Optimization of Whole-Body Zebrafish Sectioning Methods for Mass Spectrometry Imaging

Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) methods and protocols have become widely adapted to a variety of tissues and species. However, the MSI literature contains minimal information on whole-body cryosection preparation for the zebrafish (ZF; Danio rerio), a model organism routinely used in developmental, toxicity, and carcinogenicity studies. The optimal medium for embedding and cryosectioning a whole organism or soft-tissue specimen for histological examination is a synthetic polymer mixture that is incompatible with MSI as a result of ion suppression. We describe the optimal methods and results for embedding and cryosectioning whole-body ZF for MALDI-MSI. We evaluated 13 distinct embedding media formulations and found a supportive hydrogel with the consistency of cartilage to be the optimal embedding medium. The hydrogel medium does not interfere with MSI data collection, aids in tissue stability, is readily available for purchase, and is easy to prepare and handle during cryosectioning. Additionally, we decreased the matrix cluster interference commonly caused by α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid by adding ammonium phosphate to the solvent spray solution. The optimized methods developed in our laboratory produced high-quality cryosections, as well as high-quality mass spectral images of sectioned ZF.     

Silk fibroin hydrogels for potential applications in photodynamic therapy

In this study, we prepared translucid hydrogels with different concentrations of silk fibroin, extracted from raw silk fibers, and used them as a matrix to incorporate the photosensitizer 5-(4-aminophenyl)-10,15,20-tris-(4-sulphonatophenyl) porphyrin trisodium for application in photodynamic therapy (PDT). The hydrogels obtained were characterized by rheology, spectrophotometry, and scattering techniques to elucidate the factors involved in the formation of the hydrogel, and to characterize the behavior of silk fibroin (SF) after incorporating of the porphyrin to the matrix. The rheology results demonstrated that the SF hydrogels had a shear thinning behavior. In addition, we were able to verify that the structure of the material was able to be recovered over time after shear deformation. The encapsulation of porphyrins in hydrogels leads to the formation of self-assembled peptide nanostructures that prevent porphyrin aggregation, thereby greatly increasing the generation of singlet oxygen. Also, our findings suggest that porphyrin can diffuse out of the hydrogel and permeate the outer skin layers. This evidence suggests that SF hydrogels could be used as porphyrin encapsulation and as a drug carrier for the sustained release of photosensitizers for PDT.     

Fluid shear stress stimulates breast cancer cells to display invasive and chemoresistant phenotypes while upregulating PLAU in a 3D bioreactor

Breast cancer cells experience a range of shear stresses in the tumor microenvironment (TME). However most current in vitro three-dimensional (3D) models fail to systematically probe the effects of this biophysical stimuli on cancer cell metastasis, proliferation, and chemoresistance. To investigate the roles of shear stress within the mammary and lung pleural effusion TME, a bioreactor capable of applying shear stress to cells within a 3D extracellular matrix was designed and characterized. Breast cancer cells were encapsulated within an interpenetrating network hydrogel and subjected to shear stress of 5.4 dynes cm⁻² for 72 hr. Finite element modeling assessed shear stress profiles within the bioreactor. Cells exposed to shear stress had significantly higher cellular area and significantly lower circularity, indicating a motile phenotype. Stimulated cells were more proliferative than static controls and showed higher rates of chemoresistance to the anti-neoplastic drug paclitaxel. Fluid shear stress-induced significant upregulation of the PLAU gene and elevated urokinase activity was confirmed through zymography and activity assay. Overall, these results indicate that pulsatile shear stress promotes breast cancer cell proliferation, invasive potential, chemoresistance, and PLAU signaling.     

