Article
Chemistry, Physical
Chang Liu, David L. Steer, Haipeng Song, Lizhong He
Summary: This study discovered a novel approach to enhance the affinity between SBPs and silica surfaces by altering the relative orientation of amino acids. It provides a new controllable method for protein immobilization.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ilaria Armenia, Jesus G. Ovejero, Nicoll Zeballos Lema, Fernando Lopez-Gallego, F. Javier Palomares, Sabino Veintemillas-Verdaguer, Jesus M. de la Fuente, M. Puerto Morales, Valeria Grazu
Summary: This article describes an innovative procedure to functionalize MNPs by growing a thin layer of TM2+ hydroxides on the MNP surface, which enhances the surface interaction with the protein and achieves oriented protein binding. The one-step Co coated MNPs showed the highest selectivity and specificity towards His-tags compared to the conventional NTA-TM2+ coating. This coating reduces the functionalization steps and increases the immobilization yields of His-tagged proteins.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Plant Sciences
Noriyoshi Yagi, Akira Yoshinari, Ryu J. Iwatate, Reika Isoda, Wolf B. Frommer, Masayoshi Nakamura
Summary: Fluorescent probes are essential tools for visualizing cellular structures and molecular dynamics in living cells, with a wide variety of small-molecule dyes synthesized for labeling purposes. Self-labeling technologies allow these probes to be attached to cellular domains or specific proteins, and are now being increasingly utilized in plant research.
PLANT AND CELL PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Leina Dou, Qing Li, Yuchen Bai, Jiaqian Kou, Xiaonan Wang, Qian Zhao, Xuezhi Yu, Kai Wen, Zhanhui Wang, Jianzhong Shen, Wenbo Yu
Summary: Aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIE-gens) have great potential for bacterial imaging and detection without complicated labeling or washing steps. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of their bacterial Light-Up behavior using large-scale molecular dynamics simulations. We proposed that the triphenylamine motif of TBP-1 plays a crucial role in the fluorescence turn-on and bacterial Light-Up. Based on this, we developed a heterogeneous lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) for foodborne pathogen detection with improved sensitivity and specificity.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Raquel Eustaquio, Joao P. Prates Ramalho, Ana T. Caldeira, Antonio Pereira
Summary: A series of novel 2-piperidinium-4-styrylcoumarin derivatives with large Stokes shifts and high fluorescence quantum yields were synthesized using an efficient and low-cost synthetic strategy as potential fluorescent labels for biomolecules. Density functional theory and time-dependent density functional theory calculations were performed to rationalize the observed photophysical properties.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yu Zhou, Silvia P. Centeno, Kuan Zhang, Lifei Zheng, Robert Goestl, Andreas Herrmann
Summary: This study reports the development of a series of ratiometric optical force probes (OFPs) based on fluorescent-protein-dye and protein-protein conjugates, and their incorporation into genetically engineered bio-glues. The OFPs efficiently modulate Forster resonance energy transfer upon force application, reporting on force-induced molecular alterations independent of concentration and fluorescence intensity. By fluorescence spectroscopy in solution and in the solid state, as well as fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy, stress concentrations are visualized and adhesive and cohesive failure in the fracture zone is differentiated.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hela Benaissa, Karim Ounoughi, Isabelle Aujard, Evelyne Fischer, Rosette Goiame, Julie Nguyen, Alison G. Tebo, Chenge Li, Thomas Le Saux, Giulia Bertolin, Marc Tramier, Lydia Danglot, Nicolas Pietrancosta, Xavier Morin, Ludovic Jullien, Arnaud Gautier
Summary: Fluorescent reporters covering the visible spectrum are essential for imaging living cells and organisms. The authors have developed a collection of fluorogenic chromophores spanning from blue to red using a single engineered protein tag. This tool allows for tuning fluorescence color and properties, providing versatility for imaging proteins in live cells and optimizing FRET biosensors.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xue Tian, Lloyd C. Murfin, Luling Wu, Simon E. Lewis, Tony D. James
Summary: Small-molecule based fluorescent probes play an increasingly important role in detecting and imaging biological signaling molecules due to their simplicity, high selectivity, and real-time analysis capabilities. Various sensing mechanisms, including FRET, ICT, PeT, ESIPT, AIE, as well as dual/triple sensing mechanisms, are highlighted, but challenges remain. Future development should focus on improving small-molecule fluorescent probes for biosensing applications.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ebaston Thankarajan, Shimrit Oz, Abed Saady, Kseniya Kulbitski, Mykhail O. Kompanets, Moris S. Eisen, Shai Berlin
Summary: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a powerful imaging technique used in research and clinical applications, but it has limitations such as low signal and lack of target specificity. We developed a multimodal imaging probe that can detect targeted cells using both MRI and fluorescence microscopy. The probe consists of a SNAP-tag substrate for specific cell labeling, cyanine dyes for bright fluorescence, and a chelated Gd-III molecule for enhanced MRI contrast. Our probes showed specific and efficient labeling of genetically defined cells, as well as bright fluorescence and MRI signal. This synthetic approach provides a versatile platform for the production of multimodal imaging probes, particularly for light microscopy and MRI.
