Nanovoid formation induces property variation within and across individual silkworm silk threads.

Silk is a unique fiber, having a strength and toughness that exceeds other natural fibers. While inroads have been made in our understanding of silkworm silk structure and function, few studies have measured structure and function at nanoscales. As a consequence, the sources of variation in mechanical properties along single silk fibers remain unresolved at multiple scales.

3D printing of silk microparticle reinforced polycaprolactone scaffolds for tissue engineering applications.

Polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds have been widely investigated for tissue engineering applications, however, they exhibit poor cell adhesion and mechanical properties. Subsequently, PCL composites have been produced to improve the material properties. This study utilises a natural material, Bombyx mori silk microparticles (SMP) prepared by milling silk fibre, to produce a composite to enhance the scaffolds properties.

Fabrication of a cost-effective lemongrass () membrane with antibacterial activity for dye removal.

Dye wastewater has attracted much attention due to its severe environmental and health problems. The main challenge of separating dyes from wastewater, using adsorption, is developing a functional adsorbent that is cost-effective and sustainable. In this work, we have fabricated a novel low-cost membrane with antibacterial properties from naturally sustainable lemongrass (LG).

Non-Invasive Optical Sensor Based Approaches for Monitoring Virus Culture to Minimize BSL3 Laboratory Entry.

High titers of infectious viruses for vaccine and diagnostic reference panel development are made by infecting susceptible mammalian cells. Laboratory procedures are strictly performed in a Bio-Safety Level-3 (BSL3) laboratory and each entry and exit involves the use of  disposable Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE) to observe cell culture conditions. Routine PPE use involves significant recurring costs.

Quantification of plasma HIV RNA using chemically engineered peptide nucleic acids.

The remarkable stability of peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) towards enzymatic degradation makes this class of molecules ideal to develop as part of a diagnostic device. Here we report the development of chemically engineered PNAs for the quantitative detection of HIV RNA at clinically relevant levels that are competitive with current PCR-based assays. Using a sandwich hybridization approach, chemical groups were systematically introduced into a surface PNA probe and a reporter PNA probe to achieve quantitative detection for HIV RNA as low as 20 copies per millilitre of plasma.

XMRV: usage of receptors and potential co-receptors.

Background: XMRV is a gammaretrovirus first identified in prostate tissues of Prostate Cancer (PC) patients and later in the blood cells of patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). Although XMRV is thought to use XPR1 for cell entry, it infects A549 cells that do not express XPR1, suggesting usage of other receptors or co-receptors.

Methods: To study the usage of different receptors and co- receptors that could play a role in XMRV infection of lymphoid cells and GHOST (GFP- Human osteosarcoma) cells expressing CD4 along with different chemokine receptors including CCR1, CCR2, etc.