Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive form of brain cancer that has no effective treatments and a prognosis of only 12–15 months. Microfluidic technologies deliver microscale control of fluids and cells, and have aided cancer therapy as point‐of‐care devices for the diagnosis of breast and prostate cancers. However, a few microfluidic devices are developed to study malignant glioma. The ability of these platforms to accurately replicate the complex microenvironmental and extracellular conditions prevailing in the brain and facilitate the measurement of biological phenomena with high resolution and in a high‐throughput manner could prove useful for studying glioma progression. These attributes, coupled with their relatively simple fabrication process, make them attractive for use as point‐of‐care diagnostic devices for detection and treatment of GBM. Here, the current issues that plague GBM research and treatment, as well as the current state of the art in glioma detection and therapy, are reviewed. Finally, opportunities are identified for implementing microfluidic technologies into research and diagnostics to facilitate the rapid detection and better therapeutic targeting of GBM. 相似文献
Cell cultures are indispensable for both basic and applied research. Advancements in cell culture and analysis increase their utility for basic research and translational applications. A marked development in this direction is advent of three-dimensional (3D) cultures. The extent of advancement in 3D cell culture methods over the past decade has warranted referring to a single cell type being cultured as an aggregate or spheroid using simple scaffolds as “traditional.” In recent years, the development of “next-generation” devices has enabled cultured cells to mimic their natural environments much better than the traditional 3D culture systems. Automated platforms like chip-based devices, magnetic- and acoustics-based assembly devices, di-electrophoresis (DEP), micro pocket cultures (MPoC), and 3D bio-printing provide a dynamic environment compared to the rather static conditions of the traditional simple scaffold-based 3D cultures. Chip-based technologies, which are centered on principles of microfluidics, are revolutionizing the ways in which cell culture and analysis can be compacted into table-top instruments. A parallel evolution in analytical devices enabled efficient assessment of various complex physiological and pathological endpoints. This is augmented by concurrent development of software enabling rapid large-scale automated data acquisition and analysis like image cytometry, elastography, optical coherence tomography, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), and biosensors. The techniques and devices utilized for the purpose of 3D cell culture and subsequent analysis depend primarily on the requirement of the study. We present here an in-depth account of the devices for obtaining and analyzing 3D cell cultures. 相似文献
Social and economic indicators can be used to support design of sustainable energy systems. Indicators representing categories of social well‐being, energy security, external trade, profitability, resource conservation, and social acceptability have not yet been measured in published sustainability assessments for commercial algal biofuel facilities. We review socioeconomic indicators that have been modeled at the commercial scale or measured at the pilot or laboratory scale, as well as factors that affect them, and discuss additional indicators that should be measured during commercialization to form a more complete picture of socioeconomic sustainability of algal biofuels. Indicators estimated in the scientific literature include the profitability indicators, return on investment (ROI) and net present value (NPV), and the resource conservation indicator, fossil energy return on investment (EROI). These modeled indicators have clear sustainability targets and have been used to design sustainable algal biofuel systems. Factors affecting ROI, NPV, and EROI include infrastructure, process choices, and financial assumptions. The food security indicator, percent change in food price volatility, is probably zero where agricultural lands are not used for production of algae‐based biofuels; however, food‐related coproducts from algae could enhance food security. The energy security indicators energy security premium and fuel price volatility and external trade indicators terms of trade and trade volume cannot be projected into the future with accuracy prior to commercialization. Together with environmental sustainability indicators, the use of a suite of socioeconomic sustainability indicators should contribute to progress toward sustainability of algal biofuels. 相似文献
