双光子光聚合技术及其研究进展

本文对双光子光聚合技术进行了比较全面系统的综述,主要介绍了双光子光聚合的基本原理,国内外双光子光聚合光敏引发体系和具有大的双光子吸收截面有机分子的研究现状以及双光子光聚合技术的潜在应用领域.     

糖超分子水凝胶在组织工程领域的研究进展

组织工程的一般策略是使用生物支架作为人工基质替代天然细胞外基质(ECM)支持细胞的生存和各项功能,从而形成新的组织.作为一类重要的生物大分子,糖质(glycan)是ECM的主要组分,其所承载的基质和信息功能使其成为一种极有潜力的制备组织工程支架的原材料.与此同时,基于可逆非共价相互作用的水凝胶,因其可以实现对水凝胶时空结构的精确操纵,从而模拟细胞所需的生存环境,促进组织的再生修复,近年来得到了重视和研究.本文从模拟ECM的结构和功能切入,将糖质功能与非共价作用结合起来,介绍多种糖动态超分子水凝胶的设计思路和构筑原理,讨论其在组织工程应用中需要实现的关键性能,并对其在该领域的发展趋势进行展望.     

双光子荧光探针

荧光探针作为研究生物系统必不可少的工具,借助双光子显微成像可以直观便捷地对生物活性化合物或生物功能客体成分进行实时动态三维观测与监控。近十年来发展的双光子激发荧光探针,较单光子荧光探针具有显著的优点,如高分辨率、高清晰度、高灵敏度、无光漂白、无光致毒、定靶激发、高横向与纵向分辨率、低的生物组织吸光系数及低的组织自发荧光干扰等。本文综述了近七年来的双光子阳离子探针、双光子阴离子探针、双光子SO_2探针、双光子pH探针、双光子核酸探针、双光子半胱氨酸探针、双光子活性氧探针、双光子磷酸探针、双光子CO探针、双光子Alph-细胞探针、双光子CYP1A酶探针、双光子极性、黏度与温度探针的结构特性及其在生物成像方面的应用。双光子荧光探针已被广泛应用于临床诊断、疾病监测和药物筛选上,这推动了生物化学、医学和生命研究的发展。     

高分子纳米材料与血浆蛋白的相互作用

由于纳米材料具有独特的物理和化学性能,使其在许多领域被广泛应用。纳米材料使用的日益增多要求我们仔细评估其难以预料的毒性（细胞毒性、溶血毒性、血液毒性和免疫毒性）和生物学相互作用。到目前为止,已有大量的研究旨在探索纳米材料与人的细胞或蛋白之间的相互作用,也取得了一些重要成果。在临床应用中,有些生物医用纳米材料常通过静脉注射、渗透、溶解和扩散等方式引入到血液组织中。血液是一种高度复杂的组织,主要由红细胞、白细胞、血小板和血浆组成。其中血浆是一个复杂的体液,它包含超过3700种不同的蛋白质。无论采用哪种方式,这些纳米材料将不可避免地会与丰富的血浆蛋白（或其他血液成分）发生某种联系和相互作用。然而,纳米材料和血浆蛋白之间的相互作用,可能在决定纳米材料的毒性方面起到至关重要的作用。目前对纳米材料与血浆蛋白（或其他血液成分）在分子水平会发生怎样的相互作用知之甚少。本文主要综述了典型的三类高分子纳米材料（包括聚阳离子,高分子胶束和药物（基因）/载体复合纳米粒子）与血浆蛋白的相互作用以及研究这些相互作用相关的分析技术的研究进展,这些内容对体内使用的纳米材料的分子设计和血液安全性非常重要。     

