Biomimetic neural substitutes, constructed through the bottom-up assembly of cell-matrix modulus via 3D bioprinting, hold great promise for neural regeneration. However, achieving precise control over the fate of neural stem cells (NSCs) to ensure biological functionality remains challenging. Cell behaviors are closely linked to cellular dynamics and cell-matrix mechanotransduction within a 3D microenvironment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBacterial infections, such as sepsis, require prompt and precise identification of the causative bacteria for appropriate antibiotics treatment. Traditional methods such as culturing take 2-5 days, while newer techniques such as reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and mass spectrometry are hindered by blood impurities. Consequently, this study developed a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based acoustofluidic technique for rapid bacterial detection without culturing or lysing.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFKnown for their diverse and potent physiological activities, natural products continue to be essential for the discovery and development of new drugs. This chapter explores the pivotal role of preparative thin-layer chromatography (Prep-TLC) in the isolation of natural products. This chapter begins with an understanding of the historical significance and structural complexity of natural products, and discusses the problems caused by complex mixtures present in extracts, as well as the multifunctionality, cost-effectiveness, and compatibility with different sample types of Prep-TLC to address these challenges.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFProc Natl Acad Sci U S A
February 2025
The design of organic-peptide hybrids has the potential to combine our vast knowledge of protein design with small molecule engineering to create hybrid structures with complex functions. Here, we describe the computational design of a photoswitchable Ca-binding organic-peptide hybrid. The designed molecule, designated Ca-binding switch (CaBS), combines an EF-hand motif from classical Ca-binding proteins such as calmodulin with a photoswitchable group that can be reversibly isomerized between a spiropyran (SP) and merocyanine (MC) state in response to different wavelengths of light.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF