Enhancing Hemocompatibility in ECMO Systems With a Fibrinolytic Interactive Coating: in Vitro Evaluation of Blood Clot Lysis Using a 3D Microfluidic Model.

Blood-contacting medical devices, especially extracorporeal membrane oxygenators (ECMOs), are highly susceptible to surface-induced coagulation because of their extensive surface area. This can compromise device functionality and lead to life-threatening complications. High doses of anticoagulants, combined with anti-thrombogenic surface coatings, are typically employed to mitigate this risk, but such treatment can lead to hemorrhagic complications.

Regulation of Cell-Nanoparticle Interactions through Mechanobiology.

Bio-nano interactions have been extensively explored in nanomedicine to develop selective delivery strategies and reduce systemic toxicity. To enhance the delivery of nanocarriers to cancer cells and improve the therapeutic efficiency, different nanomaterials have been developed. However, the limited clinical translation of nanoparticle-based therapies, largely due to issues associated with poor targeting, requires a deeper understanding of the biological phenomena underlying cell-nanoparticle interactions.

Long-range organization of intestinal 2D-crypts using exogenous Wnt3a micropatterning.

Intestinal epithelial cells are segregated into proliferative crypts and differentiated regions. This organization relies on specific signals, including Wnt3a, which regulates cell proliferation within crypts, and Eph/Ephrin, which dictates cell positioning along the crypt-villus axis. However, studying how the spatial distributions of these signals influences crypt-villus organization is challenging both in vitro and in vivo.

From Dielectric to Electro-Responsive Thermoplastics: An Approach Based on Electro-Thermal Reorientation and Charged Gas Activation.

The transition from insulator to electro-responsive has been successfully achieved by earlier studies for some inorganic materials by applying external stimuli that modify their 3D and/or electronic structures. In the case of insulating polymers, this transition is frequently accomplished by mixing them with other electroactive materials, even though a few physical treatments that induce suitable chemical modifications have also been reported. In this work, a smart approach based on the application of an electro-thermal reorientation process followed by a charged gas activation treatment has been developed for transforming insulating 3D printed polymers into electro-responsive materials.

Open problems in synthetic multicellularity.

Multicellularity is one of the major evolutionary transitions, and its rise provided the ingredients for the emergence of a biosphere inhabited by complex organisms. Over the last decades, the potential for bioengineering multicellular systems has been instrumental in interrogating nature and exploring novel paths to regeneration, disease, cognition, and behaviour. Here, we provide a list of open problems that encapsulate many of the ongoing and future challenges in the field and suggest conceptual approaches that may facilitate progress.

Biomimetic Plant-Root-Inspired Robotic Sensor System.

There are many examples in nature in which the ability to detect is combined with decision-making, such as the basic survival instinct of plants and animals to search for food. We can technically translate this innate function via the use of robotics with integrated sensors and artificial intelligence. However, the integration of sensing capabilities into robotics has traditionally been neglected due to the significant associated technical challenges.

Glycogenin is dispensable for normal liver glycogen metabolism and body glucose homeostasis.

Glycogen is a glucose-storage polysaccharide molecule present in animals, fungi and bacteria. The enzyme glycogenin can self-glycosylate, forming an oligosaccharide chain that primes glycogen synthesis. This priming role of glycogenin was first believed to be essential for glycogen synthesis, but glycogen was then found in the skeletal muscle, heart, liver and brain of glycogenin-knockout mice (Gyg KO), thereby showing that glycogen can be synthesized without glycogenin.

Programming the elongation of mammalian cell aggregates with synthetic gene circuits.

A key goal of synthetic morphogenesis is the identification and implementation of methods to control morphogenesis. One line of research is the use of synthetic genetic circuits guiding the self-organization of cell ensembles. This approach has led to several recent successes, including control of cellular rearrangements in 3D via control of cell-cell adhesion by user-designed artificial genetic circuits.

New Cellular Models to Support Preclinical Studies on ICAM-1-Targeted Drug Delivery.

Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) is a cell-surface protein actively explored for targeted drug delivery. Anti-ICAM-1 nanocarriers (NCs) target ICAM-1-positive sites after intravenous injection in animal models, but quantitative mechanistic examination of cellular-level transport in vivo is not possible. Prior studies in human cell cultures indicated efficient uptake of these formulations via cell adhesion molecule-(CAM)-mediated endocytosis.

