Cell mechanical properties have been proposed as label free markers for diagnostic purposes in diseases such as cancer. Cancer cells show altered mechanical phenotypes compared to their healthy counterparts. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) is a widely utilized tool to study cell mechanics. These measurements often need skilful users, physical modelling of mechanical properties and expertise in data interpretation. Together with the need to perform many measurements for statistical significance and to probe wide enough areas in tissue structures, the application of machine learning and artificial neural network techniques to automatically classify AFM datasets has received interest recently. We propose the use of self-organizing maps (SOMs) as unsupervised artificial neural network applied to mechanical measurements performed via AFM on epithelial breast cancer cells treated with different substances that affect estrogen receptor signalling. We show changes in mechanical properties due to treatments, as estrogen softened the cells, while resveratrol led to an increase in cell stiffness and viscosity. These data were then used as input for SOMs. Our approach was able to distinguish between estrogen treated, control and resveratrol treated cells in an unsupervised manner. In addition, the maps enabled investigation of the relationship of the input variables.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9947176 | PMC |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-30156-3 | DOI Listing |
Objective: To engineer an acellular mesh to reconstruct the urethra to replace the current surgical practice of using autologous tissue grafts. Cell based approaches have shown progress. However, these have been associated with high costs and logistical challenges.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMar Environ Res
December 2024
Seascape Ecology Lab (SEL), DiSTAV, Department of Earth, Environment and Life Sciences, University of Genoa, Corso Europa 26, 16132, Genova, Italy; NBFC (National Biodiversity Future Centre), Piazza Marina 61, 90133, Palermo, Italy.
Extreme events influence ecosystem dynamics, but their effects on coastal marine habitats are often poorly perceived compared to their terrestrial counterparts. The detailed study of changes in benthic communities related to these phenomena is becoming urgent, due to the increasing intensity and frequency of hurricanes recorded in recent decades. Slow-growing benthic sessile organisms are particularly vulnerable to mechanical impacts, especially the large long-lived species with branched morphology that structure Mediterranean coralligenous assemblages.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Colloid Interface Sci
December 2024
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States. Electronic address:
Polymer nanocomposites with high concentrations of nanoparticles (NPs) possess exceptional mechanical, transport, and thermal properties. To enable their widespread use in structural applications and functional coatings, it is crucial to understand how nanoconfinement and the polymer-NP interface influence polymer degradation under various environmental conditions, including prolonged UV exposure. In this study, we investigate the photooxidative degradation of polystyrene (PS)-confined in the interstices of SiO NP films.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLuminescence
December 2024
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
This study investigates the optical, mechanical, and antimicrobial properties of polypropylene (PP) fibers enhanced with titanium dioxide (TiO) and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles. Using a Mach-Zehnder interferometric system, we examined the refractive indices, birefringence, and opto-mechanical behavior of blank PP, PP/TiO, and PP/ZnO nanocomposite fibers under various conditions, including different polarization orientations and during cold drawing processes. The 2D Fourier transform algorithm is employed to analyze interferometric data, enabling precise measurements of refractive index profiles and birefringence.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Comput Chem
January 2025
Laboratoire d'Optique et Biosciences (CNRS UMR7645, INSERM U1182), Ecole Polytechnique, Institut polytechnique de Paris, Palaiseau, France.
Folates comprise a crucial class of biologically active compounds related to folic acid, playing a vital role in numerous enzymatic reactions. One-carbon metabolism, facilitated by the folate cofactor, supports numerous physiological processes, including biosynthesis, amino acid homeostasis, epigenetic maintenance, and redox defense. Folates share a common pterin heterocyclic ring structure capable of undergoing redox reactions and existing in various protonation states.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!