Photosynthetic microbes exhibit light‐dependent electron export across the cell membrane, which can generate electricity in biological photovoltaic (BPV) devices. How electrons are exported remains to be determined; the identification of mechanisms would help selection or generation of photosynthetic microbes capable of enhanced electrical output. We show that plasma membrane NADPH oxidase activity is a significant component of light‐dependent generation of electricity by the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. NADPH oxidases export electrons across the plasma membrane to form superoxide anion from oxygen. The C. reinhardtii mutant lacking the NADPH oxidase encoded by RBO1 is impaired in both extracellular superoxide anion production and current generation in a BPV device. Complementation with the wild‐type gene restores both capacities, demonstrating the role of the enzyme in electron export. Monitoring light‐dependent extracellular superoxide production with a colorimetric assay is shown to be an effective way of screening for electrogenic potential of candidate algal strains. The results show that algal NADPH oxidases are important for superoxide anion production and open avenues for optimizing the biological component of these devices. 相似文献
This study investigates the condition of commercial miscanthus fields, growers’ concerns and reasons for growing the crop and also the modelling of a realistic commercial yield. Juvenile and mature Miscanthus × giganteus crops of varying age are surveyed in growers’ fields across mid‐England. We record in‐field plant density counts and the morphology of crops of different ages. Mature crops thrive on both clay and sandy soils. Plants surveyed appear robust to drought, weeds and disease, the only vulnerability is rhizome condition when planting. Mature miscanthus planted pre‐2014 continues to develop, spreading into planting gaps and growing more tillers. In stands planted post‐2014, improved planting techniques reduce planting gaps and create a reasonably consistent planting density of 12,500 plants/ha. The main reason for growers' investment in miscanthus is not financial return, but relates to its low requirement for field operations, low maintenance cost and regeneration. This offers practical solutions for difficult field access and social acceptability near public places (related to spray operations and crop vandalism). Wildlife is abundant in these fields, largely undisturbed except for harvest. This contributes to the greening of agriculture; fields are also used for gamebird cover and educational tours. This crop is solving practical problems for growers while improving the environment. Observed yield data indicate gradual yield increase with crop age, a yield plateau but no yield decrease since 2006. In stands with low planting densities, yields plateau after 9 years. Surveyed yield data are used to parameterize the MiscanFor bioenergy model. This produces options to simulate either juvenile yields or a yield for a landscape containing different aged crops. For mature English crop yields of 12 t ha?1 year?1, second‐ and third‐year juvenile harvests average 7 t ha?1 year?1 and a surrounding 10 km by 10 km area of distributed crop age would average 9 t ha?1 year?1. 相似文献
Many agarolytic bacteria degrade agar polysaccharide into the disaccharide unit neoagarobiose [O‐3,6‐anhydro‐α‐l ‐galactopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐d ‐galactose] using various β‐agarases. Neoagarobiose hydrolase is an enzyme that acts on the α‐1,3 linkage in neoagarobiose to yield d ‐galactose and 3,6‐anhydro‐l ‐galactose. This activity is essential in both the metabolism of agar by agarolytic bacteria and the production of fermentable sugars from agar biomass for bioenergy production. Neoagarobiose hydrolase from the marine bacterium Saccharophagus degradans 2‐40 was overexpressed in Escherichia coli and crystallized in the monoclinic space group C2, with unit‐cell parameters a = 129.83, b = 76.81, c = 90.11 Å, β = 101.86°. The crystals diffracted to 1.98 Å resolution and possibly contains two molecules in the asymmetric unit. 相似文献
Cellulosic bioenergy feedstock such as perennial grasses and crop residues are expected to play a significant role in meeting US biofuel production targets. We used an improved version of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) to forecast impacts on watershed hydrology and water quality by implementing an array of plausible land‐use changes associated with commercial bioenergy crop production for two watersheds in the Midwest USA. Watershed‐scale impacts were estimated for 13 bioenergy crop production scenarios, including: production of Miscanthus × giganteus and upland Shawnee switchgrass on highly erodible landscape positions, agricultural marginal land areas and pastures, removal of corn stover and combinations of these options. Water quality, measured as erosion and sediment loading, was forecasted to improve compared to baseline when perennial grasses were used for bioenergy production, but not with stover removal scenarios. Erosion reduction with perennial energy crop production scenarios ranged between 0.2% and 59%. Stream flow at the watershed outlet was reduced between 0 and 8% across these bioenergy crop production scenarios compared to baseline across the study watersheds. Results indicate that bioenergy production scenarios that incorporate perennial grasses reduced the nonpoint source pollutant load at the watershed outlet compared to the baseline conditions (0–20% for nitrate‐nitrogen and 3–56% for mineral phosphorus); however, the reduction rates were specific to site characteristics and management practices. 相似文献
