Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hironori Sugiyama, Toshihisa Osaki, Shoji Takeuchi, Taro Toyota
Summary: Liposomes, molecular self-assemblies resembling biological membranes, are a promising scaffold for investigating the complexity of living cells. Exposed to steady flow conditions, liposomes were found to accumulate even macromolecules without pore formation, showing that external flow caused an asymmetry in the composition of anionic phospholipids between the inner and outer leaflets. This study opens new research interests in understanding the nature of biological membranes under steady flow conditions.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zahra Nasri, Mohsen Ahmadi, Johanna Striesow, Mehdi Ravandeh, Thomas von Woedtke, Kristian Wende
Summary: Cold physical plasma, as a new field of oxidative stress-based therapy, has the potential to generate a variety of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), making it a promising tool for biomedical applications. However, the impact of plasma-derived RONS on cell membrane lipids and properties is not fully understood. This study investigated the changes in lipid bilayer functionality and revealed the strong impact of cholesterol on membrane permeabilization by plasma-derived species. Additionally, the chemical composition of the head group was found to influence the maintenance of barrier properties, with phosphatidylcholines being more susceptible than other lipid classes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Orion Shih, Yi-Qi Yeh, Kuei-Fen Liao, Kun-Mou Li, Jia-Yin Tsai, Chieh-Chin Li, Yun-Wei Chiang, Richard K. Heenan, Yuh-Ju Sun, U-Ser Jeng
Summary: This study reveals the conformations and compositions of a proton-translocating pyrophosphatase Vigna radiata H+-PPase (VrPPase) in either detergent molecules or lipid nanodisc using SEC-SAXS, providing a deeper understanding of membrane-protein complexes.
MATERIALS CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Zhe Chen, Zheng Sun, Shanxiu Ming, Shuyi Li, Zhenzhou Zhu, Wenxiang Zhang
Summary: Peptides derived from food proteins have great potential as natural health products. The bioinspired proteolytic membrane (BPM) with bilayer pepsin structure was fabricated to produce peptides, showing improved enzyme loading, activity, and hydrolysis degrees. BR-BPM demonstrated higher enzyme loading, degree of hydrolysis, and permeate flux than other structures under various operation conditions, indicating promising application for peptides production.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Volker S. Urban, Raquel L. Lieberman, Wellington C. Leite, Yuqi Wu, Sai Venkatesh Pingali
Summary: This study investigates the impact of the single chain detergent DDM on the morphology of bicelles. DDM is able to reshape the bicelles at different temperatures, which is crucial for understanding lipid membrane self-organization and optimizing lipid mimics in membrane biology research.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Rashad Kariuki, Rowan Penman, Saffron J. Bryant, Rebecca Orrell-Trigg, Nastaran Meftahi, Russell J. Crawford, Chris F. McConville, Gary Bryant, Kislon Voitchovsky, Charlotte E. Conn, Andrew J. Christofferson, Aaron Elbourne
Summary: Nanomaterials have the potential to revolutionize biological and biomedical research, and this study provides detailed insights into how gold nanoparticles interact with phospholipid membranes. The study shows that the nanoparticles can be absorbed and internalized by fluid-phase membranes, and partially embed into gel-phase membranes, causing perturbations throughout the bilayers.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Diego Munoz-Gacitua, Fanny Guzman, Boris Weiss-Lopez
Summary: Crossing the cellular membrane is a major barrier in drug discovery, and cell-penetrating peptides are considered a promising solution. This study finds the equilibrium structure of a hydrophobic penetrating peptide and reveals a two-step mechanism for it to translocate the membrane.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Nicolo Paracini, Philipp Gutfreund, Rebecca Welbourn, Juan Francisco Gonzalez-Martinez, Kexin Zhu, Yansong Miao, Nageshwar Yepuri, Tamim A. . Darwish, Christopher Garvey, Sarah Waldie, Johan Larsson, Max Wolff, Marite Cardenas
Summary: Arrays of nanoparticle-supported lipid bilayers (nanoSLB) are lipid-coated nanopatterned interfaces that provide a platform to study curved model biological membranes using surface-sensitive techniques. We investigated the structure of lipid bilayers formed on nanoparticle arrays through vesicle fusion using scattering techniques and direct imaging. The presence of both flat and curved supported lipid bilayers on the same substrate, combined with the accuracy of grazing incidence neutron scattering, offers a promising approach to studying curvature-dependent membrane phenomena.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Arijit Mahapatra, Padmini Rangamani
