Review
Clinical Neurology
Daisuke Ito, Satoru Morimoto, Shinichi Takahashi, Kensuke Okada, Jin Nakahara, Hideyuki Okano
Summary: Significant progress has been made in drug screening for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis using patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells, leading to the identification of candidate drugs and the advancement of clinical trials. This stem cell-based approach shows safety and positive effects, reducing costs and time compared to animal testing.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Nicole D. Barth, Lorena Mendive-Tapia, Ramon Subiros-Funosas, Ouldouz Ghashghaei, Rodolfo Lavilla, Laura Maiorino, Xue-Yan He, Ian Dransfield, Mikala Egeblad, Marc Vendrell
Summary: The study describes the design and optimization of a fluorescent probe, Apotracker Red, for real-time detection of cancer cell death. The probe exhibits strong fluorogenic behavior, high selectivity, and excellent stability, making it a reliable optical reporter for characterizing the effects of anticancer drugs in cells in vitro and for direct imaging of chemotherapy-induced apoptosis in vivo in mouse models of breast cancer.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhaofeng Ye, Fengling Chen, Jiangyang Zeng, Juntao Gao, Michael Q. Zhang
Summary: This study introduces a new method, ScaffComb, which integrates phenotype information and molecular scaffolds for drug combination screening in large-scale databases, resulting in the discovery of novel drug combinations and the identification of new synergistic mechanisms.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Yanxi Liu, Sarah Bertels, Markus Reischl, Ravindra Peravali, Martin Bastmeyer, Anna A. Popova, Pavel A. Levkin
Summary: Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) are crucial for disease modeling, drug discovery, and personalized medicine. Animal-derived materials hinder applications of hiPSCs in medical fields. Thus, novel and well-defined substrate coatings capable of maintaining hiPSC pluripotency are important for advancing biomedical applications of hiPSCs. Here a miniaturized droplet microarray (DMA) platform is used to investigate the ability of 11 well-defined proteins and their combinations to maintain pluripotency of hiPSCs when applied as a surface coating. Ten protein group coatings are identified, which promote significantly higher NANOG expression of hiPSCs compared to Matrigel coating. The DMA platform offers a potential solution for miniaturized high-throughput screening of scarce cells or expensive materials.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Dai Kusumoto, Shinsuke Yuasa, Keiichi Fukuda
Summary: Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are differentiated somatic cells that can differentiate into various cell types. Recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) technology have enabled the estimation of cell types and states from cellular morphology obtained from simple microscopic images. AI can be utilized for disease-specific drug screening using iPSCs by evaluating disease-specific phenotypes of iPSC-derived cells from label-free microscopic images. In addition, various AI-based methods, such as phenotype prediction using genomic data and virtual screening analyzing compound structures and protein-protein interactions, can be applied to drug development. Combining AI methods may accelerate drug discovery using iPSCs.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Woo Dae Jang, Sangeun Jeon, Seungtaek Kim, Sang Yup Lee
Summary: The study team successfully identified 15 and 23 potential repurposed drugs for COVID-19 from 6,218 approved and clinical trial drugs, with seven of them showing the ability to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication in Vero cells. Additionally, three drug combinations exhibited strong synergistic effects in inhibiting SARS-CoV-2, improving antiviral efficacy and reducing the risk of drug toxicity.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kaiyue Wang, Lin Zhang, Lixia Li, Yi Wang, Xinqin Zhong, Chunyu Hou, Yuqi Zhang, Congying Sun, Qian Zhou, Xiaoying Wang
Summary: This study used machine learning to mine microarray data and identified four potentially useful genes that could serve as biomarkers for diagnosing drug-induced liver injury.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Ana C. Magalhaes, Sara Ricardo, Ana C. Moreira, Mariana Nunes, Margarida Tavares, Ricardo J. Pinto, Maria Salome Gomes, Luisa Pereira
Summary: The study proposes a histology-based method for evaluating infection kinetics and demonstrates the advantages of InfectionCMA, which allows for side-by-side comparisons and evaluation of diverse cell lines, infection time points, and biomarker expression.
