Excitation frequencies in the terahertz (THz) range are expected to lead to functionally relevant domain movements within the biological macromolecules such as proteins. The possibility of examining such movements in an aqueous environment is particularly valuable since here proteins are not deprived of any motional degrees of freedom. Small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) is a powerful method to study the structure and domain movements of proteins in solution. Here, we present a microfluidic cell for SAXS experiments, which is also transparent for THz radiation. Specifically, cell dimensions and material were optimized for both radiation sources. In addition, the polystyrene cell can be 3D printed and easily assembled. We demonstrate the practicality of our design for SAXS measurements on several proteins in solution.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0004706 | DOI Listing |
Microfluid Nanofluidics
July 2024
Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Arizona, 1200 E University Blvd, Tucson 85721, Arizona, USA.
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) protects the brain by actively allowing the entry of ions and nutrients while limiting the passage of from toxins and pathogens. A healthy BBB has low permeability and high selectivity to maintain normal brain functions. Increased BBB permeability can result from neurological diseases and traumatic injuries.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Med Life
November 2024
Biophysics and Cellular Biotechnology Department, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
Optical tweezers, which leverage the forces exerted by radiation pressure, have emerged as a pivotal technique for precisely manipulating and analyzing microscopic particles. Since Arthur Ashkin's ground-breaking work in the 1970s and the subsequent development of the single-beam optical trap in 1986, the capabilities of optical tweezers have expanded significantly, enabling the intricate manipulation of biological specimens at the micro- and nanoscale. This review elucidates the foundational principles of optical trapping and their extensive applications in the biomedical sciences.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiosens Bioelectron
January 2025
Department of Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK; School of Electronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK; School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia. Electronic address:
Closed-channel microfluidic systems offer versatile on-chip capabilities for bioanalysis but often face complex fabrication and operational challenges. In contrast, free-boundary off-chip microfluidic platforms are relatively simple to fabricate and operate but lack the ability to perform complex tasks such as on-demand single-target sorting and encapsulation. To address these challenges, we develop an off-chip platform powered by a fluorescent-activated mechanical droplet sorting and production (FAM-DSP) system.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPhysiol Rep
January 2025
School of Kinesiology, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA.
While total RNA concentrations putatively represent ribosome content, there is a need to homologize various quantification approaches. Thus, total RNA concentrations ([RNA]) provided through UV-Vis spectroscopy (UV), fluorometry-only (Fluor), and fluorometry-based microfluidic chip electrophoresis (MFGE) were examined in C2C12 myotubes and mouse skeletal muscle to determine if values aligned with [18S + 28S rRNA] (i.e.
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January 2025
State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are carriers of a diverse array of bioactive molecules, making them valuable clinical tools for liquid biopsy in disease diagnosis and prognosis evaluation. These molecules play critical roles in various physiological and pathological conditions, and effective separation of EVs is essential to achieve these objectives. Due to the high heterogeneity of EVs, particularly with regard to their cargo molecules, merely isolating the general EV population is inadequate for liquid biopsy and biological function studies.
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