Analysis of cellular NO-GC expression in the murine heart and lineage determination in angiotensin II-induced fibrosis.

NO-sensitive guanylyl cyclase (NO-GC) is involved in the (patho)physiology of the mammalian heart. However, little is known about the individual cardiac cell types that express NO-GC and the role of the enzyme in cardiac fibrosis. Here, we describe the cellular expression of NO-GC in healthy and fibrotic murine myocardium; these data were compared with scRNA-seq data.

A Multicellular In Vitro Model of the Human Intestine with Immunocompetent Features Highlights Host-Pathogen Interactions During Early Salmonella Typhimurium Infection.

Studying the molecular basis of intestinal infections caused by enteric pathogens at the tissue level is challenging, because most human intestinal infection models have limitations, and results obtained from animals may not reflect the human situation. Infections with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (STm) have different outcomes between organisms. 3D tissue modeling of primary human material provides alternatives to animal experimentation, but epithelial co-culture with immune cells remains difficult.

Non-invasive in vitro NAM for the detection of reversible and irreversible eye damage after chemical exposure for GHS classification purposes (ImAi).

The potential risk of chemicals to the human eye is assessed by adopted test guidelines (TGs) for regulatory purposes to ensure consumer safety. Over the past decade, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has approved new approach methodologies (NAMs) to predict chemical eye damage. However, existing NAMs remain associated with limitations: First, no full replacement of the in vivo Draize eye test due to limited predictability of severe/mild damage was reached.

The Impact of NO on Epithelial Barrier Integrity of a Primary Cell-Based Air-Liquid Interface Model of the Nasal Respiratory Epithelium.

Nitrogen dioxide (NO) is a pervasive gaseous air pollutant with well-documented hazardous effects on health, necessitating precise toxicological characterization. While prior research has primarily focused on lower airway structures, the upper airways, serving as the first line of defense against airborne substances, remain understudied. This study aimed to investigate the functional effects of NO exposure alone or in combination with hypoxia as a secondary stimulus on nasal epithelium and elucidate its molecular mechanisms because hypoxia is considered a pathophysiological factor in the onset and persistence of chronic rhinosinusitis, a disease of the upper airways.

Cu-doped calcium phosphate supraparticles for bone tissue regeneration.

Calcium phosphate (CaP) minerals have shown great promise as bone replacement materials due to their similarity to the mineral phase of natural bone. In addition to biocompatibility and osseointegration, the prevention of infection is crucial, especially due to the high concern of antibiotic resistance. In this context, a controlled drug release as well as biodegradation are important features which depend on the porosity of CaP.

Cytoskeleton adaptation to stretchable surface relaxation improves adherent cryopreservation of human mesenchymal stem cells.

Adherent cell systems are usually dissociated before being cryopreserved, as standard protocols are established for cells in suspension. The application of standard procedures to more complex systems, sensitive to dissociation, such as adherent monolayers, especially comprising mature cell types or tissues remains unsatisfactory. Uncontrolled cell detachment due to intracellular tensile stress, membrane ruptures and damages of adhesion proteins are common during freezing and thawing of cell monolayers.

Blood-tumor barrier in focus - investigation of glioblastoma-induced effects on the blood-brain barrier.

Purpose: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most prevalent, malignant, primary brain tumor in adults, characterized by limited treatment options, frequent relapse, and short survival after diagnosis. Until now, none of the existing therapy and treatment approaches have proven to be an effective cure. The availability of predictive human blood-tumor barrier (BTB) test systems that can mimic in-vivo pathophysiology of GBM would be of great interest in preclinical research.

A 3D bioreactor model to study osteocyte differentiation and mechanobiology under perfusion and compressive mechanical loading.

Osteocytes perceive and process mechanical stimuli in the lacuno-canalicular network in bone. As a result, they secrete signaling molecules that mediate bone formation and resorption. To date, few three-dimensional (3D) models exist to study the response of mature osteocytes to biophysical stimuli that mimic fluid shear stress and substrate strain in a mineralized, biomimetic bone-like environment.

A Tissue Engineered 3D Model of Cancer Cell Invasion for Human Head and Neck Squamous-Cell Carcinoma.

Head and neck squamous-cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is associated with aggressive local invasiveness, being a main reason for its poor prognosis. The exact mechanisms underlying the strong invasive abilities of HNSCC remain to be elucidated. Therefore, there is a need for in vitro models to study the interplay between cancer cells and normal adjacent tissue at the invasive tumor front.

Characterization of a Human Respiratory Mucosa Model to Study Odorant Metabolism.

Nasal xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes (XMEs) are important for the sense of smell because they influence odorant availability and quality. Since the major part of the human nasal cavity is lined by a respiratory mucosa, we hypothesized that this tissue contributed to nasal odorant metabolism through XME activity. Thus, we built human respiratory tissue models and characterized the XME profiles using single-cell RNA sequencing.

Mesoporous supraparticles with a tailored solid-liquid-gas interface for visual indication of H gas and NH vapours.