Article
Virology
Durbadal Ojha, Tyson A. Woods, Karin E. Peterson
Summary: This paper discusses the impact of various viruses on the central nervous system and the methodology for identifying therapeutic compounds targeting virus-induced neuronal cell death. It also presents direct evidence of the effectiveness of the protocols in testing the polyphenol drug, Rottlerin, in inhibiting Zika virus infection and neuronal cell death.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shinya Yamahira, Ryuji Misawa, Takahiro Kosaka, Mondong Tan, Shin Izuta, Hayato Yamashita, Yuji Heike, Akimitsu Okamoto, Teruyuki Nagamune, Satoshi Yamaguchi
Summary: This study presents a method for accurately positioning multiple types of cells using a photoactivatable material. The material can anchor cells through lipid-cell membrane interactions, and the anchoring can be activated using light exposure. The technique holds promise for high-throughput analysis of individual cell-cell communication.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jieqiong Wang, Liting Xie, Yu Shi, LiJuan Ao, Feiyan Cai, Fei Yan
Summary: Focused ultrasound combined with microbubbles is a potential approach to open the blood-brain barrier for drug delivery. Nanoprobe-loaded MBs can monitor cell apoptotic events during this process, providing a new strategy for treating brain diseases.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Ron Feiner, Eleanor Johns, Merav Antman-Passig, Takeshi Irie, Naxhije Berisha, Hadas Oved, Doha Khan, Lukasz Witek, Richard M. White, Daniel A. Heller
Summary: Rubber band ligation is a commonly used method for treating internal hemorrhoids. However, it often causes pain and discomfort. To alleviate these side effects, researchers developed drug-eluting rubber bands that both maintain mechanical properties and release drugs effectively.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ozlem Oz Gergin, Sibel Seckin Pehlivan, Menekse Ulger, Ozge Cengiz Mat, Adnan Bayram, Zeynep Burcin Gonen, Nur Seda Gokdemir, Cihangir Bicer, Karamehmet Yildiz, Arzu Hanim Yay
Summary: This study found that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can protect against kidney injury induced by colistin. This protection is achieved by alleviating oxidative stress, modulating autophagy and apoptosis.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Tove Selvin, Malin Berglund, Lena Lenhammar, Malin Jarvius, Peter Nygren, Marten Fryknas, Rolf Larsson, Claes R. Andersson
Summary: This study presents a phenotypic screening platform based on a miniaturized co-culture system for the identification of immunomodulatory agents. Through screening 1,280 small molecule drugs, statins were identified as enhancers of immune cell-induced cancer cell death. This research addresses a critical gap in the field of immuno-oncology.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Satoshi Asano, Yuka Maetani, Yukio Ago, Takashi Kanematsu
Summary: In this study, we found that phospholipase C-related catalytically inactive protein (PRIP) enhances cisplatin-induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells. PRIP promotes XIAP degradation by inhibiting PI (3,4,5)P3/AKT signaling, leading to enhanced cisplatin-induced apoptotic cell death. Therefore, PRIP1-PH liposomes may be a novel agent to avoid cisplatin resistance.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Ayaka Nanmo, Lei Yan, Tomoki Asaba, Licheng Wan, Tatsuto Kageyama, Junji Fukuda
Summary: This study proposes a scalable and automated approach for the preparation of highly hair-inductive grafts using a bioprinter. The method utilizes collagen droplets to facilitate hair follicle regeneration through cell interactions. This approach holds great potential for clinical applications.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Marvin Mecwan, Reihaneh Haghniaz, Alireza Hassani Najafabadi, Kalpana Mandal, Vadim Jucaud, Johnson V. John, Ali Khademhosseini
Summary: Researchers have successfully engineered a thermoresponsive shear-thinning hydrogel, composed of a thermoresponsive polymer and hemostatic silicate nanodisks, as an injectable hemostat. This hydrogel demonstrates rapid mechanical recovery and temperature-dependent blood coagulation, effectively preventing blood loss. It shows comparable efficacy to a commercially available hemostat and can be easily removed using a cold saline wash.
BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Gang Ge, Kalpana Mandal, Reihaneh Haghniaz, Mengchen Li, Xiao Xiao, Larry Carlson, Vadim Jucaud, Mehmet Remzi Dokmeci, Ghim Wei Ho, Ali Khademhosseini
Summary: Adhesive materials have been receiving increasing attention for their excellent sealing ability. However, existing adhesives typically have weak adhesion strength and deteriorate in harsh environments. In this study, a novel ionogel with tunable mechanical properties is developed using a deep eutectic solvent as the medium for photopolymerization. The ionogel demonstrates fast gelation and bonding without external pressure, high adhesion in various environments, and wide applications in packaging, marine engineering, medical adhesives, and electronic assembly.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
Beom Chan Ryu, Seon Yoo Hwang, Sung Sin Kang, Jeong Won Kang, Dongsoo Yang
Summary: The use of machine learning models as a substitute for COSMO calculations can alleviate computational burden and accurately predict vapor-liquid equilibrium. These models perform comparably to the original COSMO-SAC and UNIFAC models.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF THERMOPHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Pauline Cheng, Ahmad Rashad, Ankit Gangrade, Natan Roberto de Barros, Ali Khademhosseini, Jonathan Tam, Padmini Varadarajan, Devendra K. Agrawal, Finosh G. Thankam
Summary: Myocardial infarction leads to the loss of cardiomyocytes, but stem cell therapy shows promise in restoring cardiac function. This article discusses the application of different stem cell phenotypes and strategies to promote their differentiation into cardiomyocytes.
TISSUE ENGINEERING PART B-REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Hossein Montazerian, Alireza Hassani Najafabadi, Elham Davoodi, Rasoul Seyedmahmoud, Reihaneh Haghniaz, Avijit Baidya, Wei Gao, Nasim Annabi, Ali Khademhosseini, Paul S. Weiss
Summary: Mussel-inspired catechol-functionalization of degradable natural biomaterials is proposed as a potential approach to achieve bioadhesion for sutureless wound closure. This approach involves a simple oxidative polymerization step before conjugation of catechol-carrying molecules to amplify catechol function in bioadhesion. The modified gelatin with poly(l-DOPA) moieties shows improved wound control and enhanced cohesion, surpassing commercial sealants, and also possesses photothermal responsiveness and antibacterial activity, making it an effective biomaterial design strategy for wound closure applications.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Sugi Hirano, Tatsuto Kageyama, Maki Yamanouchi, Lei Yan, Kohei Suzuki, Katsumi Ebisawa, Keiichiro Kasai, Junji Fukuda
Summary: Hair regeneration using HFSCs and dermal papilla cells has potential for alopecia treatment. This study developed a novel approach for HFSC expansion through cell aggregates formation and Matrigel encapsulation. The HFSCs cultured using a microarray device showed a 20-fold increase in quantity and higher expression of trichogenic stem cell markers compared to conventional culture methods. HFSCs cultured using this method combined with embryonic mesenchymal cells demonstrated vigorous hair regeneration in nude mice. Moreover, the expansion of human HFSCs from androgenetic alopecia patients showed significant improvement using this approach. Therefore, this study proposes a useful method for HFSC expansion in hair regenerative medicine.
ACS BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Hossein Montazerian, Shameek Mitra, Alireza Hassani Najafabadi, Rasoul Seyedmahmoud, Yuting Zheng, Mehmet Remzi Dokmeci, Nasim Annabi, Ali Khademhosseini, Paul S. Weiss
Summary: Inspired by mussel adhesion, catechol functionalization has been widely used to impart adhesion to biomaterials. However, the bioadhesion capacity of catechol motifs in hydrogels that crosslink through free-radical-based systems is debated. This study reevaluates the bioadhesion efficacy of catechol functionalized gelatin biomolecules in methacryloyl-modified photo-cross-linkable biomaterials, and investigates the effects of catechol content on adhesion strength and hydrogel integrity. The cytotoxic and immunostimulatory effects of catechol groups are also evaluated for clinical applications.
ACS MATERIALS LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Mio Aoki, Ryoto Yokota, Shoji Maruo, Tatsuto Kageyama, Junji Fukuda
Summary: This study investigated the efficacy of slow vitrification methods for freezing hair follicle germs (HFGs) and proposed a microfinger device to scale up the cryopreservation process. The results showed that DMSO vitrification yielded efficient hair regeneration, comparable to non-cryoprotected HFGs, and the microfinger device achieved over 50% hair regeneration rate for cryopreserved HFGs.
