Effects of Physical, Chemical, and Biological Stimulus on h-MSC Expansion and Their Functional Characteristics.

Human adult mesenchymal stem or stromal cells (h-MSC) therapy has gained considerable attention due to the potential to treat or cure diseases given their immunosuppressive properties and tissue regeneration capabilities. Researchers have explored diverse strategies to promote high h-MSC production without losing functional characteristics or properties. Physical stimulus including stiffness, geometry, and topography, chemical stimulus, like varying the surface chemistry, and biochemical stimuli such as cytokines, hormones, small molecules, and herbal extracts have been studied but have yet to be translated to industrial manufacturing practice.

Pulsed Terahertz Reflection Imaging of tumors in a spontaneous model of breast cancer.

We report the use of reflection-mode terahertz (THz) imaging in a transgenic mouse model of breast cancer. Unlike tumor xenografts that are grown from established cell lines, these tumors were spontaneously generated in the mammary fat pad of mice, and are a better representation of human breast cancer. THz imaging results from 7 tumors that recapitulate the compartmental complexity of breast cancer are presented here.

Terahertz tomographic imaging of freshly excised human breast tissues.

Terahertz imaging and spectroscopy characterization of freshly excised breast cancer tumors are presented in the range 0.15 to 3.5 THz.

Changes in Phenolic Acid Content in Maize during Food Product Processing.

The notion that many nutrients and beneficial phytochemicals in maize are lost due to food product processing is common, but this has not been studied in detail for the phenolic acids. Information regarding changes in phenolic acid content throughout processing is highly valuable because some phenolic acids are chemopreventive agents of aging-related diseases. It is unknown when and why these changes in phenolic acid content might occur during processing, whether some maize genotypes might be more resistant to processing induced changes in phenolic acid content than other genotypes, or if processing affects the bioavailability of phenolic acids in maize-based food products.

A Phantom Study of Terahertz Spectroscopy and Imaging of Micro- and Nano-diamonds and Nano-onions as Contrast Agents for Breast Cancer.

THz imaging is effective in distinguishing between cancerous, healthy, and fatty tissues in breast tumors, but a challenge remains in the contrast between cancerous and fibroglandular (healthy) tissues. This work investigates carbon-based nanoparticles as potential contrast agents for terahertz imaging of breast cancer. Microdiamonds, nanodiamonds, and nanometer-scale onion-like carbon are characterized with terahertz transmission spectroscopy in low-absorption backgrounds of polydimethylsiloxane or polyethylene.

Pulsed terahertz imaging of breast cancer in freshly excised murine tumors.

This paper investigates terahertz (THz) imaging and classification of freshly excised murine xenograft breast cancer tumors. These tumors are grown via injection of E0771 breast adenocarcinoma cells into the flank of mice maintained on high-fat diet. Within 1 h of excision, the tumor and adjacent tissues are imaged using a pulsed THz system in the reflection mode.

Scalable Chitosan-Graphene Oxide Membranes: The Effect of GO Size on Properties and Cross-Flow Filtration Performance.

Chitosan (CS)-graphene oxide (GO) composite films were fabricated, characterized, and evaluated as pressure-driven water filtration membranes. GO particles were incorporated into a chitosan polymer solution to form a suspension that was cast as a membrane via evaporative phase inversion allowing for scale-up for cross-flow testing conditions. Morphology and composition results for nano and granular GO in the CS matrix indicate that the particle size of GO impacts the internal membrane morphology as well as the structural order and the chemical composition.

Development of a novel engineered E. coli host cell line platform with improved column capacity performance for ion-exchange chromatography.

This article reports on the analysis of an engineered Escherichia coli designed to reduce the host cell protein (HCP) burden on recombinant protein purification by column chromatography. Since downstream purification accounts for a major portion of production costs when using a recombinant platform, minimization of HCPs that are initially captured or otherwise interfere during chromatography will positively impact the entire purification process. Such a strategy, of course, would also require the cell line to grow, and express recombinant proteins, at levels comparable to, or better than, its parent strain.

