Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Dmitrii Fedorov, Nelmary Roas-Escalona, Dmitry Tolmachev, Adam L. Harmat, Alberto Scacchi, Maria Sammalkorpi, A. Sesilja Aranko, Markus B. Linder
Summary: This study demonstrates the importance of weak interactions in the formation of condensates and provides a principle for rational protein design. By using a triblock approach, the propensity for condensate formation can be controlled by varying the weak dimerization of terminal blocks. The dissociation constants of the terminal domains directly correlate with the tendency for liquid-liquid phase separation. Additionally, differences in physical properties can be understood from the properties and interplay of constituent blocks.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Maria Kaeek, Luai R. Khoury
Summary: This study successfully created a highly transparent protein-polymer actuator by leveraging the synergistic relationship between protein structural dynamics and polymer hydrogel engineering. The actuator is capable of dynamically modifying its focal length and demonstrates durability and reproducibility. This integration of protein and polymer engineering opens up new avenues for biomaterial applications in the optical field.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Ahmad Moukachar, Katie Harvey, Eva Roke, Katherine Sloan, Cameron Pool, Shabbir Moola, Ameer Alshukri, Danielle Jarvis, Phoebe Crews-Rees, Grace McDermott, Lluan Evans, Jin Li, Christopher Thomas, Sion Coulman, Oliver Castell
Summary: The development of low-cost accessible technologies for rapid prototyping of mechanical components has made engineering tools more accessible to hobbyists and researchers. A similar approach can be applied to the fabrication of soft-matter and biologically compatible materials, enabling advancements in biological research.
ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Eric Volta-Duran, Julieta M. Sanchez, Hector-Lopez-Laguna, Eloi Parlade, Laura Sanchez-Garcia, Alejandro Sanchez-Chardi, Ario de Marco, Ugutz Unzueta, Esther Vazquez, Antonio Villaverde
Summary: Histidine-rich peptides enable the self-assembly of recombinant proteins with divalent cations, resulting in protein materials with biomedical properties. Among these materials, homomeric nanoparticles are valuable as multivalent interactors and drug carriers. The assembly of His-tagged proteins can lead to distinct categories of self-assembling protein nanoparticles, providing insights for the design and refinement of protein-based nanomedicines.
SCIENCE CHINA-MATERIALS
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
You-Jin Kim, Jeong-Bin Moon, Hyerim Hwang, Youn Soo Kim, Gi-Ra Yi
Summary: Significant progress has been made in the synthesis and assembly of patchy colloidal clusters in recent years. These clusters, through a DNA-mediated interlocking process, can form directional bonding with specific rotation angles, and have potential applications in photonic crystals, metamaterials, topological photonic insulators, and separation membranes.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Review
Engineering, Biomedical
Mei-chen Wan, Wen Qin, Chen Lei, Qi-hong Li, Meng Meng, Ming Fang, Wen Song, Ji-hua Chen, Franklin Tay, Li-na Niu
Summary: Marine resources hold great potential for developing high-value biomaterials, with materials such as chitin, marine-derived collagen, and more showcasing excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and bioactive characteristics. These marine biomaterials find important applications in medical, antimicrobial, drug delivery, rehabilitation, and industrial areas.
BIOACTIVE MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Yannan Li, Juan Ge, Meng Luo, Wen Niu, Xiangwei Ling, Ke Xu, Cai Lin, Bo Lei, Xingxing Zhang
Summary: The study introduces a bioactive elastomeric self-healing antibacterial nanocomposite hydrogel scaffold for enhancing the skull defect reconstruction. The scaffold efficiently matches the skull defect morphology, enhances osteogenic differentiation, and regenerates bone tissues, showing significant potential in treating trauma-induced skull defects.