Leukocyte rolling and adhesion are complex physiological processes that have received a great deal of attention over the past decade. Significant increases in the knowledge base related to how leukocytes adhere in shear flows have occurred as a result of the development of novel experimental and computational techniques. Micro- and nano-fabrication techniques have enabled the development of novel flow devices for studying leukocyte adhesion in simple and complex geometries. Improvements in computer technology have enabled simulations of complex flow processes to be developed. As a result of these advances in knowledge related to leukocyte adhesion, numerous novel devices have been developed that mimic the leukocyte rolling and adhesion process. Examples of these devices include cell separation and enrichment devices and targeted ultrasound contrast agents. Future advances related to leukocyte rolling and adhesion processes hold great promise for advancing our knowledge of disease processes as well as development of novel therapeutic devices. 相似文献
The crucial role of the biopolymer “Von Willebrand factor” (VWF) in blood platelet binding is tightly regulated by the shear forces to which the protein is exposed in the blood flow. Under high-shear conditions, VWFs ability to immobilize blood platelets is strongly increased due to a change in conformation which at sufficient concentration is accompanied by the formation of ultra large VWF bundles (ULVWF). However, little is known about the dynamic and mechanical properties of such bundles.Combining a surface acoustic wave (SAW) based microfluidic reactor with an atomic force microscope (AFM) we were able to study the relaxation of stretched VWF bundles formed by hydrodynamic stress. We found that the dynamical response of the network is well characterized by stretched exponentials, indicating that the relaxation process proceeds through hopping events between a multitude of minima. This finding is in accordance with current ideas of VWF self-association. The longest relaxation time does not show a clear dependence on the length of the bundle, and is dominated by the internal conformations and effective friction within the bundle. 相似文献
Phormidium J-1, a benthic filamentous cyanobacterium, isolated from a drainage channel, was found to produce a high molecular weight polymer. This substance can flocculate bentonite particles from suspensions. At the stationary phase of growth the cells excreted this bioflocculant into the surrounding medium. Production was enhanced by reduction of the calcium content in the growth medium or by increasing its EDTA content. Above the isoelectric point (pH 3.5) the bioflocculant is negatively charged. The presence of minimal concentrations of divalent cations in the reaction mixture is required for its flocculating activity. The production of bioflocculant could be of great importance in clarification of turbid water bodies, thus allowing light penetration to the sediment/water interface. Bioflocculant production and excretion was not found in several other benthic cyanobacteria.Dedicated to Prof. Dr. H.-G. Schlegel on the occasion of his 60th birthday 相似文献
Summary The effect of graded concentrations of four common ricefield herbicides (Arozin, Butachlor, Alachlor, 2,4-D) on diazotrophic growth, macromolecular contents, heterocyst frequency and tolerance potentials of Ca-alginate immobilized diazotrophic cyanobacterial isolates Nostoc punctiforme, N. calcicola, Anabaena variabilis, Gloeocapsasp., Aphanocapsa sp. and laboratory strain N. muscorum ISU (Anabaena ATCC 27893) was studied and compared with free-living cultures. Cyanobacterial isolates showed progressive inhibition of growth with increasing dosage of herbicides in both free and immobilized states. There were significant differences in the relative toxicity of the four herbicides. Arozin proved to be more growth toxic in comparison to Alachlor, Butachlor and 2,4-D. Growth performance of the immobilized cyanobacterial isolates under herbicide stress showed a similar diazotrophic growth pattern to free cells with no difference in lethal and sub-lethal dosages. However, at lethal concentrations of herbicides, the immobilized cells exhibited prolonged survivability of 14–16 days as compared to their free-living counterparts (8–12 days). The decline in growth, macromolecular contents and heterocyst frequency was found to be similar in both the states in graded dosages of herbicides. Of the test organisms, A. variabilis showed maximum natural tolerance towards all the four herbicides tested. Evidently immobilization by Ca-alginate seems to provide protection to the diazotrophic cyanobacterial inoculants to a certain extent against the growth-toxic action of herbicides. 相似文献
We report a method to capture a multifocus image stack based on recording multiple reflections generated by imaging through a custom etalon. The focus stack is collected in a single camera exposure and consequently the information needed for 3D reconstruction is recorded in the camera integration time, which is only 100 µs. We have used the VIDA microscope to temporally resolve the multi‐lobed 3D morphology of neutrophil nuclei as they rotate and deform through a microfluidic constriction. In addition, we have constructed a 3D imaging flow cytometer and quantified the nuclear morphology of nearly a thousand white blood cells flowing at a velocity of 3 mm per second. The VIDA microscope is compact and simple to construct, intrinsically achromatic, and the field‐of‐view and stack number can be easily reconfigured without redesigning diffraction gratings and prisms.
