Multi-parametric thrombus profiling microfluidics detects intensified biomechanical thrombogenesis associated with hypertension and aging.

Arterial thrombosis is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide with no effective bioassay for clinical prediction. As a symbolic feature of arterial thrombosis, severe stenosis in the blood vessel creates a high-shear, high-gradient flow environment that facilitates platelet aggregation towards vessel occlusion. Here, we present a thrombus profiling assay that monitors the multi-dimensional attributes of thrombi forming in such biomechanical conditions.

Harnessing the power of bioprinting for the development of next-generation models of thrombosis.

Thrombosis, a leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, involves the formation of blood clots within blood vessels. Current animal models and systems have limitations in recapitulating the complex human vasculature and hemodynamic conditions, limiting the research in understanding the mechanisms of thrombosis. Bioprinting has emerged as a promising approach to construct biomimetic vascular models that closely mimic the structural and mechanical properties of native blood vessels.

CO Laser Crystallization in Ambient for Highly Efficient FAPbI Perovskite Solar Cells.

Metal halide perovskite solar cells have achieved tremendous progress and have attracted enormous research and development efforts since the first report of demonstration in 2009. Due to fabrication versatility, many heat treatment methods can be utilized to achieve perovskite film crystallization. Herein, 10.

A change in metal cation switches selectivity of a phospholipid sensor from phosphatidic acid to phosphatidylserine.

Phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylserine are anionic phospholipids with emerging signalling roles in cells. Determination of how phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylserine change location and quantity in cells over time requires selective fluorescent sensors that can distinguish these two anionic phospholipids. However, the design of such synthetic sensors that can selectively bind and respond to a single phospholipid within the complex membrane milieu remains challenging.

Microscale geometrical modulation of PIEZO1 mediated mechanosensing through cytoskeletal redistribution.

The microgeometry of the cellular microenvironment profoundly impacts cellular behaviors, yet the link between it and the ubiquitously expressed mechanosensitive ion channel PIEZO1 remains unclear. Herein, we describe a fluorescent micropipette aspiration assay that allows for simultaneous visualization of intracellular calcium dynamics and cytoskeletal architecture in real-time, under varied micropipette geometries. By integrating elastic shell finite element analysis with fluorescent lifetime imaging microscopy and employing PIEZO1-specific transgenic red blood cells and HEK cell lines, we demonstrate a direct correlation between the microscale geometry of aspiration and PIEZO1-mediated calcium signaling.

Human Brain In Vitro Model for Pathogen Infection-Related Neurodegeneration Study.

Recent advancements in stem cell biology and tissue engineering have revolutionized the field of neurodegeneration research by enabling the development of sophisticated in vitro human brain models. These models, including 2D monolayer cultures, 3D organoids, organ-on-chips, and bioengineered 3D tissue models, aim to recapitulate the cellular diversity, structural organization, and functional properties of the native human brain. This review highlights how these in vitro brain models have been used to investigate the effects of various pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites infection, particularly in the human brain cand their subsequent impacts on neurodegenerative diseases.

Multi-parametric thrombus profiling microfluidics detects intensified biomechanical thrombogenesis associated with hypertension and aging.

Arterial thrombosis, which represents a critical complication of cardiovascular diseases, is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide with no effective bioassay for clinical prediction. As a symbolic feature of arterial thrombosis, severe stenosis in the blood vessel creates a high-shear, high-gradient flow environment that effectively facilitates platelet aggregation towards vessel occlusion even with platelet amplification loops inhibited. However, no approach is currently available to comprehensively characterize the size, composition and platelet activation status of thrombi forming under this biorheological condition.

Protein disulfide isomerase cleaves allosteric disulfides in histidine-rich glycoprotein to regulate thrombosis.

The essence of difference between hemostasis and thrombosis is that the clotting reaction is a highly fine-tuned process. Vascular protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) represents a critical mechanism regulating the functions of hemostatic proteins. Herein we show that histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG) is a substrate of PDI.

Supramolecular Control of the Temperature Responsiveness of Fluorescent Macrocyclic Molecular Rotamers.

To fully harness the potential of molecular machines, it is crucial to develop methods by which to exert control over their speed of motion through the application of external stimuli. A conformationally strained macrocyclic fluorescent rotamer, CarROT, displays a reproducible and linear fluorescence decrease towards temperature over the physiological temperature range. Through the external addition of anions, cations or through deprotonation, the compound can access four discreet rotational speeds via supramolecular interactions (very slow, slow, fast and very fast) which in turn stop, reduce or enhance the thermoluminescent properties due to increasing or decreasing non-radiative decay processes, thereby providing a means to externally control the temperature sensitivity of the system.

Carborane-Containing Polymers: Synthesis, Properties, and Applications.

Carboranes are an important class of electron-delocalized icosahedral carbon-boron clusters with unique physical and chemical properties, which can offer various functions to polymers including enhanced heat-resistance, tuned electronic properties and hydrophobicity, special ability of dihydrogen bond formation, and thermal neutron capture. Carborane-containing polymers have been synthesized mainly by means of step-growth polymerizations of disubstituted carborane monomers, with chain-growth polymerizations of monosubstituted carborane monomers including ATRP, RAFT, and ROMP only utilized recently. Carborane-containing polymers may find application as harsh-environment resistant materials, ceramic precursors, fluorescent materials with tuned emissive properties, novel optoelectronic devices, potential BNCT agents, and drug carriers with low cytotoxicity.

Self-Assembly of Rod-Coil Bottlebrush Copolymers into Degradable Nanodiscs with a UV-Triggered Self-Immolation Process.

