Nanomoulding of Functional Materials,a Versatile Complementary Pattern Replication Method to Nanoimprinting

We describe a nanomoulding technique which allows low-cost nanoscale patterning of functional materials, materials stacks and full devices. Nanomoulding combined with layer transfer enables the replication of arbitrary surface patterns from a master structure onto the functional material. Nanomoulding can be performed on any nanoimprinting setup and can be applied to a wide range of materials and deposition processes. In particular we demonstrate the fabrication of patterned transparent zinc oxide electrodes for light trapping applications in solar cells.     

Programmable mechanical stimulation influences tendon homeostasis in a bioreactor system

Identification of functional programmable mechanical stimulation (PMS) on tendon not only provides the insight of the tendon homeostasis under physical/pathological condition, but also guides a better engineering strategy for tendon regeneration. The aims of the study are to design a bioreactor system with PMS to mimic the in vivo loading conditions, and to define the impact of different cyclic tensile strain on tendon. Rabbit Achilles tendons were loaded in the bioreactor with/without cyclic tensile loading (0.25 Hz for 8 h/day, 0–9% for 6 days). Tendons without loading lost its structure integrity as evidenced by disorientated collagen fiber, increased type III collagen expression, and increased cell apoptosis. Tendons with 3% of cyclic tensile loading had moderate matrix deterioration and elevated expression levels of MMP‐1, 3, and 12, whilst exceeded loading regime of 9% caused massive rupture of collagen bundle. However, 6% of cyclic tensile strain was able to maintain the structural integrity and cellular function. Our data indicated that an optimal PMS is required to maintain the tendon homeostasis and there is only a narrow range of tensile strain that can induce the anabolic action. The clinical impact of this study is that optimized eccentric training program is needed to achieve maximum beneficial effects on chronic tendinopathy management. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2013; 110: 1495–1507. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Precise Gene Editing Preserves Hematopoietic Stem Cell Function following Transient p53-Mediated DNA Damage Response

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A quest for the artificial leaf

It has been estimated that the energy captured in one hour of sunlight that reaches our planet is equivalent to annual energy production by human population globally. To efficiently capture the practically inexhaustible solar energy and convert it into high energy density solar fuels provides an attractive ‘green’ alternative to running our present day economies on rapidly depleting fossil fuels, especially in the context of ever growing global energy demand. Natural photosynthesis represents one of the most fundamental processes that sustain life on Earth. It provides nearly all the oxygen we breathe, the food we consume and fossil fuels that we so much depend on. Imitating the reactions that occur at the early stages of photosynthesis represents the main challenge in the quest for construction of an efficient, robust, self-renewing and cost-effective ‘artificial leaf’. In this review we summarize the main molecular features of the natural solar energy converters, photosystem I and photosystem II, that allow them to operate at high quantum efficiencies, and thus inspire the smart matrix design of the artificial solar-to-fuel devices. We also discuss the main challenges that face the field and overview selected recent technological advances that have tremendously accelerated the race for a fully operational artificial leaf that could serve as a viable alternative to fossil fuels for energy production.     

Foldon-guided self-assembly of ultra-stable protein fibers

A common objective in protein engineering is the enhancement of the thermodynamic properties of recombinant proteins for possible applications in nanobiotechnology. The performance of proteins can be improved by the rational design of chimeras that contain structural elements with the desired properties, thus resulting in a more effective exploitation of protein folds designed by nature. In this paper, we report the design and characterization of an ultra-stable self-refolding protein fiber, which rapidly reassembles in solution after denaturation induced by harsh chemical treatment or high temperature. This engineered protein fiber was constructed on the molecular framework of bacteriophage P22 tail needle gp26, by fusing its helical core to the foldon domain of phage T4 fibritin. Using protein engineering, we rationally permuted the foldon upstream and downstream from the gp26 helical core and characterized gp26-foldon chimeras by biophysical analysis. Our data demonstrate that one specific protein chimera containing the foldon immediately downstream from the gp26 helical core, gp26(1-140)-F, displays the highest thermodynamic and structural stability and refolds spontaneously in solution following denaturation. The gp26-foldon chimeric fiber remains stable in 6.0 M guanidine hydrochloride, or at 80 degrees C, rapidly refolds after denaturation, and has both N and C termini accessible for chemical/biological modification, thereby representing an ideal platform for the design of self-assembling nanoblocks.     