Environmental life cycle assessment of Italian mozzarella cheese: Hotspots and improvement opportunities.

The present study investigated a cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment to estimate the environmental impacts associated with Italian mozzarella cheese consumption. The differences between mozzarella produced from raw milk and mozzarella produced from curd were studied, and differences in manufacturing processes have been emphasized in order to provide guidance for targeted improvements at this phase. Specifically, the third-largest Italian mozzarella producer was surveyed to collect site-specific manufacturing data.

Modulating amyloid-β aggregation: The effects of peptoid side chain placement and chirality.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the buildup of insoluble aggregated amyloid-β protein (Aβ) into plaques that accumulate between the neural cells in the brain. AD is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and is the only cause of death among the top ten that cannot currently be treated or cured (Alzheimer's Association, 2011; Selkoe, 1996). Researchers have focused on developing small molecules and peptides to prevent Aβ aggregation; however, while some compounds appear promising in vitro, the research has not resulted in a viable therapeutic treatment.

Terahertz transmission vs reflection imaging and model-based characterization for excised breast carcinomas.

This work presents experimental and analytical comparison of terahertz transmission and reflection imaging modes for assessing breast carcinoma in excised paraffin-embedded human breast tissue. Modeling for both transmission and reflection imaging is developed. The refractive index and absorption coefficient of the tissue samples are obtained.

Bio-based extraction and stabilization of anthocyanins.

This work reports a novel method of recovering anthocyanin compounds from highly-pigmented grapes via a fermentation based approach. It was hypothesized that batch growth of Zymomonas mobilis on simple medium would produce both ethanol and enzymes/biomass-acting materials, the combination of which will provide a superior extraction when compared to simple alcohol extraction. To examine this hypothesis, Z.

Alternate carbohydrate and nontraditional inducer leads to increased productivity of a collagen binding domain fusion protein via fed-batch fermentation.

The production of collagen binding domain fusion proteins is of significant importance because of their potential as therapeutic biomaterials. It was previously reported that the expression of collagen-binding domain fusion proteins in Escherichia coli was higher when expressed using lactose as an inducer and chemically defined growth media on a shake flask scale. In an effort to further investigate factors that affect expression levels on a fed-batch scale, alternative induction techniques were tested in conjunction with fed-batch fermentation.

Improved (and Singular) Disinfectant Protocol for Indirectly Assessing Organic Precursor Concentrations of Trihalomethanes and Dihaloacetonitriles.

Measurements of disinfection byproduct (DBP) organic precursor concentrations (OPCs) are crucial to assess and improve DBP control processes. Typically, formation potential tests - specified in Standard Methods (SM) 5710-B/D - are used to measure OPCs. Here, we highlight several limitations of this protocol for dihaloacetonitriles and trihalomethanes and validate a novel Alternative Method (AM).

A redesigned Escherichia coli triosephosphate isomerase restores growth properties in a bacterial strain useful for Immobilized Metal Affinity Chromatography (IMAC).

The bacterium Escherichia coli is one of the most commonly used organisms in biotechnology for recombinant protein production and high-throughput development of biopharmaceuticals. The focus of this article is the utilization of proteome based data to design an E. coli expression strain that is improved for initial protein capture via Immobilized Metal Affinity Chromatography (IMAC).

Rationally designed peptoids modulate aggregation of amyloid-beta 40.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia and the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Plaques composed of aggregated amyloid-beta protein (Aβ) accumulate between the neural cells in the brain and are associated with dementia and cellular death. Many strategies have been investigated to prevent Aβ self-assembly into disease-associated β-sheet amyloid aggregates; however, a promising therapeutic has not yet been identified.

A simple method for quantifying biomass cell and polymer distribution in biofilms.

Biofilms are ubiquitous and play an essential role in both environmental processes and hospital infections. Standard methods are not capable of quantifying biomass concentration in dilute suspensions. Furthermore, standard techniques cannot differentiate biomass composition.

Tunable peptoid microspheres: effects of side chain chemistry and sequence.

