Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yao Luo, Guoyi Yu, Xiaobo Liu, Yanwen Feng, Pei Zhao, Jun Yue
Summary: Cationic hyperbranched polyureas are effective in killing bacteria and inhibiting biofilm formation. They can penetrate biofilms and eradicate them, making them promising in treating chronic wounds infected with bacteria.
CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Nan Zheng, Daniel Kwesi Cudjoe, Wangze Song
Summary: A new class of cationic polymers containing tertiary amine, thioether, and hydroxyl groups were successfully synthesized via a novel method, demonstrating high transfection efficiency and low toxicity in gene delivery. The oxidative stress and undesired serum binding of the polycations were effectively tuned and prevented by thioether and hydroxyl groups, showing great potential as nonviral gene delivery vectors.
MACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Bowen Zhao, Jiajia Li, Xiangqiang Pan, Zhengbiao Zhang, Guoqing Jin, Jian Zhu
Summary: A photoinduced polymerization technique is reported in this study, which can achieve controlled molecular weights and narrow dispersity of polymers at different wavelengths, and can also be used for producing 3D printed objects of varying thicknesses utilizing stereolithography.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yunjiang Jiang, Wan Zheng, Keith Tran, Elizabeth Kamilar, Jitender Bariwal, Hairong Ma, Hongjun Liang
Summary: This study demonstrates the antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity of nanoparticle-pinched polymer brushes (NPPBs) composed of chemically inert silica nanospheres covalently grafted with hydrophilic polymer brushes. The antimicrobial potency of NPPBs against bacteria, including multidrug-resistant strains, depends critically on the size of the nanoparticles. Small nanoparticles enhance antimicrobial activity while large ones reduce it, with a threshold size identified for optimal membrane pore formation. Nanoengineering shows potential for developing nanoantibiotics that selectively kill bacteria while remaining nontoxic to mammalian cells.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Jakkarin Limwongyut, Alex S. Moreland, Kaixi Zhang, Malik Raynor, Supaksorn Chattagul, Timothy A. Fitzgerald, Yoann Le Breton, Daniel V. Zurawski, Guillermo C. Bazan
Summary: This study reports a series of amidine-containing COEs with high selectivity for bacteria, and identifies 1b as the most active compound against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Additionally, 1b inhibits biofilm formation and kills established P. aeruginosa biofilms.
JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Jingyuan Guan, Xinda You, Benbing Shi, Yanan Liu, Jinqiu Yuan, Chao Yang, Xiao Pang, Hong Wu, Jianliang Shen, Chunyang Fan, Mengying Long, Runnan Zhang, Zhongyi Jiang
Summary: The study introduces multi-pathway GO membranes for fast water transport, achieving high water permeance and dye rejection rates. By manipulating the intercalator amount, the membranes show significant performance enhancement and resistance against broad-spectrum oil-in-water emulsions.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Keenan A. Lacey, Lee Serpas, Sohei Makita, Yueyang Wang, Ali Rashidfarrokhi, Chetna Soni, Sandra Gonzalez, Andre Moreira, Victor J. Torres, Boris Reizis
Summary: DNASE1 and DNASE1L3 jointly contribute to the resistance against systemic infection with Staphylococcus aureus by digesting bacterial biofilms.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Fahimeh Nourbakhsh, Marzieh Lotfalizadeh, Mohaddeseh Badpeyma, Abolfazl Shakeri, Vahid Soheili
Summary: The bacterial membrane serves as a barrier that provides a cytoplasmic environment for organelles of bacteria and facilitates intercellular transfers of chemicals. Various antimicrobials have been identified to disrupt bacterial cytoplasmic membranes, potentially leading to cell death. Natural antimicrobial compounds have emerged as a promising alternative to antibiotics due to their lower side effects, cost-effectiveness, and biocompatibility, but further research is needed to validate their clinical efficacy.
PHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rishad J. Dalal, Monica L. Ohnsorg, Sidharth Panda, Theresa M. Reineke
Summary: A cationic unimolecular bottlebrush polymer with chemically modified end-groups was synthesized to investigate its impact on colloidal stability, nucleic acid delivery performance, and toxicity. The study found that increasing the hydrophilicity of the end-groups and preformulating the bottlebrush polymer in PBS can improve colloidal stability and cellular viability.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Varvara Chrysostomou, Hector Katifelis, Maria Gazouli, Konstantinos Dimas, Costas Demetzos, Stergios Pispas
Summary: Research on improving and fabricating polymeric systems for non-viral gene delivery carriers is necessary for gene therapy. In this study, a random copolymer was synthesized and shown to form stable complexes with DNA, with excellent biocompatibility demonstrated in various breast cancer cell lines.
Article
Polymer Science
Nils Luedecke, Helmut Schlaad
Summary: A series of new functionalized poly(2-oxazoline) homopolymers and copolymers carrying protected catecholic side chains were prepared by microwave-assisted cationic ring-opening (co)polymerization. Copolymerizations of different 2-oxazoline monomers produced gradient or random copolymers, with chain coupling reactions observed in some cases. One polymer was designed as a bioinspired adhesive copolymer mimicking mussel adhesive protein.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Haddadi Majid, Nima Heidarzadeh, Vahid Vatanpour, Ahmad Dehqan
Summary: In this study, the surface of reverse osmosis (RO) membranes was modified using the synergistic effect of hydrophilic polymer and graphene oxide (GO). The optimized membranes showed improved performance in terms of flux, rejection, and antifouling efficiency.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Yuliya K. Yushina, Andrey V. Sybachin, Oksana A. Kuznecova, Anastasia A. Semenova, Eteri R. Tolordava, Vladislava A. Pigareva, Anastasiya V. Bolshakova, Vyacheslav M. Misin, Alexey A. Zezin, Alexander A. Yaroslavov, Dagmara S. Bataeva, Elena A. Kotenkova, Elena V. Demkina, Maksim D. Reshchikov
Summary: This paper studied the biocidal activity of seven cationic (co)polymers with amino groups toward Gram-positive and Gram-negative cells. The polymers showed significant biocidal effect in both aqueous solution and after forming polymer films. Water can remove parts of the polymer films, resulting in ultrathin monolayers with a nanoscale thickness. Polyethyleneimine film showed the highest resistance to water.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Nils Luedecke, Marek Bekir, Stephan Eickelmann, Matthias Hartlieb, Helmut Schlaad
Summary: Inspired by mussel proteins, a platform for protein-repellent macromolecules based on poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) carrying catechol and cationic functional groups was developed. The polymers with catechol units showed a strong tendency to form surface-bound layers on different substrates, while the ones with additional cationic units were able to form defined and durable polymer films. These coatings prevented the attachment of model proteins, offering a biomimetic approach to nonfouling surface coatings.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marle E. J. Vleugels, Silvia Varela-Aramburu, Bas F. M. de Waal, Sandra M. C. Schoenmakers, Beatriz Maestro, Anja R. A. Palmans, Jesus M. Sanz, E. W. Meijer
Summary: The key to achieving functionality in nature lies in dynamic binding events driven by electrostatic or hydrophobic interactions. Synthetic supramolecular polymers based on benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamide (BTA) motif show promise in mimicking this dynamicity. Functional monomers incorporating choline or atropine groups exhibit enhanced binding capabilities with essential choline-binding proteins, with copolymerization leading to dynamic fibers with increased affinity toward CBPs. This highlights the potential of BTA-based supramolecular copolymers for designing bioactive and dynamic materials with novel biotechnological properties.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Lulu Xu, Feng Gao, Feng Fan, Lihua Yang
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ji-Gang Piao, Feng Gao, Yunong Li, Lei Yu, Dong Liu, Zi-Bin Tan, Yujie Xiong, Lihua Yang, Ye-Zi You
Article
Physics, Atomic, Molecular & Chemical
Shuai Qin, Li-wei Hui, Li-hua Yang, Ming-ming Ma
CHINESE JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2018)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Feng Gao, Lulu Xu, Binqian Yang, Feng Fan, Lihua Yang
ACS INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2019)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Liwei Hui, Qinmei Zhang, Wei Deng, Haitao Liu