Summary: Plasma membrane tubes are common in cellular membranes and organelle membranes, and play important roles in trafficking, ion transport, and cellular motility. They can be formed by localized forces or induced by membrane-bound proteins. A mathematical framework to model cylindrical tubular protrusions formed by proteins with anisotropic spontaneous curvature is presented. The analysis reveals that the tube radius depends on effective tension including membrane tension and protein-induced curvature. The findings have implications for processes like endocytosis, t-tubule formation in myocytes, and cristae formation in mitochondria.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Oskar Engberg, David Ulbricht, Viola Dobel, Verena Siebert, Christian Frie, Anja Penk, Marius K. Lemberg, Daniel Huster
Summary: Rhomboid proteins regulate membrane thickness to accommodate specific functions. The activity of GlpG protease is influenced by the lipid environment, showing no lipid headgroup specificity.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sung-Tae Yang, Song-Yub Shin, Sung-Heui Shin
Summary: The PXXP motif in PMAP-23 plays a crucial role in its translocation across lipid bilayers by interacting with negatively charged bacterial membranes, and wild-type PMAP-23 has stronger antimicrobial activity compared to its Pro-substituted derivatives.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Seung Beom Pyun, Ji Eun Song, Eun Chul Cho
Summary: In this study, it was found that colloidal bilayer sheets can be transformed into colloidal nanomazes by immersing them in a salt aqueous solution. This discovery enables the straightforward production of nanostructures without complex procedures. The colloidal nanomazes can be further transformed into functional inorganic nanomazes with anti-reflective functions.
ADVANCED MATERIALS INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ruijie D. Teo, D. Peter Tieleman
Summary: Simvastatin is a commonly prescribed drug for reducing high cholesterol levels, but high doses can lead to side effects like myopathy and kidney failure. Research shows that both forms of simvastatin can penetrate lipid bilayers, with differences in their localization and interactions within the bilayer.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY B
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Vignesh Udyavara Nagaraj, Tunde Juhasz, Mayra Queme-Pena, Imola Cs Szigyarto, Dora Bogdan, Andras Wacha, Judith Mihaly, Lorand Romanszki, Zoltan Varga, Joakim Andreasson, Istvan Mandity, Tamas Beke-Somfai
Summary: Self-assembled peptide nanostructures with stimuli-responsive features have the potential as functional materials. In this study, a short membrane anchor protein motif was coupled with a spiropyran photoswitch to achieve controllable interactions with lipid membranes. Photo-isomerization triggered rearrangements within the peptide bilayer, resulting in significant changes in their membrane-binding properties.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chancievan Thangaratnarajah, Jan Rheinberger, Cristina Paulino, Dirk J. Slotboom
Summary: Energy-coupling factor (ECF)-type transporters are small, asymmetric membrane protein complexes that import micronutrients into bacterial cells. Recent research suggests that during the transport process, protein-induced membrane deformations facilitate the toppling of the S component.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Daniela N. Cespedes-Valenzuela, Santiago Sanchez-Renteria, Javier Cifuentes, Monica Gantiva-Diaz, Julian A. Serna, Luis H. Reyes, Carlos Ostos, Christian Cifuentes de la Portilla, Carolina Munoz-Camargo, Juan C. Cruz
Summary: With the increasing life expectancy, there is a need for adhesive materials suitable for bone repair applications. This study developed an injectable and photo-responsive chitosan methacrylate/graphene oxide adhesive nanocomposite hydrogel that is highly biocompatible and easy to apply. The material showed potential as a bioadhesive, as it can polymerize at room temperature, has superior stability in physiological media, and is capable of withstanding loads from body weight and movement. The comprehensive studies presented suggest that the developed hydrogels are promising alternatives to conventional bone adhesives.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Carlos E. Torres, Javier Cifuentes, Saul C. Gomez, Valentina Quezada, Kevin A. Giraldo, Paola Ruiz Puentes, Laura Rueda-Gensini, Julian A. Serna, Carolina Munoz-Camargo, Luis H. Reyes, Johann F. Osma, Juan C. Cruz
Summary: Encapsulation of magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) into liposomes to form magnetoliposomes (MLPs) is an effective strategy for drug delivery. In this study, a low-cost microfluidic approach was used to synthesize and purify MLPs, and their biocompatibility and functional performance were tested. The results demonstrated that MLPs had suitable size and encapsulation efficiency, as well as good biocompatibility and efficient delivery capabilities.
