Synergizing bioprinting and 3D cell culture to enhance tissue formation in printed synthetic constructs.

Bioprinting is currently the most promising method to biofabricate complex tissues in vitro with the potential to transform the future of organ transplantation and drug discovery. Efforts to create such tissues are, however, almost exclusively based on animal-derived materials, like gelatin methacryloyl, which have demonstrated efficacy in bioprinting of complex tissues. While these materials are already used in clinical applications, uncertainty about their safety still remains due to their animal origin.

Spatial transcriptomics in bone mechanomics: Exploring the mechanoregulation of fracture healing in the era of spatial omics.

In recent decades, the field of bone mechanobiology has sought experimental techniques to unravel the molecular mechanisms governing the phenomenon of mechanically regulated fracture healing. Each cell within a fracture site resides within different local microenvironments characterized by different levels of mechanical strain; thus, preserving the spatial location of each cell is critical in relating cellular responses to mechanical stimuli. Our spatial transcriptomics-based "mechanomics" platform facilitates spatially resolved analysis of the molecular profiles of cells with respect to their local in vivo mechanical environment by integrating time-lapsed in vivo micro-computed tomography, spatial transcriptomics, and micro-finite element analysis.

The synthetic cannabinoid WIN 55,212-2 attenuates cognitive and motor deficits and reduces amyloid load in 5XFAD Alzheimer mice.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by cognitive decline, with pathological features including amyloid β (Aβ) plaques and inflammation. Despite recent approvals of anti-amyloid antibodies, there remains a need for disease-modifying and easily accessible therapies. The endocannabinoid system presents a promising target for AD treatment, as it regulates various processes implicated in AD pathogenesis.

T-cell specific in vivo gene delivery with DART-AAVs targeted to CD8.

One of the biggest challenges for in vivo gene therapy are vectors mediating highly selective gene transfer into a defined population of therapy-relevant cells. Here we present DARPin-targeted AAVs (DART-AAVs) displaying DARPins specific for human and murine CD8. Insertion of DARPins into the GH2/GH3 loop of the capsid protein 1 (VP1) of AAV2 and AAV6 resulted in high selectivity for CD8-positive T cells with unimpaired gene delivery activity.

LA-ICPMS for U-Th Dating of Holocene Stalagmites.

Here, we present an U-Th dating approach of carbonate speleothems using laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS) with a detection efficiency of 1-2%. By online addition of a Th-U-U isotope triple spike to the laser-generated aerosol, instrumental mass discrimination and U/Th elemental fractionation could be monitored and corrected. With this approach, the U/U and Th/U activity ratios of a flowstone sample in secular equilibrium could be accurately reproduced as unity with two-sigma uncertainties ±0.

EXPRESS: Landmark Publications in Analytical Atomic Spectrometry: Fundamentals and Instrumentation Development.

The almost-two-centuries history of spectrochemical analysis has generated a body of literature so vast that it has become nearly intractable for experts, much less for those wishing to enter the field. Authoritative, focused reviews help to address this problem but become so granular that the overall directions of the field are lost. This broader perspective can be provided partially by general overviews but then the thinking, experimental details, theoretical underpinnings and instrumental innovations of the original work must be sacrificed.

Quantification capabilities of N MICAP-MS with solution nebulization and aerosol desolvation.

The analytical capabilities of a nitrogen-sustained high-power microwave inductively coupled atmospheric-pressure plasma mass spectrometer (N MICAP-MS) were investigated using solution nebulization with and without aerosol desolvation. The reduced solvent load for the desolvated aerosol and the increased aerosol transfer resulted in a signal enhancement of ten times for most elements in samples without a significant amount of dissolved solids. An exception was boron, whose signal decreased by a factor of seven when a desolvator was used.

Scallop shells as biosorbents for water remediation from heavy metals: Contributions and mechanism of shell components in the adsorption of cadmium from aqueous matrix.

