Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology

A simple, one-pot, "green" synthetic route, based on the "biomineralization" capability of a common commercially available protein, bovine serum albumin (BSA), has been developed for the preparation of highly stable Au nanocrystals (NCs) with red emission and high quantum yield.

Palladium-catalyzed C-C and C-N bond-forming reactions are among the most versatile and powerful synthetic methods. For the last 15 years, N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) have enjoyed increasing popularity as ligands in Pd-mediated cross-coupling and related transformations because of their superior performance compared to the more traditional tertiary phosphanes. The strong sigma-electron-donating ability of NHCs renders oxidative insertion even in challenging substrates facile, while their steric bulk and particular topology is responsible for fast reductive elimination. The strong Pd-NHC bonds contribute to the high stability of the active species, even at low ligand/Pd ratios and high temperatures. With a number of commercially available, stable, user-friendly, and powerful NHC-Pd precatalysts, the goal of a universal cross-coupling catalyst is within reach. This Review discusses the basics of Pd-NHC chemistry to understand the peculiarities of these catalysts and then gives a critical discussion on their application in C-C and C-N cross-coupling as well as carbopalladation reactions.

Correct wiring is crucial for the proper functioning of the nervous system. Molecular gradients provide critical signals to guide growth cones, which are the motile tips of developing axons, to their targets. However, in vitro, growth cones trace highly stochastic trajectories, and exactly how molecular gradients bias their movement is unclear. Here, we introduce a mathematical model based on persistence, bias, and noise to describe this behaviour, constrained directly by measurements of the detailed statistics of growth cone movements in both attractive and repulsive gradients in a microfluidic device. This model provides a mathematical explanation for why average axon turning angles in gradients in vitro saturate very rapidly with time at relatively small values. This work introduces the most accurate predictive model of growth cone trajectories to date, and deepens our understanding of axon guidance events both in vitro and in vivo.

Tissue-engineering scaffolds should be analogous to native extracellular matrix (ECM) in terms of both chemical composition and physical structure. Polymeric nanofiber matrix is similar, with its nanoscaled nonwoven fibrous ECM proteins, and thus is a candidate ECM-mimetic material. Techniques such as electrospinning to produce polymeric nanofibers have stimulated researchers to explore the application of nanofiber matrix as a tissue-engineering scaffold. This review covers the preparation and modification of polymeric nanofiber matrix in the development of future tissue-engineering scaffolds. Major emphasis is also given to the development and applications of aligned, core shell-structured, or surface-functionalized polymer nanofibers. The potential application of polymer nanofibers extends far beyond tissue engineering. Owing to their high surface area, functionalized polymer nanofibers will find broad applications as drug delivery carriers, biosensors, and molecular filtration membranes in future.

Porous organic polymers (POPs), a class of highly crosslinked amorphous polymers possessing nano-pores, have recently emerged as a versatile platform for the deployment of catalysts. The bottom-up approach for porous organic polymer synthesis provides the opportunity for the design of polymer frameworks with various functionalities, for their use as catalysts or ligands. This tutorial review focuses on the framework structures and functionalities of catalytic POPs. Their structural design, functional framework synthesis and catalytic reactions are discussed along with some of the challenges.

ABSTRACT Wound healing is a complicated and continuous process affected by several factors, which needs an appropriate surrounding to achieve accelerated healing. Wound healing process recruits three different phases: inflammation, proliferation, and maturation. Due to the different types of wounds, as well as the advancement in medical technology, various products have been developed to repair different skin lesions. Our objective is to investigate the advancement in wound dressings from traditional to the current methods of treatment. The article presents the characteristics of an ideal wound dressing, the requirements for the appropriate selection of different types of wounds, and a detailed classification of wound dressings. Animal origin, herbal origin, and synthetic dressings are firstly introduced and reviewed. Then, nonmedicated dressings including alginate, hydrogel, and hydrocolloid dressings, as well as medicated dressings are discussed. Finally, the developmental prospectives of the new generations of wound dressings for future researches are presented. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136 , 47738.

Quantum dots (QDs) and magnetic nanoparticles (MPs) are of interest for biological imaging, drug targeting, and bioconjugation because of their unique optoelectronic and magnetic properties, respectively. To provide for water solubility and biocompatibility, QDs and MPs were encapsulated within a silica shell using a reverse microemulsion synthesis. The resulting SiO2/MP-QD nanocomposite particles present a unique combination of magnetic and optical properties. Their nonporous silica shell allows them to be surface modified for bioconjugation in various biomedical applications.