Article
Polymer Science
Maria A. Rodriguez-Soto, Andres J. Garcia-Brand, Alejandra Riveros, Natalia A. Suarez, Fidel Serrano, Johann F. Osma, Carolina Munoz Camargo, Juan C. Cruz, Nestor Sandoval, Juan C. Briceno
Summary: This study presents a method for fabricating three-layered polycaprolactone (PCL)-based tubular structures with biochemical cues to improve protein adsorption and cell adhesion, aiming for vascular wall regeneration. The results show that the scaffold has good biocompatibility and mechanical properties, making it suitable for cell infiltration and proliferation.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Paula Andrea Penaranda, Mabel Juliana Noguera, Sergio Leonardo Florez, Johana Husserl, Nancy Ornelas-Soto, Juan C. Cruz, Johann F. Osma
Summary: This study explores the design, manufacture, and testing of three different magnetic microreactors with torus geometries to enhance the enzyme-based transformation of dyes by laccase bio-nanocomposites. Through simulations and experiments, it was found that the two-vertical-loop microreactor demonstrated better performance in influencing laccase bio-nanocomposites' efficiency.
Review
Cell Biology
Maria A. Rodriguez-Soto, Alejandra Riveros, Natalia Suarez Vargas, Andres J. Garcia-Brand, Carolina Munoz Camargo, Juan C. Cruz, Nestor Sandoval, Juan C. Briceno
Summary: This study aims to analyze and evaluate the bio-molecular interactions and hemodynamic phenomena related to the failure of tissue-engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs) during the regeneration process, in order to optimize their design.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Laura D. Sotelo, Diana C. Sotelo, Nancy Ornelas-Soto, Juan C. Cruz, Johann F. Osma
Summary: The presence of micropollutants in wastewater poses a significant environmental challenge. This study focused on immobilizing laccase enzyme using two different methods and evaluating their efficiency in degrading acetaminophen in artificial wastewater. The results showed that laccase-alginate microcapsules exhibited higher degradation efficiency and lower phytotoxicity.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Sergio Leonardo Florez, Ana Lucia Campana, M. Juliana Noguera, Valentina Quezada, Olga P. Fuentes, Juan C. Cruz, Johann F. Osma
Summary: Magnetite nanoparticles have been extensively studied for their potential applications. Conventional synthesis methods suffer from wide particle size distributions and inhomogeneous morphologies. In this study, microfluidic devices were used to control the synthesis process and three micromixers with different channel configurations were proposed. The micromixers were found to produce homogeneous nanoparticles with consistent sizes and crystalline structures.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Alexandra Griffith, Akilah Mateen, Kenneth Markowitz, Steven R. Singer, Carla Cugini, Emi Shimizu, Gregory R. Wiedman, Vivek Kumar
Summary: The rise of antibiotic resistant bacteria due to overuse and misuse of antibiotics in medicine and dentistry is a major concern. This article highlights the need for new approaches and alternatives to combat antibiotic resistant infections. It provides an overview of the oral microbiome and infections, traditional antibiotics and alternatives, and antimicrobial peptides, with a focus on cationic AMP characteristics and mechanisms of actions, as well as observed microbial resistance.
