The development of biomimetic extracellular matrix (ECM) with fibrous structure and complex nonlinear mechanics has been attracting intensive attention over the past decades both in material science and tissue engineering. Polyisocyanopeptide (PIC) hydrogels are a class of fully synthetic materials that can mimic biogels, such as fibrin and collagen, in nearly all aspects, particularly the micron-sized gel network and the strong strain-stiffening behavior in the biological regime. Here, a biomimetic PIC/hydroxyapatite (HA) hybrid composite through an enzymatic biomineralization strategy is constructed. HA biominerals grew on PIC bundles in situ catalyzed by the embedded alkaline phosphatase (ALP), which further crosslinked the gel networks and reinforced the mechanical property of PIC hydrogels. Significantly, PIC/HA composites exhibited ultra-responsive nonlinear mechanics with higher sensitivity to mechanical stress compared with those without biomineralization. As a consequence, the presence of HA can provide cell adhesion sites for PIC gels and induce osteogenic differentiation of pre-osteoblasts by virtue of the changes in mechanical properties. With these outstanding properties, therefore, PIC/HA composites present promising prospects in bone tissue engineering as biomimetic ECM.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/marc.202200135 | DOI Listing |
J Neuroeng Rehabil
December 2024
Chair of Autonomous Systems and Mechatronics, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
Wearable robots are often powered by elastic actuators, which can mimic the intrinsic compliance observed in human joints, contributing to safe and seamless interaction. However, due to their increased complexity, when compared to direct drives, elastic actuators are susceptible to faults, which pose significant challenges, potentially compromising user experience and safety during interaction. In this article, we developed a fault-tolerant control strategy for torque assistance in a knee exoskeleton and investigated user experience during a walking task while emulating faults.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRespir Res
December 2024
Department of Mechanical and Product Design Engineering, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC, Australia.
By virtue of applying small tidal volumes, high-frequency ventilation is advocated as a method of minimizing ventilator-induced lung injury. Lung protective benefits are established in infants, but not in other patient cohorts. Efforts to improve and extend the lung protection potential should consider how fundamental modes of gas transport can be exploited to minimize harmful tidal volumes while maintaining or improving ventilation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci China Life Sci
December 2024
State Key Laboratory of Medical Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing, 102206, China.
Salivary proteins serve multifaceted roles in maintaining oral health and hold significant potential for diagnosing and monitoring diseases due to the non-invasive nature of saliva sampling. However, the clinical utility of current saliva biomarker studies is limited by the lack of reference intervals (RIs) to correctly interpret the testing result. Here, we developed a rapid and robust saliva proteome profiling workflow, obtaining coverage of >1,200 proteins from a 50-µL unstimulated salivary flow with 30 min gradients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Rep
December 2024
College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, People's Republic of China.
A well-designed scheduling plan that meets the practical constraints of the workshop is crucial for enhancing production efficiency in ship plane block assembly. Unlike traditional flow line scheduling problems, the scheduling optimization problem for ship plane block flow line involves dual resource constraints, including work teams and spare parts supply limitations. This can be seen as a Dual Resource Constrained Blocked Flow Shop Scheduling Problem (DRCBFSP).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTo address the challenges of performing in-situ tests on riverbed overburden gravel, this study employs three scaling methods-equal mass substitution, similar gradation, and the mixed method-to investigate the original gradation of the gravel. Large-scale triaxial consolidated drained shear tests were conducted to evaluate the effects of the maximum particle size reduction ratio (M) and confining pressure on the stress-strain behavior, fractal dimension, particle breakage, and the parameters of the Duncan-Chang model (an elastic model describing nonlinear stress-strain relationships). The study explores how scaling, based on fractal dimension and particle breakage rate, impacts the strength and deformation characteristics of gravel materials.
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