A simple label-free method for the detection of Hg(2+) ions with high selectivity and sensitivity has been developed by using fluorescent Au NCs in aqueous media. The sensing mechanism was based on the high-affinity metallophilic Hg(2+)-Au(+) interactions, which effectively quenched the fluorescence of Au NCs.

Short synthetic peptide amphiphiles have recently been explored as effective nanobiomaterials in applications ranging from controlled gene and drug release, skin care, nanofabrication, biomineralization, membrane protein stabilization to 3D cell culture and tissue engineering. This range of applications is heavily linked to their unique nanostructures, remarkable simplicity and biocompatibility. Some peptide amphiphiles also possess antimicrobial activities whilst remaining benign to mammalian cells. These attractive features are inherently related to their selective affinity to different membrane interfaces, high capacity for interfacial adsorption, nanostructuring and spontaneous formation of nano-assemblies. Apart from sizes, the primary sequences of short peptides are very diverse as they can be either biomimetic or de novo designed. Thus, their self-assembling mechanistic processes and the nanostructures also vary enormously. This critical review highlights recent advances in studying peptide amphiphiles, focusing on the formation of different nanostructures and their applications in diverse fields. Many interesting features learned from peptide self-organisation and hierarchical templating will serve as useful guidance for functional materials design and nanobiotechnology (123 references).

Modern biomedical imaging technologies have led to significant advances in diagnosis and therapy. Because most disease processes occur at the molecular and cellular levels, researchers continue to face challenges in viewing and understanding these processes precisely and in real time. The ideal imaging resolution would be in nanometers, because most biological processes take place on this length scale. Therefore, the functionalization of nanoparticles (NPs) and their use in therapeutic and diagnostic applications are of great interest. Molecular and cellular imaging agents made from inorganic NPs have been developed to probe such biological events noninvasively. The conjugation of tiny NPs with specific biomolecules allows researchers to target the desired location, reduce overall toxicity, and boost the efficiency of the imaging probes. In this Account, we review recent research on the functionalization of NPs for bioimaging applications. Several types of NPs have been employed for bioimaging applications, including metal (Au, Ag), metal oxide (Fe(3)O(4)), and semiconductor nanocrystals (e.g. quantum dots (QDs) and magnetic quantum dots (MQDs)). The preparation of NPs for bioimaging applications can include a variety of steps: synthesis, coating, surface functionalization, and bioconjugation. The most common strategies of engineering NP surfaces involve physical adsorption or chemisorption of the desired ligands onto the surface. Chemisorption or covalent linkages are preferred, and the coated NPs should possess high colloidal stability, biocompatibility, water solubility, and functional groups for further bioconjugation. Many of the functionalization techniques that have been reported in the literature suffer from limitations such as complex synthesis steps, poor biocompatibility, low stability, and hydrophobic products. Coating strategies based on chemisorption and ligand exchange often provide a better way to tailor the surface properties of NPs. After conjugation with the appropriate targeting ligands, antibodies, or proteins, the NPs may exhibit highly selective binding, making them useful for fluorescence imaging, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, and multimodal imaging.

Activate and reduce: Carbon dioxide was reduced with silane using a stable N-heterocyclic carbene organocatalyst to provide methanol under very mild conditions. Dry air can serve as the feedstock, and the organocatalyst is much more efficient than transition-metal catalysts for this reaction. This approach offers a very promising protocol for chemical CO(2) activation and fixation.

We report on the fabrication of nanometer-scale mass sensors with subattogram sensitivity. Surface micromachined polycrystalline silicon and silicon nitride nanomechanical oscillators were used to detect the presence of well-defined mass loading. Controlled deposition of thiolate self-assembled monolayers on lithographically defined gold dots were used for calibrated mass loading. We used a dinitrophenyl poly(ethylene glycol) undecanthiol-based molecule (DNP-PEG4-C11thiol) as a model ligand for this study. Due to the fact that the gold mass is attached at the distance l0 from the end x=l of the cantilever beam, an additional moment evolves in the boundary condition of the oscillator, which was taken into consideration through the rotational inertia of the attached mass. We showed that the corresponding correction of the frequency is on the order of γ(l0/l), where γ is the attached mass normalized to the mass of the beam. The rotational inertia correction to the frequency is on the order of γ(l0/l)2. The adopted approach permits accurate determination of the eigenfrequency in the framework of the Euler–Bernoulli beam when rotational inertia of the attached mass is included. From the resonant frequency shift, the mass of the adsorbed species was determined and compared to results obtained by other techniques. Utilizing vacuum encapsulation, we demonstrate sensing capability in the attogram regime of the adsorbed self-assembled monolayer.