APPLIED MATERIALS TODAY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Joakim Bohlin, Andrew J. Turberfield, Ard A. Louis, Petr Sulc
Summary: We explored the design space for self-assembled multicomponent objects, ranging from unique building blocks to minimum number of distinct building blocks defining the target structure. By using patchy particle simulations, we analyzed the assembly dynamics of different solutions and their influence on the kinetics and yield of the target assembly. Our findings show that resource-saving solutions with minimum distinct blocks can perform just as well or faster than designs with unique building blocks. We also designed multifarious structures by sharing building blocks between different targets, and investigated the realization of multicomponent shapes using DNA nanostructures as building blocks through coarse-grained DNA simulations.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Fei Xu, Chloe Dawson, Makenzie Lamb, Eva Mueller, Evan Stefanek, Mohsen Akbari, Todd Hoare
Summary: This review addresses the key design criteria and emerging fabrication techniques for translationally-relevant tissue engineering hydrogels. It suggests combining integrated fabrication approaches with successful translational experiences to accelerate the implementation of hydrogels in tissue engineering.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Elena Platonova, Polina Ponomareva, Zalina Lokiaeva, Alexander Pavlov, Vladimir Nelyub, Alexander Polezhaev
Summary: The ability to form blends between the prepolymer and curing agent is crucial for efficient healing in self-healing materials. This study presents a new series of di- and tetrafuranic isocyanate-related ureas as promising curing agents for the development of polyurethanes-like self-healing materials. The self-healing properties of the materials were investigated by thermal analysis, and the resulting polyurethane showed thermally induced self-healing abilities.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Matthias Blaschke, Fabian Pauly
Summary: Single molecules can be used as functional electronic components when connected to macroscopic electrodes. By combining artificial intelligence with electronic structure theory, we can construct optimized molecules with mechanosensitivity, overcoming time-consuming trial-and-error processes in molecular design. Our research unveils the evolutionary processes behind artificial intelligence and highlights the importance of spacer groups in enhancing mechanosensitivity. Our genetic algorithm provides an effective way to search chemical space and identify promising molecular candidates.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Maryam Hajnajafi, Alireza Khorshidi, Majid Farsadrooh, Ali Ghanadzadeh Gilani
Summary: This study presents a novel, simple, eco-friendly, and surfactant-free method for the fabrication of self-assembled Pd aerogel utilizing nanostructure engineering and new chemical reduction reaction. The Pd aerogel exhibits high electrocatalytic activity for ethanol oxidation reaction and enhanced stability, durability, and mass activity in alkaline electrolyte compared to Pd/C. The straightforwardly prepared Pd aerogel is considered an advanced candidate for applications in electrocatalysis for direct alcohol fuel cells and offers great opportunity for various energy-related systems.
Review
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Kyle Jackson, Azadeh Peivandi, Meea Fogal, Lei Tian, Zeinab Hosseinidoust
Summary: Filamentous bacteriophages are semi-flexible protein nanofilaments that can be controlled with atomic precision through genetic engineering, allowing for self-replication and the formation of ordered hydrogels with various physical and chemical properties suitable for biomedical applications. These bionanofilaments serve as a powerful tool for bioengineers and biochemists interested in designing smart, bioactive materials and devices.
ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yi Shen, Aviad Levin, Ayaka Kamada, Zenon Toprakcioglu, Marc Rodriguez-Garcia, Yufan Xu, Tuomas P. J. Knowles
Summary: Proteins are essential for building high-performance materials in nature, which can serve structural roles or generate active structures. The focus is increasingly on utilizing protein nanofibrils to form new supramolecular architectures for various applications.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Andrey A. Kuzmin, Alexey N. Tomilin
Summary: Tools developed in genome engineering, gene regulation, and synthetic gene networks have various applications, which can contribute to the advancement of precision medicine and tissue engineering. Different genetic elements and modifications have been used to create diverse systems and validate technical concepts. New studies mainly focus on optimizing or improving existing elements or approaches, particularly those based on the CRISPR technology. Efficiently navigating through numerous genetic elements to select the most suitable ones is crucial for the successful application of newly developed approaches and their translation in regenerative medicine. This review provides comprehensive information on genetic elements and their modifications, emphasizing those based on CRISPR technology, and offers guidance on selecting or combining elements and approaches for experimental planning, providing deeper understanding and highlighting pitfalls to avoid.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Linglan Fu, Hongbin Li
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xiaoqing Gao, Yali Wang, Xuehao He, Mengjun Xu, Jintao Zhu, Xiaodong Hu, Xiaotang Hu, Hongbin Li, Chunguang Hu
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Ruidi Wang, Miao Liu, Han Wang, Jiang Xia, Hongbin Li
Summary: Developing peptide tags that can bind target proteins covalently under mild conditions is crucial for various applications. The GB tags developed in this study show high specificity and yield in covalently labeling target proteins under oxidizing conditions, with improved thermodynamic stability and binding affinity. These new GB tags have potential applications in biochemical labeling and biomaterials such as protein hydrogels.