冷冻干燥及DMEM培养液浸泡对海藻酸水凝胶性能的影响

目的：考察冷冻干燥及DMEM培养液浸泡对海藻酸水凝胶性能的影响。方法：制备得到海藻酸水凝胶,对其结构和性能进 行了表征,重点模拟了细胞的培养过程,考察水凝胶- 冻干-DMEM培养液浸泡后水凝胶的力学性能、流变性能的变化。使用 CCK-8 法研究海藻酸水凝胶的细胞毒性。结果：制备了结构和性能可控的海藻酸水凝胶,冻干再浸泡会降低凝胶的拉伸强度和流 变屈服强度。海藻酸水凝胶对上皮细胞和平滑肌细胞没有明显的细胞毒性。结论：冷冻干燥及DMEM培养液浸泡后,凝胶拉伸强 度和屈服强度出现了下降,其原因是浸泡过程中钙离子会从中溶出。     

Alleviation of Both Water and Nutrient Limitations is Necessary to Accelerate Ecological Restoration of Waste Rock Tips

Hard rock quarries are commonly located close to national parks and special areas of conservation and are generally regarded as visually intrusive. Consequently, restoration strategies that effectively accelerate natural plant regeneration processes are required. Slate waste tips present extreme conditions for plant establishment with multiple potential limiting factors (e.g., lack of organic matter, nutrients, and poor water retention). In this study, we investigated ecological strategies to accelerate natural regeneration at the largest slate quarry in Europe. A field experiment was conducted to assess ecosystem restoration using a contrasting set of native woody species. Treatments included amendments of waste tips with: polyacrylamide gel to increase water‐holding capacity; mineral fertilizer to increase nutrient supply; and two treatments that increased both (organic waste or boulder clay addition). Ecosystem recovery was evaluated through above‐ and below‐ground productivity (plant and microbial, respectively) and soil analyses. Neither increasing nutrient supply (with mineral fertilizer) nor water‐holding capacity (with polyacrylamide gel) was sufficient, alone, to improve plant establishment. However, both boulder clay and organic waste amendment significantly enhanced plant growth. There was a marked positive interaction in the effects on tree growth of the amendment with organic waste and boulder clay. Large interactions occurred between tree species and substrate amendments. The growth of N₂‐fixing species was strongly favored over non‐fixers where there was no addition of material increasing soil nitrogen supply, whereas the growth advantage of pioneer species over non‐pioneers was greatest with fertilizer, organic waste, or clay additions. Organic waste addition had the greatest positive impact on soil processes.     

酶启动和调控自组装超分子水凝胶

超分子间的弱相互作用使自组装超分子水凝胶的结构比较容易改变。用酶启动和调控超分子水凝胶的自组装不仅能在原位上对超分子水凝胶结构进行调整和控制,而且具有很好的生物选择性,有望制造出生物医学上所需要的材料,并能够控制生物体系中一些重要的生物过程。本文对酶启动和调控自组装超分子水凝胶的两类过程进行了总结,并以磷酸酯酶、β-内酰胺酶、嗜热菌蛋白酶、脂肪酶、基质金属蛋白酶和磷酸酯酶/激酶等酶为例,综述了如何设计和使用酶来启动和调控小分子的自组装超分子水凝胶。     

载荷壳聚糖微球的海藻酸钠水凝胶的制备

目的:在支架材料上引入具有控释行为的微球,旨在通过微球包裹生长因子,通过生长因子的缓慢释放从而促进种子细胞的生长分化。方法:本实验通过在海藻酸钠水凝胶中负载具有控释功能的壳聚糖微球,并通过在微球中包载溶菌酶从而达到控制壳聚糖降解速率的功效。实验研究了不同搅拌速度下壳聚糖微球的形貌及粒径大小,通过扫描电镜对壳聚糖微球及复合支架的形貌进行了观察,通过紫外光吸收法测试了微球的载药量及包封率,并研究了壳聚糖微球在体外的降解行为等。结果:制备的壳聚糖微球表面较光滑,溶菌酶的包封率在25.78%-41.89%之间,载药量在15.20%-24.44%之间。包封溶菌酶的微胶囊在降解9天后壳聚糖分子量下降了70.40%,载荷微球的复合凝胶孔洞增多,孔洞大小均匀。结论:此复合材料有望作为载荷软骨相关生长因子的支架模型,从而解决软骨组织工程中种子细胞匮乏的问题。