To ascertain their potential for heavy metal pollution remedy, we studied the adsorption mechanism of cadmium onto scallop shells and the interactions between the heavy metal and the shell matrix. Intact shells were used to investigate the uptake and diffusion of the metal contaminant onto the shell carbonatic layers, as well as to evaluate the distribution of major and trace elements in the matrix. LA-ICPMS measurements demonstrate that Cd is adsorbed on a very thin layer on the inner and outer surfaces of the shell.

Heterogeneity of layer 4 in visual areas of rhesus macaque cortex.

Recently, single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) has enabled unprecedented insights to the cellular landscape of the brains of many different species, among them the rhesus macaque as a key animal model. Building on previous, broader surveys of the macaque brain, we closely examined five immediately neighboring areas within the visual cortex of the rhesus macaque: V1, V2, V4, MT and TEO. To facilitate this, we first devised a novel pipeline for brain spatial archive - the BrainSPACE - which enabled robust archiving and sampling from the whole unfixed brain.

Protocol for preparing formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded musculoskeletal tissue samples from mice for spatial transcriptomics.

Here, we present a protocol for using spatial transcriptomics in bone and multi-tissue musculoskeletal formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples from mice. We describe steps for tissue harvesting, sample preparation, paraffin embedding, and FFPE sample selection. We detail procedures for sectioning and placement on spatial slides prior to imaging, decrosslinking, library preparation, and final analyses of the sequencing data.

Transgenic black soldier flies for production of carotenoids.

The black soldier fly (BSF), Hermetia illucens, has gained traction recently as a means to achieve closed-loop production cycles. BSF can subsist off mammalian waste products and their consumption of such waste in turn generates compost that can be used in agricultural operations. Their environmental impact is minimal and BSF larvae are edible, with a nutritional profile high in protein and other essential vitamins.

In Vitro Fossilization for High Spatial Resolution Quantification of Elements in Plant-Tissue Using LA-ICP-TOFMS.

Laser ablation in combination with an inductively coupled plasma time-of-flight mass spectrometer (LA-ICP-TOFMS) is an upcoming method for rapid quantitative element mapping of various samples. While widespread in geological applications, quantification of elements in biotissues remains challenging. In this study, a proof-of-concept sample preparation method is presented in which plant-tissues are fossilized in order to solidify the complex biotissue matrix into a mineral-like matrix.

Identification of yttrium oxide-specific peptides for future recycling of rare earth elements from electronic scrap.

Yttrium is a heavy rare earth element (REE) that acquires remarkable characteristics when it is in oxide form and doped with other REEs. Owing to these characteristics Y O can be used in the manufacture of several products. However, a supply deficit of this mineral is expected in the coming years, contributing to its price fluctuation.

Determination of carbon in microplastics and single cells by total consumption microdroplet ICP-TOFMS.

Recently, spICP-MS analyses of microplastics have demonstrated that the detection capabilities of ICP-MS are sufficient to determine the size and composition of such materials. However, solution nebulization or microdroplet generation limits the sizes of droplets, microparticles, or cells that can be efficiently introduced into commonly used horizontal ICP-MS configurations. Therefore, we introduced the development of a downward-pointing ICP coupled to a time-of-flight mass spectrometer (ICP-TOFMS), which enables quantitative transport of large microdroplets (diameters up to 90 µm) into the ICP.

Cellular Architects at Work: Cells Building their Own Microgel Houses.

Microporous annealed particle (MAP) scaffolds are investigated for their application as injectable 3D constructs in the field of regenerative medicine and tissue repair. While available MAP scaffolds provide a stable interlinked matrix of microgels for cell culture, the infiltration depth and space for cells to grow inside the scaffolds is pre-determined by the void fraction during the assembly. In the case of MAP scaffolds fabricated from interlinked spherical microgels, a cellularity gradient can be observed with the highest cell density on the scaffold surface.

[Treatment of acute knee dislocations].

A knee dislocation is a serious injury involving at least two of the four major ligamentous stabilizers of the knee. This injury results in multidirectional knee instability. In dislocation of the knee the popliteal artery and the peroneal nerve can also be damaged.

Substantially improved gene transfer to interneurons with second-generation glutamate receptor-targeted DART-AAV vectors.