JOURNAL OF BIOSCIENCE AND BIOENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Sarah Thorwall, Varun Trivedi, Eva Ottum, Ian Wheeldon
Summary: The emergence of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies has enabled the identification of metabolic engineering targets in microbial populations. This study used NGS data and bioinformatics tools to identify genomic signatures for improving phenazine biosynthesis in Pseudomonas chlororaphis. By sequencing and analyzing different Pseudomonas isolates, the study identified several genes that significantly influenced phenazine production. Overall, this work demonstrates the value of population genomics in identifying targets for metabolic engineering in bioproduction hosts.
METABOLIC ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Do-Won Jeong, Jong-Wan Park, Kyeong Seog Kim, Jiyoung Kim, June Huh, Jieun Seo, Ye Lee Kim, Joo-Youn Cho, Kwang-Woong Lee, Junji Fukuda, Yang-Sook Chun
Summary: This study demonstrates that palmitic acid (PA) acts as a molecular checkpoint of lipid reprogramming in liver cancer cells. PA mediates the palmitoylation of PHF2, leading to ubiquitin-dependent degradation of PHF2 and reducing lipogenesis. Additionally, PHF2 functions as an E3 ubiquitin ligase and destabilizes the master transcription factor of lipogenesis, SREBP1c. The induction of PA triggers the PHF2/SREBP1c axis, which increases lipogenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Therefore, monitoring dietary PA levels may be important for HCC patients.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Safoora Khosravi, Saeid Soltanian, Amir Servati, Ali Khademhosseini, Yangzhi Zhu, Peyman Servati
Summary: Wearable sweat biosensors embedded in textile substrates have gained attention for noninvasive monitoring of health parameters. A flexible electrochemical glucose sensor that can be screen-printed onto a textile substrate is demonstrated, achieving a linear response in the range of 20-1000μM of glucose concentration with high sensitivity and stability. These textile-based biosensors show high selectivity towards glucose and have the potential to impact the next generation of wearable devices.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Varun Trivedi, Adithya Ramesh, Ian Wheeldon
Summary: The multifaceted nature of CRISPR screens has driven advancements in functional genomics. However, the application of CRISPR screens in non-conventional yeasts and the lack of accurate bioinformatic algorithms for analyzing microbial screening data have been limitations. This mini-review explores the potential and methods for using CRISPR screens in non-conventional microbes and highlights the importance of developing accurate algorithms for data analysis.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MICROBIOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Automation & Control Systems
Baishali Kanjilal, Yangzhi Zhu, Vaishali Krishnadoss, Janitha M. M. Unagolla, Parnian Saemian, Alessia Caci, Danial Cheraghali, Iman Dehzangi, Ali Khademhosseini, Iman Noshadi
Summary: Ionic liquids (ILs) have unique properties that make them promising candidates for biomedical applications, but their cytocompatibility limitations are enhanced by using bioionic liquids (BILs) derived from biological molecules. BILs can be synthesized and immobilized onto biopolymers, and their functionalization enables the design of responsive actuators and sensors. The cytocompatibility of BIL-functionalized polymers also makes them suitable for power storage and implantable devices. This review focuses on the recent advances of BILs in biomedical applications, specifically their use as functionalization agents for biopolymers and solvents for supermolecular ionic networks.
ADVANCED INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Bruna Gregatti Carvalho, Aya Nakayama, Hiromi Miwa, Sang Won Han, Lucimara Gaziola de la Torre, Dino Di Carlo, Junmin Lee, Han-Jun Kim, Ali Khademhosseini, Natan Roberto de Barros
Summary: A novel mRNA-releasing matrix based on GelMA microporous annealed particle scaffolds is reported. The sustained release of mRNA complexes achieves indirect intracellular delivery, while direct intracellular delivery is achieved by cell adhesion on the mRNA-releasing scaffolds. This hybrid system demonstrates efficient protein expression, offering potential for mRNA-releasing biomaterials in tissue engineering.