An important feature necessary for biological stability of gold nanoparticles is resistance to ligand exchange. Here, we design and synthesize self-assembled monolayers of mixtures of small ligands on gold nanoparticles promoting high resistance to ligand exchange. We use as ligands short thiolated peptidols, e.g. H-CVVVT-ol, and ethylene glycol terminated alkane thiols (HS-C 11 -EG 4 ). We present a straightforward method to evaluate the relative stability of each ligand shell against ligand exchange with small thiolated molecules. The results show that a ligand with a 'thin' stem, such as HS-C 11 -EG 4 , is an important feature to build a highly packed self-assembled monolayer and provide high resistance to ligand exchange. The greatest resistance to ligand exchange was found for the mixed ligand shells of the pentapeptidols H-CAVLT-ol or H-CAVYT-ol and the ligand HS-C 11 -EG 4 at 30:70 (mole/mole). Mixtures of ligands of very different diameters, such as the peptidol H-CFFFY-ol and the ligand HS-C 11 -EG 4 , provide only a slightly lower stability against ligand exchange. These ligand shells are thus likely to be suitable for long-term use in biological environments. The method developed here provides a rapid screening tool to identify nanoparticles likely to be suitable for use in biological and biomedical applications.

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The cumulus cell-oocyte complex (COC) matrix is an extended coat that forms around the oocyte a few hours before ovulation and plays vital roles in oocyte biology. Here, we analyzed the micromechanical response of mouse COC matrix by colloidal-probe atomic force microscopy. We found that the COC matrix is elastic insofar as it does not flow and its original shape is restored after force release. At the same time, the COC matrix is extremely soft. Specifically, the most compliant parts of in vivo and in vitro expanded COC matrices yielded Young's modulus values of 0.5 ± 0.1 Pa and 1.6 ± 0.3 Pa, respectively, suggesting both high porosity and a large mesh size (≥100 nm). In addition, the elastic modulus increased progressively with indentation. Furthermore, using optical microscopy to correlate these mechanical properties with ultrastructure, we discovered that the COC is surrounded by a thick matrix shell that is essentially devoid of cumulus cells and is enhanced upon COC expansion in vivo. We propose that the pronounced nonlinear elastic behavior of the COC matrix is a consequence of structural heterogeneity and serves important functions in biological processes such as oocyte transport in the oviduct and sperm penetration.

One contribution of 12 to a theme issue 'Synthetic glycobiology'.Hyaluronan (HA) is a linear, regular polysaccharide that plays as a chief structural and functional component in peri-and extracellular matrices, thus contributing significantly to many basic cellular processes. To understand more comprehensively the response of the supramolecular organization of HA polymers to changes in their aqueous environment, we study the effects of Ca 2þ concentration and pH on the morphology and rigidity of films of end-grafted HA polymers on planar supports (HA brushes), as a well-defined in vitro model system of HA-rich matrices, by reflection interference contrast microscopy and quartz crystal microbalance. The thickness and softness of HA brushes decrease significantly with Ca 2þ concentration but do not change with pH, within the physiological ranges of these parameters. The effect of Ca 2þ on HA brush thickness is virtually identical to the effect of Na þ at 10-fold higher concentrations. Moreover, the thickness and softness of HA brushes decrease appreciably upon HA protonation at pH less than 6. Effects of pH and calcium ions are fully reversible over large parameter ranges. These findings are relevant for understanding the supramolecular organization and dynamics of HA-rich matrices in biological systems and will also benefit the rational design of synthetic HA-rich materials with tailored properties.

Zoledronic acid (ZOL) is an antiresorptive drug used to prevent bone loss in a variety of conditions, acting mainly through suppression of osteoclast activity. There is growing evidence that ZOL can also affect cells of the mesenchymal lineage in bone. We present novel data revealing significant changes in the abundance of perivascular mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs)/osteoprogenitors and osteoblasts following the injection of ZOL, in vivo. In young mice with high bone turnover and an abundance of perivascular osteoprogenitors, ZOL significantly (P < 0.0001) increased new bone formation. This was accompanied by a decline in osterix‐positive osteoprogenitors and a corresponding increase in osteoblasts. However, these effects were not observed in mature mice with low bone turnover. Interestingly, the ZOL‐induced changes in cells of the mesenchymal lineage occurred independently of effects on the osteogenic vasculature. Thus, we demonstrate that a single, clinically relevant dose of ZOL can induce new bone formation in microenvironments enriched for perivascular MSC/osteoprogenitors and high osteogenic potential. This arises from the differentiation of perivascular osterix‐positive MSC/osteoprogenitors into osteoblasts at sites that are innately osteogenic. Collectively, our data demonstrate that ZOL affects multiple cell types in bone and has differential effects depending on the level of bone turnover.—Hughes, R., Chen, X., Hunter, K. D., Hobbs, J. K., Holen, I., Brown, N. J. Bone marrow osteoprogenitors are depleted whereas osteoblasts are expanded independent of the osteogenic vasculature in response to zoledronic acid. FASEB J. 33, 12768–12779 (2019). http://www.fasebj.org

Metastatic breast cancer in bone is incurable and there is an urgent need to develop new therapeutic approaches to improve survival. Key to this is understanding the mechanisms governing cancer cell survival and growth in bone, which involves interplay between malignant and accessory cell types. Here, we performed a cellular and molecular comparison of the bone microenvironment in mouse models representing either metastatic indolence or growth, to identify mechanisms regulating cancer cell survival and fate. In vivo, we show that regardless of their fate, breast cancer cells in bone occupy niches rich in osteoblastic cells. As the number of osteoblasts in bone declines, so does the ability to sustain large numbers of breast cancer cells and support metastatic outgrowth. In vitro, osteoblasts protected breast cancer cells from death induced by cell stress and signaling via gap junctions was found to provide important juxtacrine protective mechanisms between osteoblasts and both MDA-MB-231 (TNBC) and MCF7 (ER+) breast cancer cells. Combined with mathematical modelling, these findings indicate that the fate of DTCs is not controlled through the association with specific vessel subtypes. Instead, numbers of osteoblasts dictate availability of protective niches which breast cancer cells can colonize prior to stimulation of metastatic outgrowth.

Bacterial cell division is a complex process requiring the coordination of multiple components, to allow the appropriate spatial and temporal control of septum formation and cell scission. Peptidoglycan (PG) is the major structural component of the septum, and our recent studies in the human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus have revealed a complex, multi–stage PG architecture that develops during septation. Penicillin binding proteins (PBPs) are essential for the final steps of PG biosynthesis — their transpeptidase activity links together the peptide sidechain of nascent glycan strands together. PBP1 is required for cell division in S. aureus and here we demonstrate that it has multiple essential functions associated with its enzymatic activity and as a regulator of division. Loss of PBP1, or just its C–terminal PASTA domains, results in cessation of division at the point of septal plate formation. The PASTA domains can bind PG and thus coordinate the cell division process. The transpeptidase activity of PBP1 is also essential but its loss leads to a strikingly different phenotype of thickened and aberrant septa, which is phenocopied by the morphological effects of adding the PBP1–specific β–lactam, meropenem. Together these results lead to a model for septal PG synthesis where PBP1 enzyme activity is responsible for the characteristic architecture of the septum and PBP1 protein molecules coordinate cell division allowing septal plate formation.

Mechanically dependent processes are essential in cancer metastases. However, reliable mechanical characterization of metastatic cancer remains challenging whilst maintaining the tissue complexity and an intact sample. Using atomic force microscopy,...