Article
Polymer Science
Angie D. Bolanos-Barbosa, Cristian F. Rodriguez, Olga L. Acuna, Juan C. Cruz, Luis H. Reyes
Summary: The study investigates the effects of encapsulated yeast cells on the sensory profile of beer wort. Various combinations of sodium alginate and calcium chloride concentrations were tested, and the most reliable encapsulating formulation was selected based on mechanical properties and stability. Encapsulation significantly influenced the sensory profile, including astringency, geraniol, and capric acid aroma production. It was also observed that encapsulation improved the performance of the locally isolated strain in terms of ethanol production and substrate consumption.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Olga P. Fuentes, Juan C. Cruz, Emmanuel Mignard, Guido Sonnemann, Johann F. Osma
Summary: Magnetite nanoparticles have significant applications in various industries and scientific fields. Microfluidic techniques have been used to synthesize these nanoparticles with narrow size distribution, potentially meeting industrial requirements.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
David Arango, Javier Cifuentes, Paola Ruiz Puentes, Tatiana Beltran, Amaury Bittar, Camila Ocasion, Carolina Munoz-Camargo, Natasha I. Bloch, Luis H. Reyes, Juan C. Cruz
Summary: Gene delivery using nanostructured vehicles, such as iron oxide nanoparticles, shows promise for gene therapy due to their versatility, biocompatibility, and strong magnetization. In this study, an iron oxide nanoparticle-based delivery vehicle was developed to release nucleic acids under reducing conditions. The developed nanocarriers demonstrated excellent biocompatibility and efficient cargo penetration and release. This represents the first magnetic nanoparticle-based nanocarrier capable of delivering nucleic sequences while preserving functionality under specific reducing conditions.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Valentina Jaramillo, Erika Diaz, Laura N. Munoz, Andres Fernando Gonzalez-Barrios, Jader Rodriguez-Cortina, Juan C. Cruz, Carolina Munoz-Camargo
Summary: This article introduces an innovative emulsion that combines CW49 peptide with lavender oil, which has the potential to promote wound healing and provide antibacterial protection. The results show that the emulsion possesses appropriate rheological characteristics, exhibits high viability in human keratinocytes, and demonstrates antibacterial activity. It can serve as a potent topical treatment for skin injuries.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
David Polania Melo, Andres Hernandez Bravo, Juan C. Cruz, Luis H. Reyes
Summary: This study investigated the effectiveness of using immobilized Saccharomyces cerevisiae invertase (SInv) on magnetite nanoparticles to produce fructooligosaccharides (FOSs). A modified kinetic model was employed to represent the kinetics of sucrose hydrolysis and transfructosylation using the immobilized enzyme. The results showed that immobilizing the enzyme enhanced the overall performance and potential for FOS synthesis.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Charnette Frederic, Gregory R. Wiedman
Summary: In this study, the possible interaction between azobenzene and aromatic amino acids was investigated, and evidence was found suggesting that primary protein structure could affect photoswitch activity. This research is of significance for further understanding the application of azobenzenes in biomolecules.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alejandra Riveros, Andres J. Garcia-Brand, Maria A. Rodriguez-Soto, Nestor Sandoval, Carolina Munoz-Camargo, Juan C. Cruz, Juan C. Briceno
Summary: Computational modeling and simulation were used to study the correlation between mechanical-hemodynamic-biochemical variables and protein adsorption and regenerative potential of small diameter tissue engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs). The results showed that TEVG wall properties and protein size and concentration are critical factors influencing protein adsorption.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)