrome (CRS) was significantly correlated with tumor burden.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Jing Ye, Yujie Jia, Israth Jahan Tuhin, Jingwen Tan, Masuma Akter Monty, Nan Xu, Liqing Kang, Minghao Li, Xiaoyan Lou, Meixia Zhou, Xiaoyan Fang, Jiaqi Shao, Hongjia Zhu, Zhiqiang Yan, Lei Yu
Summary: This article reports a new strategy of blocking the CD7 antigen on T cells using a recombinant anti-CD7 antibody to obtain sufficient CD7-targeting CAR-T cells for the treatment of T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). The feasibility of this approach was systematically evaluated, showing that blocking the CD7 antigen effectively prevented fratricide, increased expansion rate, reduced the proportion of regulatory T cells, maintained the stem cell-like characteristics of T cells, and restored the proportion of CD8(+) T cells.
MOLECULAR THERAPY-ONCOLYTICS
(2022)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Liu Lin, Zhenhai Cao, Xuebing Zhang, Ming Kang, Xichang Wang, Jian Zhong, ChangHua Xu, Long Zhang, Ningping Tao, Shanggui Deng
Summary: This study investigated the effects of condiment (salt) and processing technic (homogenization) on the digestion and interfacial properties of micro/nano-sized colloidal particles (MNCPs) in bigeye tuna head soup (BTHS). The study found that both salt and homogenization can alter the size and structure of MNCPs, affecting their digestion in the gastrointestinal tract.
FRONTIERS IN NUTRITION
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nan Xu, Xiao-Fei Yang, Sheng-Li Xue, Jing-Wen Tan, Ming-Hao Li, Jing Ye, Xiao-Yan Lou, Zhou Yu, Li-Qing Kang, Zhi-Qiang Yan, Lei Yu, Su-Ning Chen, Yi-Ting Wang
Summary: The JAK1/2 inhibitor ruxolitinib has been found to inhibit the proliferation of CAR-T cells and reduce cytokine release, leading to the restoration of cytolytic activity. It is clinically effective in controlling sCRS without affecting therapeutic efficacy.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Lili Yang, Mengyang Yang, Jiamin Xu, Yinghua Nie, Wenjuan Wu, Ting Zhang, Xichang Wang, Jian Zhong
Summary: This study compared the properties of different fish skin gelatins, and found that their gel strength is related to molecular weight and subunit content. Emulsion stability is closely related to protein chemical composition and secondary structure, providing important references for the comprehensive utilization of aquatic by-products in the gelatin industry.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Yinghua Nie, Jiahui Chen, Jiamin Xu, Yangyi Zhang, Mengyang Yang, Lili Yang, Xichang Wang, Jian Zhong
Summary: The study showed that vacuum freeze-drying process affects the molecular structure and emulsion stability of gelatin extracted from tilapia skin, with longer drying times leading to changes in specific secondary structures and an enhancement in emulsion stabilization.
Article
Oncology
Hongjia Zhu, Xiaoyan Fang, Israth Jahan Tuhin, Jingwen Tan, Jing Ye, Yujie Jia, Nan Xu, Liqing Kang, Minghao Li, XiaoYan Lou, Jing-E Zhou, Yiting Wang, Zhiqiang Yan, Lei Yu
JOURNAL OF CANCER RESEARCH AND CLINICAL ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jing-E Zhou, Lei Sun, Li Liu, Yujie Jia, Yuqiao Han, Jiaqi Shao, Jing Wang, Yiting Wang, Lei Yu, Zhiqiang Yan
Summary: In this study, a mannose-modified HMGB1-siRNA loaded stable nucleic acid lipid particle delivery system was constructed to target liver macrophages and treat NASH. The results showed that the delivery system effectively regulated the phenotype of liver macrophages, reduced hepatic inflammation and steatosis, and restored liver function in NASH model mice. Additionally, co-administration of DHA was found to be effective in NASH treatment.
JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Lei Sun, Jinfang Zhang, Jing-e Zhou, Jing Wang, Zhehao Wang, Shenggen Luo, Yeying Wang, Shulei Zhu, Fan Yang, Jie Tang, Wei Lu, Yiting Wang, Lei Yu, Zhiqiang Yan
Summary: In this study, a fluorescence dye Cy5-modified survivin siRNA was conjugated to nanogolds and wrapped with lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for monitoring the release behavior of siRNA in vivo. The results showed that the fluorescence of Cy5 changed from quenched state to activated state, indicating the release of siRNA. LNPs exhibited significant antitumor effect by silencing the survivin gene and superior CT imaging function compared to iohexol. This work provides an effective method for monitoring the pharmacokinetics of LNP-based siRNA and a siRNA delivery system for treating and diagnosing tumors.
ASIAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yamin Li, Lan Xiao, Daixu Wei, Shengyang Liu, Zeren Zhang, Ruixian Lian, Liren Wang, Yunsu Chen, Jia Jiang, Yin Xiao, Changsheng Liu, Yulin Li, Jinzhong Zhao
Summary: This study aims to develop an injectable biomaterial with bone regeneration-adapted degradability to facilitate functional bone regeneration. A hybrid hydrogel (LP-CPC@gelatin, LC) is synthesized by incorporating laponite and CPC into gelatin hydrogel, with the LC gel degradation rate controlled to match the bone regeneration rate. The LC hydrogel shows good osteoinduction, osteoconduction, and angiogenesis effects, providing a strategy for functional bone regeneration and skeletal muscle repair.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Yeying Wang, Yang Liu, Yi Liu, Jie Zhong, Jing Wang, Lei Sun, Lei Yu, Yiting Wang, Qinghua Li, Weilin Jin, Zhiqiang Yan
Summary: Liver cirrhosis is a liver disease with a high mortality rate worldwide. Antifibrotic drugs are commonly used clinically, but there are still many challenges. Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the liver lesions microenvironment is an important factor leading to the development of liver cirrhosis. Therefore, a nanomedicine-mediated antioxidant therapy can remodel the liver microenvironment and reverse the process of cirrhosis.
Review
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Zi-Wei Ren, Ze-Yu Wang, Yan-Wen Ding, Jin-Wei Dao, Hao-Ru Li, Xue Ma, Xin-Yu Yang, Zi-Qi Zhou, Jia-Xuan Liu, Chen-Hui Mi, Zhe-Chen Gao, Hua Pei, Dai-Xu Wei
Summary: Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are natural microbial biopolyesters with excellent properties for medical applications, such as biodegradability and biocompatibility. This review focuses on the biosynthesis, physical properties, and optimization strategies of PHAs. The use of PHAs in medical devices for tissue engineering and drug delivery is also discussed, along with their potential as functional molecules in cancer therapy and immune regulation. Although currently only a small percentage of medical polymers, novel medical PHA devices are expected to enter the clinical translation stage in the near future.
BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Shuai Liu, Jiang-Ming Yu, Yan-Chang Gan, Xiao-Zhong Qiu, Zhe-Chen Gao, Huan Wang, Shi-Xuan Chen, Yuan Xiong, Guo-Hui Liu, Si-En Lin, Alec McCarthy, Johnson V. John, Dai-Xu Wei, Hong-Hao Hou
Summary: Biomimetic materials based on natural biomaterials offer cells biochemical and biophysical cues that mimic the in vivo extracellular matrix, making them ideal for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. This paper provides an overview of recent progress in biomimetic natural biomaterials (BNBMs), including their preparation, functionality, potential applications, and future challenges. The paper also highlights recent advances in the fabrication and functionalization of BNBMs, as well as their applications in tissue engineering.
MILITARY MEDICAL RESEARCH
(2023)