Background: Adeno-associated viral vectors (AAVs) are a widely used gene transfer platform in neuroscience. Although naturally AAV serotypes can have preferences for certain tissues, selectivity for particular cell types in the CNS does not exist. Towards interneuron targeting, capsid engineering of AAV2 including display of the designed ankyrin repeat protein (DARPin) 2K19 specific for the glutamate receptor subunit 4 (GluA4) at the N-terminus of the VP2 capsid protein has been established.

Influence of the Resin System and Sand Type on the Infiltration of 3D-Printed Sand Tools.

Binder jetting is a highly productive additive manufacturing (AM) method for porous parts. Due to its cost-effectiveness, it is used for large components and quantities ranging from prototyping to series production. Post-processing steps like sintering or infiltration are common in several applications to achieve high density and strength.

A Nature-Inspired Antioxidant Strategy based on Porphyrin for Aromatic Hydrocarbon Containing Fuel Cell Membranes.

The use of hydrocarbon-based proton conducting membranes in fuel cells is currently hampered by the insufficient durability of the material in the device. Membrane aging is triggered by the presence of reactive intermediates, such as HO⋅, which attack the polymer and eventually lead to chain breakdown and membrane failure. An adequate antioxidant strategy tailored towards hydrocarbon-based ionomers is therefore imperative to improve membrane lifetime.

Transformative Materials to Create 3D Functional Human Tissue Models In Vitro in a Reproducible Manner.

Recreating human tissues and organs in the petri dish to establish models as tools in biomedical sciences has gained momentum. These models can provide insight into mechanisms of human physiology, disease onset, and progression, and improve drug target validation, as well as the development of new medical therapeutics. Transformative materials play an important role in this evolution, as they can be programmed to direct cell behavior and fate by controlling the activity of bioactive molecules and material properties.

Etiology, Classification, Diagnostics, and Conservative Management of Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus. 2023 Recommendations of the Working Group "Clinical Tissue Regeneration" of the German Society of Orthopedics and Traumatology.

Methods: Peer-reviewed literature was analyzed regarding different topics relevant to osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs) treatment. This process concluded with a statement for each topic reflecting the best scientific evidence available for a particular diagnostic or therapeutic concept, including the grade of recommendation. Besides the scientific evidence, all group members rated the statements to identify possible gaps between literature and current clinical practice.

Colloidal CsPbX Nanocrystals with Thin Metal Oxide Gel Coatings.

Lead halide perovskite (LHP) nanocrystals (NCs) have gathered much attention as light-emitting materials, particularly owing to their excellent color purity, band gap tunability, high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY), low cost, and scalable synthesis. To enhance the stability of LHP NCs, bulky strongly bound organic ligands are commonly employed, which counteract the extraction of charge carriers from the NCs and hinder their use as photoconductive materials and photocatalysts. Replacing these ligands with a thin coating is a complex challenge due to the highly dynamic ionic lattice, which is vulnerable to the commonly employed coating precursors and solvents.

Modular Principle for Complex Disordered Tetrahedral Frameworks in Quenched High-Pressure Phases of Phosphorus Oxide Nitrides.

Invited for the cover of this issue are the groups of Oliver Oeckler at Leipzig University and Wolfgang Schnick at University of Munich (LMU). The image background depicts a diffraction pattern of an intergrown crystal containing P O N as a night sky. P O N and P O N form complex disordered frameworks, a cutout of which symbolizes the earth's surface (which mainly contains silicates with related building blocks).

Characterizing a nitrogen microwave inductively coupled atmospheric-pressure plasma ion source for element mass spectrometry.

A high-power nitrogen-based microwave inductively coupled atmospheric-pressure plasma was coupled to a quadrupole mass spectrometer to investigate its characteristics as an ion source for element mass spectrometry. The influence of operating conditions on analyte sensitivity, plasma background, and polyatomic ion formation was investigated for conventional solution-based analysis. By varying the forward power and the nebulizer gas flow rate, the plasma background ions were found to decrease with increasing gas flow rates and decreasing operating power.