双光子荧光探针研究及其应用

双光子荧光显微成像兼具诸如近红外激发、暗场成像、避免荧光漂白和光致毒、定靶激发、高横向分辨率与纵向分辨率、降低生物组织吸光系数及降低组织自发荧光干扰等特点而显著地优于单光子荧光显微成像,为生命科学研究提供了更为锐利的工具。而用于像离子的含量及其对生理的影响、离子参与的生理活动机制、离子与分子的作用、特定分子的分布及其相互作用等方面研究的双光子荧光探针,是实现成像的关键。双光子荧光探针的研究旨在促进双光子荧光显微镜应用的发展,促进生命科学、医学科学的快速发展,同时也带动双光子荧光探针所隶属的化学这一学科的发展。因此对双光子荧光探针的研究具有重要的理论和实践意义。该文综述了双光子荧光显微成像的优点、双光子荧光探针设计的原理及双光子荧光探针在离子分析方面的应用,并展望了这类荧光探针的发展趋势与应用前景。     

香豆素肟酯类双光子引发剂的合成及性能研究

开发高效的双光子引发剂是提升双光子聚合速度的关键。本文基于光致脱羧机制,设计并合成了两种以共轭香豆素作为生色团、肟酯作为引发基团的双光子引发剂,并通过实验测试结合模拟计算对该类引发剂的光物理和光化学行为进行了研究。结果表明,该类引发剂在400~500 nm区域具有较强吸收,在LED可见光辐照下发生分解,具有光漂白特性,光解后释放的活性种可引发丙烯酸酯类单体聚合。利用双光子三维微纳成型技术,该类香豆素肟酯化合物可有效用于构建高分辨率的三维微纳结构。并通过量子化学计算,对该类引发剂的引发机理进行了探讨。     

端基功能化聚烯烃的合成与应用

端基功能化聚烯烃（Cef-PO）在聚烯烃改性和构筑复杂结构聚合物方面有着重要应用。可通过控制烯烃配位聚合过程中的自发链转移反应,得到端基不饱和聚烯烃;或通过引入硼烷、磷烷、苯乙烯及其衍生物/氢气等链转移剂得到不同反应性基团封端的聚烯烃;再经进一步基团转化反应,得到多种不同性能的Cef-PO。另外,活性配位聚合过程中,通过对活性增长聚烯烃链选择性封端处理,或使用功能化的催化剂,也可以用来制备Cef-PO。通过配位链转移聚合,即聚烯烃链在催化剂金属中心和烷基金属链转移剂之间快速可逆链转移的聚合过程,可以直接得到具有高度反应活性的碳-金属键封端的聚烯烃,经化学转化得到Cef-PO。此外,叶立德活性聚合、共轭二烯烃的阴离子活性聚合和环烯烃的开环易位聚合也可以用来制备Cef-PO。向其他聚合方式（活性自由基聚合、活性阴离子聚合等）的转换及与点击化学的结合是Cef-PO应用的明显特点。Cef-PO的应用包括作为聚合物的改性剂以及用于合成具有复杂结构的聚合物。     

双光子光聚合与功能微纳结构制备

随着纳米光电子学及生物医学组织工程领域的发展,器件的小型化、结构多样化及高度集成化,给微纳结构与器件制造领域带来了新的挑战。本文围绕飞秒激光双光子聚合技术,简要综述了双光子光聚合基本原理与双光子引发剂分子的研究进展,并对飞秒激光双光子聚合技术在功能微纳结构与器件制备中的应用及发展前景进行了展望。     