BIOCONJUGATE CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tianyu Duan, Qingyuan Bian, Hongbin Li
Summary: Protein-based hydrogels can mimic native extracellular matrices and have diverse applications in cell proliferation, drug/cell delivery, and tissue engineering. Light can be utilized as a regulation stimulus for modifying the mechanical and/or biochemical properties of these hydrogels. LOVTRAP, a light-responsive interaction between LOV2 and zdk1, has been used to engineer protein hydrogels whose viscoelastic properties can change in response to light, showing shear-thinning and self-healing properties. This new class of light-responsive protein hydrogels is expected to broaden the scope of dynamic protein hydrogels for biomedical applications.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jiacheng Zuo, Denghuang Zhan, Jiahao Xia, Hongbin Li
Summary: This study investigated the mechanical and thermodynamic effects of two missense mutations, R57C-I94 and S22P-I84, in the elastic I-band part of cardiac titin. Results showed that R57C significantly destabilized the I94 module, while S22P led to only modest destabilization of I84. It is suggested that R57C may have a larger impact on titin elasticity compared to S22P.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Han Wang, Guojun Chen, Hongbin Li
Summary: The folding of the RTX block-iv in adenylate cyclase is templated by the folded RTX block-v, which allows rapid folding and significant mutual stabilization. This finding provides insights into the mechanism of transmitting the folding signal within the RTX domain.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Xiaoqing Gao, Cong Zhai, Zuzeng Lin, Yulu Chen, Hongbin Li, Chunguang Hu
Summary: This paper investigates the trapping process and steady position and orientation of Janus particles in a linearly polarized optical trap. The trapping trajectory and a practical simulation solution for more complex structures and trapping motions are revealed through simulation and experimentation.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tianyu Duan, Qingyuan Bian, Hongbin Li
Summary: Fluorescent polymeric hydrogels are promising information storage media that can generate fluorescent patterns in a light-controlled and spatially defined manner. Grayscale patterning allows the generation of multi-dimensional fluorescent images. This method opens up new possibilities for developing protein-based smart materials for information storage and anti-counterfeit applications.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jiahao Xia, Jiacheng Zuo, Hongbin Li
Summary: In this study using single molecule force spectroscopy, it was found that the small globular protein GB1 exhibits molecular homogeneity in its mechanical unfolding reaction, with ensemble averages and time averages of physical quantities showing no differences among individual molecules. This suggests that the ergodic hypothesis holds true for GB1 on the time scale of the force spectroscopy experiments.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jiayu Li, Hongbin Li
Summary: Metalloproteins play important roles in biological processes and understanding their folding mechanisms is challenging. This study used single-molecule optical tweezers to investigate the folding of horse heart cytochrome C (cytc), revealing new insights into its folding mechanism and the existence of intermediate states. The study also showed that apo-cytc is not a true random coil and has weak interactions within the unfolded polypeptide chain.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Hongbin Li
Summary: SAE proteins are unique building blocks for engineering protein hydrogels with tailored mechanical properties. These proteins exhibit distinct mechanical properties due to force-induced unfolding of their globular domains during stretching, allowing for rational design of protein-based hydrogels at the molecular level.
ADVANCED NANOBIOMED RESEARCH
(2021)
Meeting Abstract
Biophysics
Han Wang, Hongbin Li
EUROPEAN BIOPHYSICS JOURNAL WITH BIOPHYSICS LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jiayu Li, Guojun Chen, Yabin Guo, Han Wang, Hongbin Li
Summary: Top7 is a de novo designed protein with atomic level accuracy that shows a non-cooperative folding process and involves various folding intermediate states. Fragments of Top7 can fold independently in isolation, but their folding pathways are influenced by interactions with neighboring sequences. This context-dependent folding behavior highlights the importance of intra-chain interactions in shaping the folding landscape of Top7, which may have implications for the design of novel proteins.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Han Wang, Hongbin Li
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jiayu Li, Hongbin Li