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
Lulu Winer, Leila Motiei, David Margulies
Summary: The development of fluorescent labels, sensors, and analytical techniques for detecting and imaging proteins in the life sciences has been driven by the crucial role of fluorescence detection. Many research groups have utilized oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) to develop simple-to-produce, modular, and versatile fluorescent tools for studying proteins. The important properties of DNA probes include tight control over protein binders and fluorescent dyes, as well as the ability to predict molecular architectures through self-assembly, inherent solubility, and stability.
BIOCONJUGATE CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ji Liu, Jinhan Sheng, Leihou Shao, Qizhen Zheng, Wenting Li, Xianghan Chen, Lanqun Mao, Ming Wang
Summary: Hierarchical self-assembly of TPE-featured metal-organic cages and beta-cyclodextrin-conjugated polyethylenimine generates fluorescent supramolecular nanoparticles (FSNPs) for efficient protein delivery into neural cells, allowing rapid release into the cytosol for subcellular targeting. Delivery of molecular chaperone DJ-1 using FSNPs activates MAPK/ERK signaling in neural cells to protect cells from oxidative stress.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2021)
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Jiarao Sun, Xiaoli Cao, Wenjuan Lu, Yongchun Wei, Lingxiu Kong, Wei Chen, Xintian Shao, Yanfeng Wang
Summary: Peroxynitrite (ONOO-) is implicated in various physiological and pathological processes, including neurodegenerative diseases and cancer, due to its high oxidative and nitrating stress. Detecting ONOO- at the cellular level is crucial for understanding its pathogenesis, and fluorescent probes based on small molecules and nanoparticles have been engineered for this purpose. In this review, we highlight representative cases of these probes, emphasizing their response type and the past five years of ONOO- detection.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Julian Kompa, Jorick Bruins, Marius Glogger, Jonas Wilhelm, Michelle S. Frei, Miroslaw Tarnawski, Elisa D'Este, Mike Heilemann, Julien Hiblot, Kai Johnsson
Summary: The specific and covalent labeling of the protein HaloTag with fluorescent probes in living cells makes it a powerful tool for bioimaging. However, the irreversible attachment of the probe to HaloTag precludes imaging applications that require transient binding of the probe and comes with the risk of irreversible photobleaching. Here, we introduce exchangeable ligands for fluorescence labeling of HaloTag (xHTLs) that reversibly bind to HaloTag and that can be coupled to rhodamines of different colors.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Jun-Tao Chen, Si-Si Chen, Zhi-Qing Wang, Guo Yu, Guo-Jiang Mao, Junjie Fei, Chun-Yan Li
Summary: This study proposes a near-infrared fluorescent nanoprobe based on a zeolitic imidazole framework for detecting the level of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in cells, which is of great significance for various disease models.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Shuang Chao, Pei Huang, Ziyan Shen, Yuxin Pei, Yinghua Lv, Yuchao Lu, Zhichao Pei
Summary: This article presents a multifunctional nanodrug delivery system for targeted delivery and real-time monitoring of nonfluorescent drugs, which is one of the most important topics in cancer therapy. A novel supramolecular fluorescent probe was constructed to monitor the delivery of nonfluorescent drug gemcitabine (GEM) to cancer cells. The nanodrug delivery system exhibits excellent capabilities for targeted drug delivery and real-time monitoring of nonfluorescent drug release.