Advanced Antibacterial Strategies for Combatting Biomaterial-Associated Infections: A Comprehensive Review.

Biomaterial-associated infections (BAIs) pose significant challenges in modern medical technologies, being a major postoperative complication and leading cause of implant failure. These infections significantly risk patient health, resulting in prolonged hospitalization, increased morbidity and mortality rates, and elevated treatment expenses. This comprehensive review examines the mechanisms driving bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation on biomaterial surfaces, offering an in-depth analysis of current antimicrobial strategies for preventing BAIs.

enhances virulence by progressive generation of new phenotypes.

and have been co-isolated from several biofilm-associated diseases, including those related to medical devices. This association confers advantages to both microorganisms, resulting in detrimental effects on the host. To elucidate this phenomenon, the present study investigated colony changes derived from non-physical interactions between and .

HRK downregulation and augmented BCL-xL binding to BAK confer apoptotic protection to therapy-induced senescent melanoma cells.

Senescent cells are commonly detected in tumors after chemo and radiotherapy, leading to a characteristic cellular phenotype that resists apoptotic cell death. In this study, we used multiple melanoma cell lines, molecular markers, and therapies to investigate the key role of the BCL-2 family proteins in the survival of senescent cells. We first used BH3 profiling to assess changes in apoptotic priming upon senescence induction.

Ligand discrimination in hOR1A1 based on the capacitive response.

Odorant discrimination mechanisms are based on the differential interactions between odorant molecules and olfactory receptors (ORs). Biohybrid sensors based on ORs described to date show selectivity towards specific versus non-specific binding of odorants, being unable to distinguish between specific ligands of different affinity. Here we disclose a method that enables odorant discrimination based on the modulation of the capacitive response of the receptor, which allows the differentiation of three high-affinity hOR1A1 agonists.

Toward a Plasmon-Based Biosensor throughout a Thermoresponsive Hydrogel.

This study investigates the potential of thermoresponsive hydrogels as innovative substrates for future in vitro diagnostic (IVD) applications using AVAC technology, developed and patented by the Mecwins biomedical company. In order to convert the hydrogel in a substrate compatible with AVAC technology, the following prerequisites were established: (1) the hydrogel layer needs to be permeable to gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), and (2) the optical properties of the hydrogel should not interfere with the detection of AuNPs with AVAC technology. These two key aspects are evaluated in this work.

Urease-powered nanomotor containing STING agonist for bladder cancer immunotherapy.

Most non-muscle invasive bladder cancers have been treated by transurethral resection and following intravesical injection of immunotherapeutic agents. However, the delivery efficiency of therapeutic agents into bladder wall is low due to frequent urination, which leads to the failure of treatment with side effects. Here, we report a urease-powered nanomotor containing the agonist of stimulator of interferon genes (STING) for the efficient activation of immune cells in the bladder wall.

Cell response to extracellular matrix viscous energy dissipation outweighs high-rigidity sensing.

The mechanics of the extracellular matrix (ECM) determine cell activity and fate through mechanoresponsive proteins including Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP). Rigidity and viscous relaxation have emerged as the main mechanical properties of the ECM steering cell behavior. However, how cells integrate coexisting ECM rigidity and viscosity cues remains poorly understood, particularly in the high-stiffness regime.

Electrostatic capture of viruses on cationic biopolymer membranes for intra-oral disease sampling.

Naso- and oropharyngeal swabs are the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) -recommended disease sampling methods for respiratory viruses. The short swabbing time for sampling by these methods may lead to variability in test results. Further, these methods are mildly invasive and can cause discomfort, tearing or gag reflexes in tested individuals.

Brain state identification and neuromodulation to promote recovery of consciousness.

Experimental and clinical studies of consciousness identify brain states (i.e. quasi-stable functional cerebral organization) in a non-systematic manner and largely independent of the research into brain state modulation.

Collective buoyancy-driven dynamics in swarming enzymatic nanomotors.

Enzymatic nanomotors harvest kinetic energy through the catalysis of chemical fuels. When a drop containing nanomotors is placed in a fuel-rich environment, they assemble into ordered groups and exhibit intriguing collective behaviour akin to the bioconvection of aerobic microorganismal suspensions. This collective behaviour presents numerous advantages compared to individual nanomotors, including expanded coverage and prolonged propulsion duration.