Effects of polydopamine coatings on nucleation modes of surface mineralization from simulated body fluid.

Polydopamine (PDA) has been recently used as a versatile priming layer for further functionalization of a biomaterial surface, particularly in biomimetic mineralization of biomaterials. Yet most of the existing literature is on inorganic substrates and the underlying effects of the PDA layer coatings on the nucleation and mineralization process and the mineral-substrate interface have not been clearly identified. Here we aimed to investigate the effects of the PDA layer on the nucleation and growth and interfacial morphology of calcium phosphate mineral layer (CaP) from 10× simulated body fluid (10× SBF) on polymeric substrates.

Long-term imaging of calcium dynamics using genetically encoded calcium indicators and automatic tracking of cultured cells.

Calcium dynamics is crucial for many signaling pathways and cell functions. Understanding how calcium regulates cell function often requires long-term imaging of calcium dynamics. Here we report a methodological approach of long-term (5-10 h) imaging of calcium dynamics in cultured cells.