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY FRONTIERS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Qi Liu, Lingjie Sheng, Yuan-Yuan Liu, Tiange Gao, Haifang Wang, Yuanfang Liu, Aoneng Cao
Summary: This work demonstrates the use of conformational engineering technique to stabilize the binding conformation of p53 transcription activation domain peptide and create an anti-MDM2 artificial antibody on gold nanoparticles. It suggests that this technique can be applied to create more artificial proteins for various biomedical applications.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Jiao Chu, Yan Chen, Shi-Ying Tan, Yuan-Yuan Liu, Wenzhe Liu, Xiaohan Liu, Lei Shi, Haifang Wang, Wei Li, Jian Zi
Summary: With concerns over the safety of synthetic food colorants, a strategy of mixing two edible sub-microspheres is reported to produce mass amorphous photonic structures with structural color, which are proven to be safe and promising for applications in food, drugs, and cosmetics.
ADVANCED OPTICAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shi-Ying Tan, Xing-Zhu Chen, Aoneng Cao, Haifang Wang
Summary: The absorption, distribution, and excretion of two types of VO2 (nanoscale SVO2 and bulk MVO2) in mice were studied. The absorption rate was low, and unabsorbed VO2 was excreted through feces. Vanadium accumulated the most in bone, followed by liver, kidney, and spleen. Smaller particle size and higher dosage led to higher vanadium contents in organs. Diabetic mice had higher vanadium accumulation in bone and liver compared to normal mice. After stopping the treatment, the accumulated vanadium in organs decreased significantly, except in bone where it remained high.
BIOLOGICAL TRACE ELEMENT RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yuan-Yuan Liu, Jie Liu, Hao Wu, Qiangqiang Zhang, Xue-Rui Tang, Dan Li, Chen-Si Li, Yuanfang Liu, Aoneng Cao, Haifang Wang
Summary: Nanoplastics, a type of plastic pollution, can enter the human body through inhalation and pose a threat to human health. However, there is limited knowledge about the uptake and exocytosis of nanoplastics in human lung cells. This study investigated the endocytosis, distribution, and exocytosis of polystyrene nanoparticles (PS NPs) in A549 and BEAS-2B cells. The findings revealed that the cellular uptake of PS NPs increased with exposure time and dose, and A549 cells ingested more PS NPs than BEAS-2B cells. Furthermore, the translocation and excretion of PS NPs were influenced by their size and localization in different cell compartments.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Tiange Gao, Chenxi Lou, Yan Wang, Haifang Wang, Aoneng Cao
Summary: It has been found that the CDR fragments of antibodies can be grafted onto gold nanoparticles to create artificial antibodies called Goldbodies, which maintain the same binding specificity as the original antibodies but have better stability. This study successfully created two anti-CA Goldbodies by predicting and reconstructing the CDR3 regions through sequence alignment of two anti-carbonic anhydrase (CA) antibodies, one with a known complex structure and the other without. The results showed that both Goldbodies can bind to CA simultaneously, indicating the possibility of developing artificial antibodies by directly grafting and conformationally reconstructing predicted CDR3 regions.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Chengzhuang Liang, Qinmei Zhong, Lejie Pan, Fangshi Liu, Xin Li, Jinwei Yang, Yusen Ma, Junrou Zhou, Sheng-Tao Yang
Summary: Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are rapidly developed materials with fantastic properties and wide applications. However, their potential threats to the environment are highlighted. The influence of organic ligands on the environmental impacts of MOFs has not been revealed.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yue-Rui Yuan, Qiang Liu, Deyu Wang, Yu-Dan Deng, Ting-Ting Du, Wen-Jing Yi, Sheng-Tao Yang
Summary: The key to gene therapy lies in the development of effective and biocompatible delivery systems. This study presents the design of a glutathione-activated aggregation-induced-emission (AIE) cationic amphiphilic lipid, QM-SS-KK, for nonviral gene delivery. QM-SS-KK exhibited efficient DNA compaction and fluorescence modulation properties, which could be activated by GSH. Liposomes composed of QM-SS-KK and DOPE showed high transfection efficiency, especially in the presence of serum, and outperformed the commercial transfection agent PEI25K. These findings highlight the potential of peptide and QM-based AIE lipids for gene delivery.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yi Cai, Fangxin Luo, Yujun Guo, Feng Guo, Weilong Shi, Shengtao Yang