Dual-gasochromic supraparticles that undergo rapid eye-readable and gas-specific colour changes upon reaction with hydrogen or ammonia are reported. This functionality is achieved by tailoring the solid-liquid-gas interface within the mesoporous framework of supraparticles spray-drying.

Noncanonical WNT5A controls the activation of latent TGF-β to drive fibroblast activation and tissue fibrosis.

Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) signaling is a core pathway of fibrosis, but the molecular regulation of the activation of latent TGF-β remains incompletely understood. Here, we demonstrate a crucial role of WNT5A/JNK/ROCK signaling that rapidly coordinates the activation of latent TGF-β in fibrotic diseases. WNT5A was identified as a predominant noncanonical WNT ligand in fibrotic diseases such as systemic sclerosis, sclerodermatous chronic graft-versus-host disease, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, stimulating fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition and tissue fibrosis by activation of latent TGF-β.

Catalyst Supraparticles: Tuning the Structure of Spray-Dried Pt/SiO Supraparticles via Salt-Based Colloidal Manipulation to Control their Catalytic Performance.

The structure of supraparticles (SPs) is a key parameter for achieving advanced functionalities arising from the combination of different nanoparticle (NP) types in one hierarchical entity. However, whenever a droplet-assisted forced assembly approach is used, e.g.

TheraVision: Engineering platform technology for the development of oncolytic viruses based on herpes simplex virus type 1.

Viruses are able to efficiently penetrate cells, multiply, and eventually kill infected cells, release tumor antigens, and activate the immune system. Therefore, viruses are highly attractive novel agents for cancer therapy. Clinical trials with first generations of oncolytic viruses (OVs) are very promising but show significant need for optimization.

Reusable and inductively regenerable magnetic activated carbon for removal of organic micropollutants from secondary wastewater effluents.

This work introduces a new sustainable alternative of powdered activated carbon (PAC) - magnetically harvestable and reusable after regeneration via inductive heating - for the adsorptive removal of organic micropollutants (OMP) from secondary wastewater effluents. For this purpose, two commercial PACs - lignite "L" (1187 m/g) and coconut "C"-based (1524 m/g) - were modified with magnetic iron oxide following two different synthesis approaches: infiltration ("infiltr") and surface deposition ("depos") route. The resulting magnetic powdered activated carbons (mPAC) and their precursor PACs were fully characterized before application.

Liquid Overlay and Collagen-Based Three-Dimensional Models for Investigation of Multiple Myeloma.

Multiple myeloma (MM) clones reside in the bone marrow (BM), which plays a role in its survival and development. The interactions between MM and their neighboring mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have been shown to promote MM growth and drug resistance. However, those interactions are often missing or misrepresented in traditional two-dimensional (2D) culture models.

Electropolymerization of an EDOT-Quinoxaline Monomer for Green Electrochromic Thin Films and Devices.

In this study, we present a 5,8-bis(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)quinoxaline monomer with two 4-(octyloxy)phenyl side chains (EDOTPQ) that can be electropolymerized on ITO glass in standard electrolytes containing lithium salts and propylene carbonate as solvent. The electrochemically deposited PEDOTPQ layers show very good adhesion and homogeneity on ITO. The green-colored polymer thin films exhibit promising electrochromic (EC) properties and are interesting for applications such as adaptive camouflage, as well as smart displays, labels, and sensors.

Impedance-based in vitro eye irritation testing enables the categorization of diluted chemicals.

Products containing chemicals with eye irritation potential need to be labeled with the respective hazard symbol. To avoid the testing of numerous dilutions of chemicals on animals, their labeling is directed by a theoretical approach. In this report, a previously described in vitro tissue model of the cornea based on human epithelial cells was used for eye irritation testing of dilutions.

Enhancing pre-clinical research with simplified intestinal cell line models.

Two-dimensional culture remains widely employed to determine the bioavailability of orally delivered drugs. To gain more knowledge about drug uptake mechanisms and risk assessment for the patient after oral drug admission, intestinal in vitro models demonstrating a closer similarity to the in vivo situation are needed. In particular, Caco-2 cell-based Transwell® models show advantages as they are reproducible, cost-efficient, and standardized.

Nature-Inspired Regenerative Fine-Dust-Catching Coatings to Improve Air Quality.

Increased particulate matter (PM) concentrations in our ambient air are the cause of various life-threatening diseases and consequently need to be reduced to nonhazardous levels. The natural PM removal capabilities of leaves inspired the development of a low-cost coating technology that exploits natural weather phenomena for its PM catching and removal processes. The herein presented coating is based on microparticle-filled silicone with optimized chemical and physical surface properties.

Perfusable Tissue Bioprinted into a 3D-Printed Tailored Bioreactor System.

Bioprinting provides a powerful tool for regenerative medicine, as it allows tissue construction with a patient's specific geometry. However, tissue culture and maturation, commonly supported by dynamic bioreactors, are needed. We designed a workflow that creates an implant-specific bioreactor system, which is easily producible and customizable and supports cell cultivation and tissue maturation.