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Zhiyuan Li, Taiming Zhang, Feng Fan, Feng Gao, Hengxing Ji, Lihua Yang
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2020)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Binqian Yang, Feng Gao, Zhiyuan Li, Mingyang Li, Liang Chen, Yong Guan, Gang Liu, Lihua Yang
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2020)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Feng Fan, Lijun Jin, Lihua Yang
Summary: A new approach using long-circulating, pH-sensitive nanoparticles composed solely of cellular membrane-disruptive molecules has been proposed for treating pancreatic cancer. These nanoparticles effectively permeabilized the stromal barrier and eradicated pancreatic cancer cells without promoting tumor metastasis.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Feng Gao, Tianyi Shao, Yunpeng Yu, Yujie Xiong, Lihua Yang
Summary: The study shows that nanozymes that generate surface-bound ROS can selectively kill bacteria without harming mammalian cells, offering great potential for antimicrobial applications.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yajuan Liu, Zhiyuan Li, Feng Fan, Xianjun Zhu, Lingbo Jia, Muqing Chen, Pingwu Du, Lihua Yang, Shangfeng Yang
Summary: In this study, covalently functionalized few-layer black phosphorus nanosheets were used as novel sonosensitizers in sonodynamic therapy (SDT), showing increased efficacy and reduced cytotoxicity. The different functionalization patterns of BPNSs significantly impact the SDT efficacy, with BA-s-BP demonstrating the highest efficacy in generating hydroxyl radicals for tumor cell killing.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xinyang Jin, Feng Gao, Mingxin Qin, Yunpeng Yu, Yue Zhao, Tianyi Shao, Cai Chen, Wenhua Zhang, Bin Xie, Yujie Xiong, Lihua Yang, Yuen Wu
Summary: Commercial personal protective equipment (PPE) is unable to effectively inactivate microbes in the intercepted droplets/aerosols, making used PPE a potential source of cross-contamination. By incorporating oxidase-like catalysts into PPE, it becomes possible to inactivate bacteria in the intercepted droplets/aerosols without any external stimuli. This approach is applicable to different types of PPE and provides a feasible global solution for preventing the spread of infectious diseases.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mingyang Li, Xinyang Jin, Tao Liu, Feng Fan, Feng Gao, Shuang Chai, Lihua Yang
Summary: The elasticity of nanoparticles plays a crucial role in their physiological fate, but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. This study demonstrates that the protein corona, particularly the absorption of apolipoprotein A-1 (ApoA1), differs depending on nanoparticle elasticity, which in turn affects their circulation time. By using core-shell nanoparticles with different elasticities as models, the researchers isolate the effects of nanoparticle elasticity from other physiochemical parameters and observe a non-monotonic relationship between systemic circulation lifetime and nanoparticle elasticity in mouse models. The composition of the protein corona, when incubated with mouse plasma, varies non-monotonically depending on nanoparticle elasticity, with ApoA1 showing a strong correlation with the blood clearance lifetime of the nanoparticles. These findings provide insights into how nanoparticle elasticity influences their physiological fate and suggest that it can be a tunable parameter in future studies on the protein corona.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Review
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Shuang Chai, Yutao Xie, Lihua Yang
Summary: The emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance has prompted the development of antibacterial substances that can overcome bacterial resistance mechanisms. Single-element inorganic nanomaterials have shown promising antibacterial activity, potentially delaying the emergence of bacterial resistance. This review focuses on the antibacterial potency of silver nanoparticles, carbon nanomaterials, and black phosphorous nanosheets, as well as factors influencing their antibacterial performance and their cytotoxicity to mammalian cells.
CURRENT OPINION IN SOLID STATE & MATERIALS SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Feng Fan, Bin Xie, Lihua Yang
Summary: Enhancing tumor-targeted delivery efficiency of nanoparticles is vital for their therapeutic efficacy, with blood flow playing a crucial role in facilitating this process.
ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Feng Fan, Ji-Gang Piao, Yangyang Zhao, Lijun Jin, Mingyang Li, Yucai Wang, Lihua Yang
ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS
(2020)