Peptoids are a versatile family of oligomeric synthetic molecules that can be customized for many applications. The submonomer solid-phase synthesis of peptoids allows for quick and inexpensive manufacturing and the selection of side chains is nearly limitless. In addition, peptoids that include chiral, aromatic side chains form stable helical secondary structure that leads to the potential for the formation of supramolecular assemblies.

The effect of antigen encapsulation in chitosan particles on uptake, activation and presentation by antigen presenting cells.

Particle-based vaccine delivery systems are under exploration to enhance antigen-specific immunity against safe but poorly immunogenic polypeptide antigens. Chitosan is a promising biomaterial for antigen encapsulation and delivery due to its ability to form nano- and microparticles in mild aqueous conditions thus preserving the antigenicity of loaded polypeptides. In this study, the influence of chitosan encapsulation on antigen uptake, activation and presentation by antigen presenting cells (APCs) is explored.

Gold nanoparticles reduced in situ and dispersed in polymer thin films: optical and thermal properties.

Optical and thermal activity of plasmon-active nanoparticles in transparent dielectric media is of growing interest in thermal therapies, photovoltaics and optoelectronic components in which localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) could play a significant role. This work compares a new method to embed gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in dense, composite films with an extension of a previously introduced method. Microscopic and spectroscopic properties of the two films are related to thermal behavior induced via laser excitation of LSPR at 532 nm in the optically transparent dielectric.

Unraveling the early events of amyloid-β protein (Aβ) aggregation: techniques for the determination of Aβ aggregate size.

The aggregation of proteins into insoluble amyloid fibrils coincides with the onset of numerous diseases. An array of techniques is available to study the different stages of the amyloid aggregation process. Recently, emphasis has been placed upon the analysis of oligomeric amyloid species, which have been hypothesized to play a key role in disease progression.

Improving on SUVA 254 using fluorescence-PARAFAC analysis and asymmetric flow-field flow fractionation for assessing disinfection byproduct formation and control.

Several challenges with disinfection byproduct (DBP) control stem from the complexity and diversity of dissolved organic matter (DOM), which is ubiquitous in natural waters and reacts with disinfectants to form DBPs. Fluorescence parallel factor (PARAFAC) analysis and asymmetric flow-field flow fractionation (AF4) were used in combination with free chlorine DBP formation potential (DBPFP) tests to study the physicochemical DOM properties and DBP formation in raw- and alum-coagulated waters. Enhanced coagulation with alum became more effective at removing DBP-precursors as the pH decreased from 8 to 6.

Monitoring insulin aggregation via capillary electrophoresis.

Early stages of insulin aggregation, which involve the transient formation of oligomeric aggregates, are an important aspect in the progression of Type II diabetes and in the quality control of pharmaceutical insulin production. This study is the first to utilize capillary electrophoresis (CE) with ultraviolet (UV) detection to monitor insulin oligomer formation at pH 8.0 and physiological ionic strength.

Thermodynamics of optoplasmonic heating in fluid-filled gold-nanoparticle-plated capillaries.

Dynamic and equilibrium thermal behavior of plasmon-heated gold/silica capillary nanocomposite during evaporative cooling by water or butanol is accurately described at centimeter length scales by continuum optoplasmonic thermodynamics for continuous-wave laser irradiation of 15-50 mW. Gold nanoparticles randomly distributed on the capillary via electroless plating exhibited a composite extinction cross section of 66.74 ± 0.

Balancing redox activity allowing spectrophotometric detection of Au(I) using tetramethylbenzidine dihydrochloride.

Aqueous, acid solutions containing balanced amounts of a strong reductant (formaldehyde, HCHO) and a strong oxididant (N-bromosuccinimide, NBS) allow the first sensitive spectrophotometric analysis of monovalent gold ion, Au(I), using oxidation of color reagent 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine dihydrochloride (TMB). This new method enables various oxidation states of Au ion to be quantified by balancing reduction potential in a Au solution. At low reductant levels, NBS oxidizes Au(I), which linearly suppresses subsequent oxidation of TMB by NBS to its blue charge-transfer complex of diamine and diimine to 2.