用于细胞和组织中弗林蛋白酶特异性成像的双光子荧光探针研究

弗林蛋白酶是前体蛋白转化酶家族中最具特色的酶之一,具有重要的生物学功能,其表达量水平与许多疾病有密切的关系,如癌症的发生和发展与弗林蛋白酶表达水平有着密切关联.目前文献中报道了一些单光子荧光探针用于弗林蛋白酶的检测,但这些探针不能应用于深层组织成像,且弗林蛋白酶在肿瘤发展过程的作用仍没有得到很好地研究.针对这些问题,本工作构建了一种新型双光子荧光探针Nap-F用于细胞和肿瘤组织内弗林蛋白酶的检测与双光子成像.Nap-F是由经典双光子荧光染料1,8-萘酰亚胺、弗林蛋白酶特异性多肽序列RVRR和自消除连接体整合而成.实验结果表明Nap-F对弗林蛋白酶具有很好的特异性,能够定量检测弗林蛋白酶的活性.在飞秒激光820 nm激发下,Nap-F能有效降低生物背景,并提高组织穿透深度,适用于细胞和组织的双光子成像.Nap-F成功地实现了几种活细胞中弗林蛋白酶的双光子成像,揭示了癌细胞和表达缺陷细胞中弗林蛋白酶含量的差异.更重要的是,我们将该探针用于CoCl₂固定HIF-1构建的肿瘤细胞缺氧模型成像,实验结果表明弗林蛋白酶的表达与肿瘤细胞缺氧程度存在正相关性.     

具有双光子效应的多核配合物

双光子吸收材料在上转换发光、生物成像、光动力学治疗、三维微结构加工等领域有着广泛的应用。金属配合物可通过金属中心为模板将数个具有双光子活性的有机配体组合成为复杂的多极体系从而增强双光子效应,还能使所得的双光子吸收材料的稳定性、发光寿命以及光谱的可调性得以优化,其中多核金属配合物的双光子吸收截面表现出的“协同增强”效应更是引起广泛关注。本文选取典型的多核配合物（分为同多核和异多核）,重点总结金属离子的种类和数量、配体分子以及配合物的结构等参数对其双光子性能的影响,特别关注多核配合物激发态的结构和能级、能量传递的模式和方向等对其光物理性质的影响机制,希望总结具有双光子活性的多核配合物的分子设计规律。最后,对目前具有双光子活性的多核配合物的制备以及“多核双功能”型配合物的开发研究方面存在的问题进行阐述和展望,以期为新型双光子吸收材料的构筑提供参考。     

Construction and activity of a synthetic basement membrane with active laminin peptides and polysaccharides

Cell-adhesive peptides derived from extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins are potential candidates for incorporating cell-binding activities into materials for tissue engineering. We have identified a number of cell adhesive peptides from laminins, which are major components of basement membrane ECM. Our goal is the development of synthetic basement membranes using the peptides on scaffolds. We review peptide–polysaccharide complexes, which were prepared by conjugation of the peptides to chitosan and alginate, and the biological activities of the resulting matrices. The peptide–polysaccharide matrices can also be used as a biomaterial for cell transplantation. These studies suggest that the peptide–polysaccharide complexes have the potential to mimic the multifunctional basement membrane and may be useful for tissue engineering.     

Identification of a novel class of small-molecule antiangiogenic agents through the screening of combinatorial libraries which function by inhibiting the binding and localization of proteinase MMP2 to integrin alpha(V)beta(3).

The process of new blood vessel growth from existing vasculature, known as angiogenesis, is critical to several pathological conditions, most notably cancer. Both MMP2, which degrades the extracellular matrix (ECM), and integrin alpha(V)beta(3), which contributes to endothelial cell attachment to the ECM, are critically involved in this process. Recent findings have shown that MMP2 is localized in an active form on the surface of invasive endothelial cells based on its ability to directly bind integrin alpha(V)beta(3), suggesting that disrupting this protein--protein interaction may represent a new target for the development of angiogenesis inhibitors. The screening of small molecule libraries led to the identification of compounds which disrupt the MMP2--alpha(V)beta(3) interaction in an in vitro binding assay. A prototypical inhibitor was further found to prevent the degradation of the protein matrix without directly inhibiting MMP2 activity or disrupting the binding of alpha(V)beta(3) to its classical ECM ligand, vitronectin. The synthesis and screening of analogues and substructures of this lead compound allowed the identification of requisite structural features for inhibition of MMP2 binding to alpha(V)beta(3). This led to the synthesis of a more water-soluble derivative which maintains the in vitro biological properties and has potent antiangiogenic and antitumor activity in vivo, validating the target as one useful for therapeutic intervention.     

Rheological properties of cross-linked hyaluronan-gelatin hydrogels for tissue engineering

Hydrogels that mimic the natural extracellular matrix (ECM) are used in three-dimensional cell culture, cell therapy, and tissue engineering. A semi-synthetic ECM based on cross-linked hyaluronana offers experimental control of both composition and gel stiffness. The mechanical properties of the ECM in part determine the ultimate cell phenotype. We now describe a rheological study of synthetic ECM hydrogels with storage shear moduli that span three orders of magnitude, from 11 to 3 500 Pa, a range important for engineering of soft tissues. The concentration of the chemically modified HA and the cross-linking density were the main determinants of gel stiffness. Increase in the ratio of thiol-modified gelatin reduced gel stiffness by diluting the effective concentration of the HA component.     

Hydrogels with Dynamically Controllable Mechanics and Biochemistry for 3D Cell Culture Platforms

Many cell-matrix interaction studies have proved that dynamic changes in the extracellular matrix(ECM)are crucial to maintain cellular properties and behaviors.Thus,developing materials that can recapitulate the dynamic attributes of the ECM is highly desired for threedimensional(3 D)cell culture platforms.To this end,we sought to develop a hydrogel system that would enable dynamic and reversible turning of its mechanical and biochemical properties,thus facilitating the control of cell culture to imitate the natural ECM.Herein,a hydrogel with dynamic mechanics and a biochemistry based on an addition-fragmentation chain transfer(AFCT)reaction was constructed.Thiol-modified hyaluronic acid(HA)and allyl sulfide-modifiedε-poly-L-lysine(EPL)were synthesized to form hydrogels,which were non-swellable and biocompatible.The reversible modulus of the hydrogel was first achieved through the AFCT reaction;the modulus can also be regulated stepwise by changing the dose of UVA irradiation.Dynamic patterning of fluorescent markers in the hydrogel was also realized.Therefore,this dynamically controllable hydrogel has great potential as a 3 D cell culture platform for tissue engineering applications.     

Bioactive Phenylboronic Acid-Functionalized Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogels Induce Chondro-Aggregates and Promote Chondrocyte Phenotype

Hydrogels are extensively investigated as biomimetic extracellular matrix (ECM) scaffolds in tissue engineering. The physiological properties of ECM affect cellular behaviors, which is an inspiration for cell-based therapies. Photocurable hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogel (AHAMA-PBA) modified with 3-aminophenylboronic acid, sodium periodate, and methacrylic anhydride simultaneously is constructed in this study. Chondrocytes are then cultured on the surface of the hydrogels to evaluate the effect of the physicochemical properties of the hydrogels on modulating cellular behaviors. Cell viability assays demonstrate that the hydrogel is non-toxic to chondrocytes. The existence of phenylboronic acid (PBA) moieties enhances the interaction of chondrocytes and hydrogel, promoting cell adhesion and aggregation through filopodia. RT-PCR indicates that the gene expression levels of type II collagen, Aggrecan, and Sox9 are significantly up-regulated in chondrocytes cultured on hydrogels. Moreover, the mechanical properties of the hydrogels have a significant effect on the cell phenotype, with soft gels (≈2 kPa) promoting chondrocytes to exhibit a hyaline phenotype. Overall, PBA-functionalized HA hydrogel with low stiffness exhibits the best effect on promoting the chondrocyte phenotype, which is a promising biomaterial for cartilage regeneration.     

The Optimization of a Novel Hydrogel—Egg White-Alginate for 2.5D Tissue Engineering of Salivary Spheroid-Like Structure

Hydrogels have been used for a variety of biomedical applications; in tissue engineering, they are commonly used as scaffolds to cultivate cells in a three-dimensional (3D) environment allowing the formation of organoids or cellular spheroids. Egg white-alginate (EWA) is a novel hydrogel which combines the advantages of both egg white and alginate; the egg white material provides extracellular matrix (ECM)-like proteins that can mimic the ECM microenvironment, while alginate can be tuned mechanically through its ionic crosslinking property to modify the scaffold’s porosity, strength, and stiffness. In this study, a frozen calcium chloride (CaCl₂) disk technique to homogenously crosslink alginate and egg white hydrogel is presented for 2.5D culture of human salivary cells. Different EWA formulations were prepared and biologically evaluated as a spheroid-like structure platform. Although all five EWA hydrogels showed biocompatibility, the EWA with 1.5% alginate presented the highest cell viability, while EWA with 3% alginate promoted the formation of larger size salivary spheroid-like structures. Our EWA hydrogel has the potential to be an alternative 3D culture scaffold that can be used for studies on drug-screening, cell migration, or as an in vitro disease model. In addition, EWA can be used as a potential source for cell transplantation (i.e., using this platform as an ex vivo environment for cell expansion). The low cost of producing EWA is an added advantage.     

Using the chorions of fertilized zebrafish eggs as a biomaterial for the attachment and differentiation of mouse stem cells

The development of proper biomaterials is critical for the success of cell therapy and modern tissue engineering. Here, we extruded the yolk and remaining inner mass from fertilized zebrafish eggs and used the resulting chorions as a biomaterial for the differentiation and attachment of mouse P19 embryonic carcinoma (EC) cells. Cells inserted into the chorion showed the spontaneous formation of embryoid body due to the repulsive cell adhesion of the chorion and differentiated specifically into neural cells and cardiomyocytes. In contrast, dissolved chorion extracellular matrix (ECM) conferred enhanced cell attachment on it, suggesting that a unique property of the zebrafish chorion with nanoporous structure appears to be responsible for the simple and controllable embryoid formation for stem cell differentiation. These results indicate that chorions from fertilized zebrafish eggs may be used as an extracellular matrix alternative and applied for stem cell differentiation to specific cell lineages.     

Cell patterning: interaction of cardiac myocytes and fibroblasts in three-dimensional culture.

Patterning of cells is critical to the formation and function of the normal organ, and it appears to be dependent upon internal and external signals. Additionally, the formation of most tissues requires the interaction of several cell types. Indeed, both extracellular matrix (ECM) components and cellular components are necessary for three-dimensional (3-D) tissue formation in vitro. Using 3-D cultures we demonstrate that ECM arranged in an aligned fashion is necessary for the rod-shaped phenotype of the myocyte, and once this pattern is established, the myocytes were responsible for the alignment of any subsequent cell layers. This is analogous to the in vivo pattern that is observed, where there appears to be minimal ECM signaling, rather formation of multicellular patterns is dependent upon cell-cell interactions. Our 3-D culture of myocytes and fibroblasts is significant in that it models in vivo organization of cardiac tissue and can be used to investigate interactions between fibroblasts and myocytes. Furthermore, we used rotational cultures to examine cellular interactions. Using these systems, we demonstrate that specific connexins and cadherins are critical for cell-cell interactions. The data presented here document the feasibility of using these systems to investigate cellular interactions during normal growth and injury.     

Photo-crosslinkable hydrogel and its biological applications

In the past few years,photo-crosslinkable hydrogels have drawn a great attention in tissue engineering applications due to their high biocompatibility and extracellular matrix(ECM)-like structure.They can be easily biofabricated through exposure of a photosensitive system composed of photo-crosslinkable hydrogels,photo-initiators and other compounds such as cells and therapeutic molecules,to ultraviolet or visible light.With the development of biofabrication methods,ma ny resea rchers studied the biological applications of photo-crosslinkable hydrogels in tissue engineering,such as vascular,wound dressing and bone engineering.This review highlights the biomaterials for photo-crosslinkable hydrogels,bio fabrication techniques and their biological applications in tissue engineering.Meanwhile,the challenges and prospects of photo-crosslinkable hydrogels are discussed as well.