Polymer nanodiscs, especially with stimuli-responsive features, represent an unexplored frontier in the nanomaterial landscape. Such 2D nanomaterials are considered highly promising for advanced biomedicine applications. Herein, we designed a rod-coil copolymer architecture based on an amphiphilic, tadpole-like bottlebrush copolymer, which can directly self-assemble into core-shell nanodiscs in an aqueous environment.

Fluorescence-coupled Micropipette Aspiration Assay to Investigate Red Blood Cell Mechanosensing.

Micropipette aspiration assays have long been a cornerstone for the investigation of live-cell mechanics, offering insights into cellular responses to mechanical stress. This paper details an innovative adaptation of the fluorescence-coupled micropipette aspiration (fMPA) assay. The fMPA assay introduces the capability to administer precise mechanical forces while concurrently monitoring the live-cell mechanotransduction processes mediated by ion channels.

Nanoscale polymer discs, toroids and platelets: a survey of their syntheses and potential applications.

Polymer self-assembly has become a reliable and versatile workhorse to produce polymeric nanomaterials. With appropriate polymer design and monomer selection, polymers can assemble into shapes and morphologies beyond well-studied spherical and cylindrical micellar structures. Steadfast access to anisotropic polymer nanoparticles has meant that the fabrication and application of 2D soft matter has received increasing attention in recent years.

Integrated microwave photonic notch filter using a heterogeneously integrated Brillouin and active-silicon photonic circuit.

Microwave photonics (MWP) has unlocked a new paradigm for Radio Frequency (RF) signal processing by harnessing the inherent broadband and tunable nature of photonic components. Despite numerous efforts made to implement integrated MWP filters, a key RF processing functionality, it remains a long-standing challenge to achieve a fully integrated photonic circuit that can merge the megahertz-level spectral resolution required for RF applications with key electro-optic components. Here, we overcome this challenge by introducing a compact 5 mm × 5 mm chip-scale MWP filter with active E-O components, demonstrating 37 MHz spectral resolution.

A macrocyclic fluorescent probe for the detection of citrate.

We present a macrocyclic fluorescent probe for the detection of citrate. This receptor binds citrate through hydrogen-bonding interactions in aqueous solutions, and exhibits a turn-on in fluorescence in response to binding. The presence of common biologically relevant dicarboxylate species does not significantly impact the fluorescence response.

Water-Soluble Squaramide-Functionalized Copolymers for Anion Recognition.

A series of ethylene glycol-based squaramide-containing copolymers are synthesized via a post-polymerization functionalization strategy. Conversion of polymeric amines to squaramides is found to proceed in good yields, representing a versatile method of incorporating squaramides into polymers for anion recognition. Analysis of the polymers by UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy revealed that anion binding takes place similarly to that of small-molecule squaramides.

Patient experiences of continuous glucose monitoring and sensor-augmented insulin pump therapy for diabetes: A systematic review of qualitative studies.

Aims: Blood glucose control is central to the management of diabetes, and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) improves glycemic control. We aimed to describe the perspectives of people with diabetes using CGM.

Materials And Methods: We performed a systematic review of qualitative studies.

A microfluidic approach for early prediction of thrombosis in patients with cancer.

Li and colleagues have made a notable advancement in predicting cancer-associated thrombosis with a microfluidic device that monitors circulating platelet activity. This tool could improve the management of thrombotic events in patients with cancer, guiding timely treatment and potentially reducing mortality.

Molecular fluorescent sensors for in vivo imaging.

Small-molecule fluorophores are powerful tools for biological research. They have enabled researchers to study cellular architecture and decipher biological processes. Responsive fluorescent sensors have enabled the study of a wide range of analytes and their effects on biological phenomena in situ.

Molecular probes for fluorescent sensing of metal ions in non-mammalian organisms.

While metal ions play an important role in the proper functioning of all life, many questions remain unanswered about exactly how different metals contribute to health and disease. The development of fluorescent probes, which respond to metals, has allowed greater understanding of the cellular location, concentration and speciation of metals in living systems, giving a new appreciation of their function. While the focus of studies using these fluorescent tools has largely been on mammalian organisms, there has been relatively little application of these powerful tools to other organisms.

Squaramides for colorimetric and fluorescent anion sensing.

A series of fluorophore-containing squaramides were synthesised to investigate the fluorescent and colorimetric response to anions of squaramides containing large aromatic substituents. Squaramides in which the fluorophores were conjugated directed to the squaramide motif were found to have highly acidic NH protons, giving rise to complicated fluorescence behaviour and colour changes upon addition of anions. In contrast, squaramides incorporating a methylene spacer to electronically insulate the fluorophore from the squaramide gave a relatively simple fluorescence response upon addition of anions, which was attributed to a decrease in excimer emission relative to monomer emission intensity, likely due to a disaggregation mechanism.

Perspectives and Experiences of Self-monitoring of Blood Pressure Among Patients With Hypertension: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Studies.

Background: Self-monitoring of blood pressure is a key strategy in managing hypertension but may be challenging and burdensome for patients. The aim of the study was to describe the perspectives and experiences of self-monitoring of blood pressure in patients with hypertension.

Methods: MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and CINAHL were searched from database inception to March 2022.

Tunable Polymer Nanoreactors from RAFT Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly: Fabrication of Nanostructured Carbon-Coated Anatase as Battery Anode Materials with Variable Morphology and Porosity.

We demonstrate a modular synthesis approach to yield mesoporous carbon-coated anatase (denoted as TiO/C) nanostructures. Combining polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) and reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) dispersion polymerization enabled the fabrication of uniform core-shell polymeric nanoreactors with tunable morphologies. The nanoreactors comprised of a poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) shell and a poly(benzyl methacrylate) (PBzMA) core.