Fullerenol C(OH): Antioxidant, Cytoprotective, Anti-Influenza Virus Activity, and Self-Assembly in Aqueous Solutions and Cell Culture Media.

Viral infections and many other dangerous diseases are accompanied by the development of oxidative stress, which is a consequence of an increase in the level of the reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this regard, the search for effective antioxidants remains highly relevant. We tested fullerenol C(OH) in the context of the connection between its self-assembly in aqueous solutions and cell culture media, antiradical activity, UV cytoprotective action, and antiviral activity against international reference strains of influenza virus A(H1N1)pdm09, A(H3N2), and B subtypes in vitro on the MDCK cell line.

Viviparity is associated with larger female size and higher sexual size dimorphism in a reproductively bimodal lizard.

Squamate reptiles are central for studying phenotypic correlates of evolutionary transitions from oviparity to viviparity because these transitions are numerous, with many of them being recent. Several models of life-history theory predict that viviparity is associated with increased female size, and thus more female-biased sexual size dimorphism (SSD). Yet, the corresponding empirical evidence is overall weak and inconsistent.

Standardizing designed and emergent quantitative features in microphysiological systems.

Microphysiological systems (MPSs) are cellular models that replicate aspects of organ and tissue functions in vitro. In contrast with conventional cell cultures, MPSs often provide physiological mechanical cues to cells, include fluid flow and can be interlinked (hence, they are often referred to as microfluidic tissue chips or organs-on-chips). Here, by means of examples of MPSs of the vascular system, intestine, brain and heart, we advocate for the development of standards that allow for comparisons of quantitative physiological features in MPSs and humans.

Generation and Characterization of hiPSC-Derived Vascularized-, Perfusable Cardiac Microtissues-on-Chip.

In the heart in vivo, vasculature forms a semi-permeable endothelial barrier for selective nutrient and (immune) cell delivery to the myocardium and removal of waste products. Crosstalk between the vasculature and the heart cells regulates homeostasis in health and disease. To model heart development and disease in vitro it is important that essential features of this crosstalk are captured.