The use of carbon dioxide as a renewable and environmentally friendly source of carbon is highly attractive. This article focuses on recent developments in important new reactions and new catalysts for homogeneous CO(2) transformations under mild reaction conditions. Other than traditional organometallic catalysts, organocatalysts have also been applied in the chemical conversion of CO(2) and have demonstrated very promising ability in this field. As the coupling of epoxides with CO(2) to form cyclic carbonates or polycarbonates has been well documented, it will be excluded from this article.

Photoplethysmography (PPG) is a noninvasive optical technique for detecting microvascular blood volume changes in tissues. Its ease of use, low cost and convenience make it an attractive area of research in the biomedical and clinical communities. Nevertheless, its single spot monitoring and the need to apply a PPG sensor directly to the skin limit its practicality in situations such as perfusion mapping and healing assessments or when free movement is required. The introduction of fast digital cameras into clinical imaging monitoring and diagnosis systems, the desire to reduce the physical restrictions, and the possible new insights that might come from perfusion imaging and mapping inspired the evolution of the conventional PPG technology to imaging PPG (IPPG). IPPG is a noncontact method that can detect heart-generated pulse waves by means of peripheral blood perfusion measurements. Since its inception, IPPG has attracted significant public interest and provided opportunities to improve personal healthcare. This study presents an overview of the wide range of IPPG systems currently being introduced along with examples of their application in various physiological assessments. We believe that the widespread acceptance of IPPG is happening, and it will dramatically accelerate the promotion of this healthcare model in the near future.

Polymer-based materials are increasingly produced through fused deposition modelling (FDM) – an additive manufacturing process, due to its intrinsic advantages in manufacturing complex shapes and structures at low overhead costs. The versatility of this technology has attracted several industries to print complex geometrical structures. This underlines the importance of studying the mechanical strength of FDM printed polymeric materials, especially their fatigue behaviour in cyclic loading conditions. Conventionally manufactured polymeric materials (e.g. injection moulding) have superior fatigue performance than FDM printed materials. Unlike conventionally manufactured polymers, FDM-made polymers have layer by layer adhesion and the influence of printing parameters make fatigue analysis complex and critical. The influences of printing parameters and printing material characteristics have a significant impact on the fatigue behaviour of these materials. The underlying mechanism behind the fatigue of FDM printed polymers is crucial for the assessment of these materials in structural applications. However, the fatigue behaviour of FDM printed polymeric materials has not been reviewed in detail. Therefore, this article aims to evaluate 3D printed polymeric materials’ fatigue properties. The importance of fatigue in the FDM printed biomedical materials is also reviewed, and more importantly, the novel FDM printed architected cellular material fatigue properties are also introduced.

Bifunctional nanocomposites comprising semiconductor and magnetic nanoparticles are of interest in biological applications for biolabeling, bioimaging, and cell separation. To this end, a nanocomposite system that consists of Fe2O3 magnetic nanoparticles and CdSe quantum dots and which exhibits superparamagnetism and tunable emission properties was prepared and used to label different live cell membranes (see picture). Supporting information for this article is available on the WWW under http://www.wiley-vch.de/contents/jc_2002/2007/z604245_s.pdf or from the author. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.

5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) has been known as a product from hexose dehydration for over 100 years and is considered to be one of the most promising platform molecules that can be converted into a variety of interesting chemicals. HMF, together with furfural and 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) are derivatives of furan compounds, which were listed as the top 10 value-added bio-based chemicals by the US Department of Energy. The great and increasing interest in the production of furan derivatives from biomass resources is due to the great potential of furan derivatives as feedstock for bulk chemicals and fuels. HMF can be synthesized by dehydration of all types of C6 carbohydrates, including monomeric and polymeric carbohydrates, such as fructose, glucose, sucrose, starch, inulin, cellulose, and raw biomass. Numerous improvements and milestones have been made in the dehydration process during the past 130 years. The big challenge for the process of HMF production is its suitability for industrial scale yet being cost efficient. This perspective article will review the HMF development timeline, focusing on the important events, landmark contributions, engineering and practical challenges of HMF production.

The sequential injection of hyaluronic acid-tyramine conjugates and enzymes forms biodegradable hydrogels in vivo by enzyme-induced oxidative coupling, offering high potential as a promising biomaterial for drug delivery and tissue engineering.

LFP@N-GA with (010) facet oriented LFP NPs embedded in N-GA provides both rapid Li⁺ and electron pathways in the electrode as well as short Li⁺ diffusion length in LFP crystals.

Water-soluble quantum dots (QDs) have been prepared by encapsulation within silica via a reverse microemulsion (see Figure). The QDs display comparable quantum yields to ZnS-capped CdSe, but are much less toxic than organic-coated water-soluble QDs. This method could be used for QD applications such as in biological labeling and in photostable light-emitting devices.