Summary: Zinc indium sulfide (ZnIn2S4) is a significant visible-light-responsive photocatalyst with excellent properties, but its low utilization of solar light and fast photoinduced charge carriers limit its applications. This review describes various modulation strategies for enhancing the near-infrared (NIR) photocatalytic performance of ZnIn2S4-based photocatalysts, including hybrid materials, bandgap engineering, up-conversion materials, and surface plasmon materials. The synthesis methods and mechanisms of NIR light-driven ZnIn2S4-based photocatalysts are also summarized.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Wenxin Qi, Naijun Dong, Lingling Wu, Xueqi Zhang, He Li, Hao Wu, Natalie Ward, Jian Yu, He Liu, Jiao Wang, Xiaoyong Deng, Robert Chunhua Zhao
Summary: The high occurrence rate and difficulties in symptom control of oral mucosal disease are major concerns for medical professionals. A light-responsive antibacterial hydrogel containing sustained-release BMSCs has been developed to rapidly repair oral mucosal defects. By altering the oral microenvironment, boosting immunity, and releasing anti-inflammatory and angiogenic factors, this hydrogel prevents infection and promotes wound healing.
BIOACTIVE MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Jiu Ge, Mengting Li, Jiahui Fan, Christian Celia, Yijun Xie, Qing Chang, Xiaoyong Deng
Summary: Bacterial infections pose a significant threat to human health, and the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria has reduced the effectiveness of antibacterial treatments. In this study, chitosan/silver nanoparticle complexes were developed to inhibit bacterial proliferation and induce membrane damage. The results demonstrated that increasing the chitosan concentration enhanced the antibacterial impact, and the nanoparticles showed broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. The study provides valuable insights into the development of nano-antibacterial agents as a potential substitute for traditional antibiotics in medical applications.
JOURNAL OF BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE-POLYMER EDITION
(2024)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Fangshi Liu, Suke Lan, Chun Zhang, Mengyao Shi, Xian Wu, Sheng-Tao Yang
Summary: The large surface area and porous structure of MOF materials provide binding sites for fluorescent moieties for bioimaging. In this study, we prepared a fluorescent MOF material Zn(BDC)-8HQ by modifying 8-hydroquinoline. Zn(BDC)-8HQ emitted strong fluorescence at 507 nm and had a hydrodynamic radius suitable for lymph node tracing. The low toxicity of Zn(BDC)-8HQ was confirmed by serum biochemical index and histopathological observations.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jie Liu, Yuan-Yuan Liu, Chen-Si Li, Aoneng Cao, Haifang Wang
Summary: Both understanding the interaction between nanomaterials and cells and assessing their safety require a comprehensive understanding of how nanomaterials enter, transport within, and exit cells. While the uptake and trafficking of nanoparticles (NPs) have been extensively studied, the exocytosis of NPs has received less attention. However, exocytosis is a vital process for regulating NP content in cells and determining their toxicity. A thorough understanding of exocytosis mechanisms and influencing factors is crucial for NP safety assessment and the design of effective NP-based materials.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Yuan-Yuan Liu, Zao-Xia Sun, Jie Liu, Qiangqiang Zhang, Yuanfang Liu, Aoneng Cao, Ya-Ping Sun, Haifang Wang
Summary: This study analyzed the uptake and exocytosis processes of carbon dots in different human cell lines and found that cell type significantly influences the fate of carbon dots in cells. The results suggest that MDA-MB-468 cells have the highest capacity for uptake and exocytosis, while HeLa cells have the lowest capacity. The findings on cell type-dependent cellular uptake and exocytosis may be valuable for the future design of high-performance and safe carbon dots and related nanomaterials.
ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS
(2022)
