Probiotic Properties of Chicken-Derived Highly Adherent Lactic Acid Bacteria and Inhibition of Enteropathogenic Bacteria in Caco-2 Cells.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) as probiotic candidates have various beneficial functions, such as regulating gut microbiota, inhibiting intestinal pathogens, and improving gut immunity. The colonization of the intestine is a prerequisite for probiotic function. Therefore, it is necessary to screen the highly adherent LAB.

Collagen gel contraction assays: From modelling wound healing to quantifying cellular interactions with three-dimensional extracellular matrices.

Cells respond to and actively remodel the extracellular matrix (ECM). The dynamic and bidirectional interaction between cells and ECM, especially their mechanical interactions, has been found to play an essential role in triggering a series of complex biochemical and biomechanical signal pathways and in regulating cellular functions and behaviours. The collagen gel contraction assay (CGCA) is a widely used method to investigate cell-ECM interactions in 3D environments and provides a mechanically associated readout reflecting 3D cellular contractility.

Electrically Programmable Interfacial Adhesion for Ultrastrong Hydrogel Bonding.

Adjustable interfacial adhesion is of great significance in smart-hydrogel-related engineering fields. This study presents an electroadhesion strategy for universal and ultrastrong hydrogel bonding with electrically programmable strength. An ionic hydrogel containing lithium ions is designed to achieve hydrated-ion-diffusion-mediated interfacial adhesion, where external electric fields are employed to precisely control spatiotemporal dynamics of the ion diffusion across ionic adhesion region (IAR).

Hydrogel-based patient-friendly photodynamic therapy of oral potentially malignant disorders.

Oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) are precursor lesions with an increased risk of malignant transformation. Topical photodynamic therapy (PDT) mediated by 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) (ALA-PDT) is a promising therapeutic method in the treatment of OPMDs. However, the clinical application of topical ALA-PDT is restricted by several limitations, including low delivery efficiency, poor comfort, and easy influence by saliva.

Spontaneous formation and spatial self-organization of mechanically induced mesenchymal-like cells within geometrically confined cancer cell monolayers.

There is spatiotemporal heterogeneity in cell phenotypes and mechanical properties in tumor tissues, which is associated with cancer invasion and metastasis. It is well-known that exogenous growth factors like transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, can induce epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-based phenotypic transformation and the formation of EMT patterning on geometrically confined monolayers with mechanics heterogeneity. In the absence of exogenous TGF-β stimulation, however, whether geometric confinement-caused mechanics heterogeneity of cancer cell monolayers alone can trigger the EMT-based phenotypic heterogeneity still remains mysterious.

Strong underwater adhesion of injectable hydrogels triggered by diffusion of small molecules.

It is challenging for injectable hydrogels to achieve high underwater adhesiveness. Based on this concern, we report a fully physically crosslinked injectable hydrogel composed of gelatin, tea polyphenols and urea, capable of realising smart adhesion to various materials, like glass and porcine skin, in diverse aqueous environments. The urea molecules are designed as crosslinking disruptors for interfering with the formation of hydrogen bonds in the hydrogel, therefore modulating its crosslinking density and mechanical properties such as tensile strength, toughness and adhesive strength.

Extracellular matrix stiffness modulates host-bacteria interactions and antibiotic therapy of bacterial internalization.

Pathogenic bacteria evolve multiple strategies to hijack host cells for intracellular survival and persistent infections. Previous studies have revealed the intricate interactions between bacteria and host cells at genetic, biochemical and even single molecular levels. Mechanical interactions and mechanotransduction exert a crucial impact on the behaviors and functions of pathogenic bacteria and host cells, owing to the ubiquitous mechanical microenvironments like extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness.