Smart Porous Multi-Stimulus Polysaccharide-Based Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering

Recently, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine studies have evaluated smart biomaterials as implantable scaffolds and their interaction with cells for biomedical applications. Porous materials have been used in tissue engineering as synthetic extracellular matrices, promoting the attachment and migration of host cells to induce the in vitro regeneration of different tissues. Biomimetic 3D scaffold systems allow control over biophysical and biochemical cues, modulating the extracellular environment through mechanical, electrical, and biochemical stimulation of cells, driving their molecular reprogramming. In this review, first we outline the main advantages of using polysaccharides as raw materials for porous scaffolds, as well as the most common processing pathways to obtain the adequate textural properties, allowing the integration and attachment of cells. The second approach focuses on the tunable characteristics of the synthetic matrix, emphasizing the effect of their mechanical properties and the modification with conducting polymers in the cell response. The use and influence of polysaccharide-based porous materials as drug delivery systems for biochemical stimulation of cells is also described. Overall, engineered biomaterials are proposed as an effective strategy to improve in vitro tissue regeneration and future research directions of modified polysaccharide-based materials in the biomedical field are suggested.     

Large Deformation of a DNA‐Origami Nanoarm Induced by the Cumulative Actuation of Tension‐Adjustable Modules

Making use of the programmability and structural flexibility of the DNA molecule, a DNA‐origami nanoarm capable of undergoing large deformation is constructed. This DNA‐origami nanoarm comprised serially repeated tension‐adjustable modules, the cumulative actuation of which resulted in a large deformation of the arm structure, which transformed from a linear shape into an arched shape. Combining atomic force microscopy and theoretical analyses based on the mechanics of materials, we demonstrate that the degree of deformation can be systematically controlled by merely replacing a set of strands that is required for the actuation of the module. Moreover, by employing a G‐quadruplex‐forming sequence for the actuation, we could achieve reversible ion‐induced contraction and relaxation of the nanoarm. The adjustability and scalability of this design could enable the production of DNA nanodevices that exhibit large deformation in response to external stimuli.     

Copper(II) complexes containing pyridine-based and phenolate-based systems: Synthesis,characterization, DFT study,biomimetic catalytic activity of catechol oxidase and phenoxazinone synthase

A template Schiff condensation of 2,6-pyridine dicarbaldehyde or 2,6-diformyl-4- bromophenol and 1,3–diamino-2-hydroxy propane or 3,4-diaminotoluene in the presence of copper(II) salts (CuX₂) (X = Cl, Br, CH₃COO, or ClO₄) affords different types of copper(II) complexes. Depending on the employed molar ratio of the dicarbonyl compounds and diamines, different types of copper(II) complexes formed during the template condensation reaction. Structural formulation of the complexes was confirmed by elemental analysis (C, H, N, and M), physical measurements such as thermal analysis (TAG & DTG), molar conductivity, and magnetic moments in addition to spectral studies (UV–Vis, IR, and ESR). Homobinuclear in a four-coordinate square planar and five-coordinate square pyramidal and trigonal bipyramidal in monomeric structures are proposed. A mononuclear hexa-coordinate in an octahedral geometry is suggested as well. Oxidase biomimetic catalytic activity of these newly synthesized copper(II) complexes was examined toward the aerobic oxidation of 4-tert-butylcatechol (4-TBCH₂) and o-aminophenol under catalytic conditions. Both catalytic and kinetic investigations demonstrate promising oxidase catalytic activity and based on the kinetic results, probable mechanistic catalytic implications are discussed. Geometrical structures of representative copper(II) complexes were determined by optimizing their bond lengths, bond angles, dihedral angles, and the structural index (τ).     

Self-assembling viral mimetics: one long journey with short steps

Recently, the Foresight Institute has pronounced six economic challenges that can be addressed through the progress of nanotechnology. One of these is the health and longevity of human life. Amongst applications anticipated to provide a solution to this challenge, gene therapy appears to be particularly promising. In theory, many diseases that result from genetic disorders can be cured by correcting defective genes. In practice, finding efficient and safe delivery vectors remains the stumbling point on the path of genetic therapies to the clinic. Viruses, otherwise the most efficient transfectors, pose safety concerns over immune reactions, whereas synthetic gene packages greatly lack the structural integrity of viruses. An ideal vector is therefore seen as a compromise between the two: a nanoscale device, which would mimic a virus and act as a virus, but would do this at the designer's whim. A strategy to achieve this is offered by the virus architecture itself, the principles of which are translated into the function via exquisitely reproducible self-assembly mechanisms. Thus, to mimic a virus is to mimic the way it is built, i.e., self-assembly. With just a few attempts made so far, the journey to an artificial virus has had a short lifetime, but the promise it holds is not expected to reduce any time soon.     

仿生微胶囊的组装及其应用

在生物物理和生物医药研究领域中,在分子水平上组装功能化的仿生微胶囊具有重要的理论和应用价值.在现有制备微胶囊的技术手段中,层层组装技术以其能够控制胶囊的尺寸、形状、囊壁的厚度和组成以及易于实现功能化等特点,引起了人们越来越多的研究兴趣.本文将着重介绍如何利用层层组装技术,以磷脂、蛋白质和其他生物大分子为组装基元构筑仿生微胶囊、以及如何将微胶囊进行生物界面化的修饰.此外,以仿生微胶囊为药物载体,探讨其在光动力治疗方面的应用也作简单介绍.