非人灵长类基因修饰模型研究进展

非人灵长类动物在生命科学基础研究和生物医药研究领域具有非常重要的地位。近年来随着慢病毒载体转染及靶向核酸酶(ZFN,TALEN,CRISPR/Cas9)等基因操作技术的出现,科学家们成功地获得了外源基因过表达的转基因猴和目的基因定点切割的基因编辑猴。文中对目前利用慢病毒载体获得转基因猴和利用靶向核酸酶获得基因编辑猴的研究进展进行了综述,并讨论了基因修饰猴的嵌合体现象、脱靶现象及非人灵长类动物较长性成熟时间这几个影响非人灵长类基因修饰模型推广应用的因素,最后展望了非人灵长类基因修饰模型构建技术的研究热点及发展趋势。     

Programmable RNA Cleavage and Recognition by a Natural CRISPR-Cas9 System from Neisseria meningitidis

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Mechanically Asymmetrical Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Self‐Powered Monitoring of In Vivo Microscale Weak Movement

Although much effort has been put in the studies of weak in vivo microscale movements due to its importance, the real‐time, long‐time, and accurate monitoring is still a great challenge because of the complexity of the in vivo environment. Here, a new type of mechanically asymmetrical triboelectric nanogenerator with ultrashort working distance and high anti‐interference ability is developed to accurately and real‐timely monitor the microscopically weak movement of intestinal motility at low frequencies even around 0.3 Hz. The intestinal status after the glucose absorption, and physiological states in different times also have been monitored successfully in the complex in vivo environment with many kinds of interference and noises. This work gives a new self‐powered, long‐time and in vivo technical way for the real‐timely gastrointestinal motility monitoring, and contributes to the detection of every kind of gentle movements in various complex bio‐systems.     

Impact of self-assembly composition on the alternate interfacial electron transfer for electrostatically immobilized cytochrome c

We report on the effects of self-assembled monolayer (SAM) dilution and thickness on the electron transfer (ET) event for cytochrome c (CytC) electrostatically immobilized on carboxyl terminated groups. We observed biphasic kinetic behavior for a logarithmic dependence of the rate constant on the SAM carbon number (ET distance) within the series of mixed SAMs of C(5)COOH/C(2)OH, C(10)COOH/C(6)OH, and C(15)COOH/C(11)OH that is in overall similar to that found earlier for the undiluted SAM assemblies. However, in the case of C(15)COOH/C(11)OH and C(10)COOH/C(6)OH mixed SAMs a notable increase of the ET standard rate constant was observed, in comparison with the corresponding unicomponent (omega-COOH) SAMs. In the case of the C(5)COOH/C(2)OH composite SAM a decrease of the rate constant versus the unicomponent analogue was observed. The value of the reorganization free energy deduced through the Marcus-like data analysis did not change throughout the series; this fact along with the other observations indicates uncomplicated rate-determining unimolecular ET in all cases. Our results are consistent with a model that considers a changeover between the alternate, tunneling and adiabatic intrinsic ET mechanisms. The physical mechanism behind the observed fine kinetic effects in terms of the protein-rigidifying omega-COOH/CytC interactions arising in the case of mixed SAMs are also discussed.     

Fabricating upconversion fluorescent nanoparticles modified substrate for dynamical control of cancer cells and pathogenic bacteria

Lanthanide‐doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) have attracted widespread interests in the field of biomedicine because of their unique upconverting capability by converting near infrared (NIR) excitation to visible or ultraviolet (UV) emission. Here, we developed a novel UCNP‐based substrate for dynamic capture and release of cancer cells and pathogenic bacteria under NIR‐control. The UCNPs harvest NIR light and convert it to ultraviolet light, which subsequently result in the cleavage of photoresponsive linker (PR linker) from the substrate, and on demand allows the release of a captured cell. The results show that after seeding cells for 5 h, the cells were efficiently captured on the surface of the substrate and ?89.4% of the originally captured S. aureus was released from the surface after exposure to 2 W/cm² NIR light for 30 min, and ?92.1% of HepG2 cells. These findings provide a unique platform for exploring an entirely new application field for this promising luminescent nanomaterial.