Application of novel organic–inorganic hybrid sol–gel coatings containing dispersed hydroxyapatite particles improved the biocompatibility and corrosion protection properties of the Ti6Al4V alloy used in medical implants.
The modeling of genetic networks especially from microarray and related data has become an important aspect of the biosciences. This review takes a fresh look at a specific family of models used for constructing genetic networks, the so-called Boolean networks. The review outlines the various different types of Boolean network developed to date, from the original Random Boolean Network to the current Probabilistic Boolean Network. In addition, some of the different inference methods available to infer these genetic networks are also examined. Where possible, particular attention is paid to input requirements as well as the efficiency, advantages and drawbacks of each method. Though the Boolean network model is one of many models available for network inference today, it is well established and remains a topic of considerable interest in the field of genetic network inference. Hybrids of Boolean networks with other approaches may well be the way forward in inferring the most informative networks.
Cell and tissue culture has evolved from the use of simple glassware for the propagation of cells and tissues into a comprehensive platform for interrogating complex biological systems, directing cell fate and deriving products with clinical and therapeutic value.However, despite significant advances, current in vitro culture approaches remain limited in their capacity to model the clinical/biological complexities of disease, in part at least due to the deficiencies of existing culture materials. The challenge is therefore to identify innovative materials-based solutions that have greater control over cells in vitro, while better representing biological systems in vivo. Such platforms would be suitable for biomarker discovery and tissue engineering applications. This review examines the development of tissue culture materials, advances in our understanding of cell-surface interactions and the application of this knowledge towards the development of new approaches for better examining biological events.3 he ability to culture cells and tissues in vitro is a fundamental aspect of modern science. Established early in the twentieth century, notably through the work of Harrison R.G. of John Hopkins University 1 , the ability to culture cells and tissues has markedly improved during the intervening period. The field has progressed from an ability to maintain and culture tissue for extended periods, through the discovery and establishment of immortal cell lines, to today, where tissue engineering is making considerable progress in the production of artificial tissues and organs in vitro [2][3][4] . Key to these successes have been advances in the culture surfaces on which cells and tissues are grown.This review summarizes progress in the development of tissue culture materials, highlights current requirements and existing limitations for in vitro culture, and examines their relevance to clinical questions and our current understanding of tissue culture materials design. Although long-established, current culture materials may not always be appropriate for modelling in vivo conditions, and innovative strategies are therefore required in order to overcome existing limitations. Current Issues with Tissue Culture:Numerous articles have highlighted the drawbacks and limitations of current in vitro culture systems 5,6 . Concerns revolve around deficiencies in the culture systems and the tissue they generate. Although the latter can be linked to the quality of the initial cellular material, contamination and/or poor maintenance of historical cell lines 6,7 , it can also result from deficiencies in the culture systems i.e. not all cell populations are amenable to in vitro culture.Problems are compounded once tissue enters in vitro culture, as derived populations are expected to maintain their in vivo relevance. However, cells naturally adapt to the local environment and T 4 prolonged culture of immortalized cell lines results in a progressive divergence from the parental population 6,8,9 . Although loss or gain of ab...
Ferritin is a protein that stores and releases iron to prevent diseases associated with iron dysregulation in plants, animals, and bacteria. The conversion between iron-loaded holo-ferritin and empty apo-ferritin is an important process for iron regulation. To date, studies of ferritin have used either ensemble measurements to quantify the characteristics of a large number of proteins or singlemolecule approaches to interrogate labeled or modified proteins.Here we demonstrate the first real-time study of the dynamics of iron ion loading and biomineralization within a single, unlabeled ferritin protein. Using optical nanotweezers, we trapped single apo-and holoferritins indefinitely, distinguished one from the other, and monitored their structural dynamics in real time. The study presented here deepens the understanding of the iron uptake mechanism of ferritin proteins, which may lead to new therapeutics for iron-related diseases.
Introduction of phosphorous into hybrid silica sol–gel coatings on Ti6Al4V gives materials demonstrating higher levels of intermolecular condensation and fibrinogen uptake as well as improved in vitro biocompatibility and corrosion protection.
Porous silica-based materials are attractive for biomedical applications due to their biocompatibility and biodegradable character. In addition, inorganic supports such as porous silicon are being developed due to integrated circuit chip compatibility and tunable properties leading to a wide range of multidisciplinary applications. In this contribution, biosilica extracted from a rarely studied plant material (Equisetum Myriochaetum), its conversion to silicon and the potential for both materials to be used as supports for enzyme immobilization are investigated. E. myriochaetum was subject to conventional acid digestion to extract biogenic silica with a% yield remarkably higher (up to 3 times) than for other Equisetum sp. (i.e. E. Arvense). The surface area of the isolated silica was ∼400 m/g, suitable for biotechnological applications. Biogenic silicon was obtained by magnesiothermic reduction. The materials were characterized by SEM-EDX, XRD, FT-IR, ICP-OES, TGA and BET analysis and did not contain significant levels of class 1 heavy elements (such as Pb, Cd, Hg and As). Two commercial peroxidases, horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and Coprinus cinereus peroxidase (CiP) were immobilized onto the biogenic materials using three different functionalization routes: (A) carbodiimide, (B) amine + glutaraldehyde and (C) amine + carbodiimide. Although both biogenic silica and porous silicon could be used as supports differences in behaviour were observed for the two enzymes. For HRP, loading onto biogenic silica via the glutaraldehyde immobilization technique (route B) was most effective. The loading of CiP showed a much higher peroxidase activity onto porous silicon than silica functionalized by the carbodiimide method (route A). From the properties of the extracted materials obtained from Equisetum Myriochaetum and the immobilization results observed, these materials appear to be promising for industrial and biomedical applications.
Equisetum species are primitive vascular plants that benefit from the biogenesis of silica bio-organic inclusions in their tissues and participate in the annual biosilica turnover in local eco-systems. As means of Equisetum reproduction and propagation, spores are expected to reflect the evolutionary adaptation of the plants to the climatic conditions at different times of the year. Combining methods of Raman and scanning electron microscopy and assisted with density functional theory, we conducted material spatial-spectral correlations to characterize the distribution of biopolymers and silica based structural elements that contribute to the bio-mineral content of the elater. The elater tip has underlying skeletal-like structural elements where cellulose fibers provide strength and flexibility, both of which are necessary for locomotion. The surface of the elater tips is rich with less ordered pectin like polysaccharide and shows a ridged, folded character. At the surface we observe silica of amorphous, colloidal form in nearly spherical structures where the silica is only a few layers thick. We propose the observed expansion of elater tips upon germination and the form of silica including encapsulated biopolymers are designed for ready dispersion, release of the polysaccharide-arginine rich content and to facilitate silica uptake to the developing plant. This behavior would help to condition local soil chemistry to facilitate competitive rooting potential and stem propagation.
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